Mortgage Company Guild Agrees to $1.3 Billion Go-Private Deal; Shares Jump
Guild Holdings (GHLD) said Wednesday that a fund managed by Bayview Asset Management has agreed to a
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Bloomberg
14 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
How Far Can the Bank of England Cut From Here?
Welcome to the award-winning Money Distilled newsletter. I'm John Stepek. Every week day I look at the biggest stories in markets and economics, and explain what it all means for your money. Before we get started today — do you feel well-off, or are you feeling the squeeze? Are you happy where you are, or are you keen to move somewhere that might offer an easier life or at least a bit of appreciation? Gloriously happy or deeply frustrated, we'd love it if you could take five minutes to fill in this questionnaire on how you feel your personal financial situation has changed in the last year.
CBS News
20 minutes ago
- CBS News
Is a high-yield savings account worth it in today's economy? Here's what savings experts think.
We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. If you want to earn more interest on your money, it could be time to open a high-yield savings account. Getty Images While there are numerous interest-bearing deposit accounts for savers to consider, high-yield savings accounts have become a popular financial tool. These accounts are easy to open from the convenience of your own home, thanks to the wide variety of online banks that offer them. And unlike traditional savings accounts, high-yield savings accounts allow you to earn hefty returns on your savings. Like other savings tools, though, the potential returns on high-yield savings accounts are largely dependent on the economic climate. These accounts were especially worth considering in recent years, as interest rates were high overall thanks to the fight against elevated inflation. When the Federal Reserve lowered the federal funds rate in late 2024 and early 2025, though, many high-yield savings account rates dropped in tandem. That, in turn, led to questions about whether it was really worth it to open this type of savings account. Whether a high-yield savings account is ultimately worth it for you depends on a range of factors, including your savings goals and liquidity needs, so you'll need to weigh all the factors to determine whether opening one is the right move. But to help you decide, we spoke with savings experts to find out if these accounts are still worth it in today's economic climate. Find out how to earn more with the right high-yield savings account now. Is a high-yield savings account worth it in today's economy? Here's what experts had to say about opening this type of savings account in this economy: These accounts offer an opportunity to earn more A high-yield savings account can help you earn considerably more than you would in a traditional savings account. Right now, the average traditional savings account rate is just 0.42%, which doesn't really equate to a meaningful return on your savings. High-yield savings accounts, on the other hand, typically have returns that are many times that. "High-yield savings accounts do what most savings accounts don't: actually earn something, " says Ryan McLin, a CFP with Impact Wealth Group. "With rates often 10x higher than traditional savings accounts, they're ideal for emergency funds and cash reserves." To give you an idea of how much better the earning potential is with a high-yield savings account, imagine you had $10,000 of savings to deposit. In a high-yield savings account with a 4% interest rate, you would earn more than $400 in the first year and more than $2,200 after five years. Meanwhile, you would earn about $211 in interest on $10,000 after five years in a traditional savings account with a 0.42% return. According to McLin, these accounts are well-suited to short-term financial goals, such as the down payment on the home you're planning to buy in the next year or two. They're also the best place to house your emergency fund, thanks to the safety and liquidity they offer. Explore your high-yield savings account options and get started today. High-yield savings account rates remain high for now Interest rates on high-yield savings accounts are variable, so they generally ebb and flow based on the Federal Reserve's federal funds rate and other economic conditions. When the Fed lowers rates, the rates on high-yield savings accounts typically also decline (and vice versa). "After the Fed raised rates and then hit pause, we saw high-yield savings accounts hold steady with some of the best rates we've had in years," says Michael Rodriquez, a certified financial planner with Equanimity Wealth. "Online banks are still competing for deposits, which is keeping rates elevated for now. It's been a rare bright spot in a pretty uncertain economy." Though rates may be a bit lower than they were throughout parts of 2023 and 2024 when the federal funds rate was higher, it's still possible to find high-yield savings account rates of 4% or more currently. Rates on these accounts vary from one bank to the next, though, so it's worth shopping around for one with a competitive return. Of course, there's no guarantee high-yield savings account rates will remain high. If the Fed decreases the federal funds rate, you can expect high-yield savings account rates to dip. But even at their lowest rates, these accounts tend to offer more generous returns than traditional savings accounts. High-yield savings accounts aren't a substitute for