A CD ladder splits your cash across multiple certificates of deposit with staggered maturities (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 years). As each CD matures, you reinvest it in a new long-term CD — providing regular liquidity and smoothing interest-rate changes.
A CD ladder splits your cash across multiple certificates of deposit with staggered maturities (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 years). As each CD matures, you reinvest it in a new long-term CD — providing regular liquidity and smoothing interest-rate changes.
For retirees who want FDIC safety with higher yields than savings accounts, a CD ladder offers predictable cash flow and protects against reinvestment risk. But Treasury ladders are usually simpler, more tax-efficient, and equally safe.
A Treasury ladder accomplishes everything a CD ladder does — with no state income tax, zero credit risk, and a liquid secondary market if you need to sell early. For most retirees, Treasuries are the better tool.
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