investing While high-yield savings accounts are an excellent option for emergency savings and short-term financial goals, they aren't a suitable replacement for investing. "Don't let interest earned in high-yield savings account replace what equity and even bond markets can offer over the long term," says McLin. "This account isn't for growing wealth but making sure accessible cash doesn't lose purchasing power over time." According to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the stock market has an average historical return of about 10% per year. On the other hand, you'd be lucky to earn 5% in a high-yield savings account. This can make high-yield savings accounts less than ideal for things like your retirement savings, where the goal is growing wealth rather than just preserving it. Your high-yield savings account should also be just one part of your overall financial plan. Generally speaking, you'd turn to stocks and other investments for your retirement and long-term savings and reserve your high-yield savings account for emergency and short-term savings. You may want to consider CDs as an alternative High-yield savings accounts are one option for short-term savings, but they aren't the only option. You may also consider certificates of deposit (CDs). CDs have set terms and fixed interest rates, so you're able to lock in today's high rates for the full CD term. "Short-term CDs, those with maturities of under a year, offer more flexibility, while long-term CDs (one year or longer) typically provide higher interest rates in exchange for less liquidity," says Matt Hicks, VP of Deposit Products at First Tech Federal Credit Union. "However, with the current interest rate environment, consumers can still find short-term certificates with rates equal to or greater than those of their long-term counterparts." Some banks offer more competitive rates on CDs than on high-yield savings accounts, which can make them a solid choice. However, CDs also require you to lock up your funds for the full term. If you do withdraw money early, you will generally face early withdrawal penalties. The bottom line High-yield savings accounts can still be worth it in today's economic climate, especially compared to traditional savings accounts. While rates are a bit lower than they were a year or two ago, high-yield savings accounts remain one of the best tools for your short-term and emergency savings. Just make sure to think of a high-yield savings account as a part of your financial strategy instead of the entirety of it. When combined with other financial tools, though, high-yield savings accounts can help you meet your financial goals and preserve the value of your hard-earned savings.
CBS News
20 minutes ago
- CBS News
Millions made available for Florida universities to pay student-athletes
Pointing to a need to avoid a disadvantage in recruiting athletes, Florida university-system leaders Wednesday made up to $22.5 million available for each state university to share revenues with athletes. The system's Board of Governors approved the funding, which will be available annually at that level as a loan or transfer for the next three years. It is designed to help carry out a new revenue-sharing model with athletes under a national legal settlement in a case known as House v. NCAA. Will help put universities into a position to compete for talent It comes amid massive change in college sports, in part because of athletes now being able to cash in through "name, image and likeness" deals. Traditionally, college athletes could not be paid. Board of Governors member Alan Levine said the money approved Wednesday "takes some of the pressure off the donors" now funding name, image and likeness deals and ensures "we put our universities in as advantageous a position as possible to compete." The settlement, approved June 6 by U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken of the Northern District of California, in part establishes a 10-year model for NCAA Division I schools to expand rosters and directly pay athletes for their names, images and likenesses. "They're already out there trying to sign contracts with these athletes," Levine said. "And if we don't act, there's a really good chance that our institutions will be severely disadvantaged. I don't think anybody wants that." Spending is capped per school Payments, expected to go primarily to students who play football and men's basketball, would be in addition to currently allowed individual name, image and likeness deals, where money is often raised and distributed through what are known as "collectives" and other organizations tied to schools. Under the settlement, schools that opt in to the plan could spend up to a capped amount on direct payments and roster-expanding scholarships. For the 2025-2026 school year, the cap would be set at $20.5 million per school. Peter Collins, chairman of the Florida State University Board of Trustees, said not every Florida school will reach the cap. "I don't know for sure everybody else around the table, but I know we will, because everybody that we play is spending in the cap," Collins said. The cap is based on calculations involving media, ticket and sponsorship revenue at schools in what are known as the "Power 5" conferences --- the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten, Big 12, Southeastern Conference and Pac-12 --- and at Notre Dame. The additional $2 million being offered to schools would cover back-pay of certain athletes who played before name, image and likeness deals became legal in 2021.
