The Best Yields for Your Cash Before the Fed’s Likely Cut-awdailynews

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2025-12-06

The Best Yields for Your Cash Before the Fed’s Likely Cut

Daly and Newto / Getty Images The Fed may soon cut rates and push yields down, but there are still abundant ways to earn a high return. — Daly and Newto / Getty Images

The Fed may soon cut rates and push yields down, but there are still abundant ways to earn a high return.

A Fed rate cut is widely expected next week. But while that will push cash yields lower, what you can earn remains historically high.
Top high-yield savings accounts as much pay as 5.00%, while the best CDs let you lock in rates up to 4.50% before the Fed makes its move.
Brokerage and robo-advisor cash accounts continue to offer attractive yields in the mid- to upper-3% range, while U.S. Treasuries pay up to 4.79% for investors seeking stability.

With a Federal Reserve rate cut expected Wednesday, many savers are taking a fresh look at where to keep their cash—seeking places that still offer strong returns and stability as yields begin to edge lower.

Fortunately, today’s safest options remain rewarding—and should only dip incrementally if the Fed cuts its benchmark rate by an expected quarter percentage point. Yields on savings accounts, CDs, brokerages, and Treasuries are still near multiyear highs, even after the Fed trimmed its benchmark rate by a half point this fall.

We’ve charted the best-paying options across every major category—all in one place for easy comparison. The top high-yield savings accounts still pay up to 5.00% if you meet certain requirements, or around 4.50% for no-strings-attached accounts. Among CDs, the best nationwide rate is 4.50%, and brokerages, robo-advisors, and Treasuries continue to offer attractive returns in the mid-3% to mid-4% range.

These yields make now an appealing time to put idle cash to work while rates remain elevated. Below, we’ll show how much you could earn on different balances and how the top yields stack up by product type.

Safe places for cash always exist—and right now they’re paying well. The right account can help you earn more while keeping your savings secure and your returns predictable.

Even if you’re staying cautious with your liquid savings, that doesn’t mean it has to sit idle. The right account can still turn short-term safety into meaningful earnings.

With a lump-sum savings deposit of $5,000, $10,000, or even $25,000, you can earn hundreds of dollars in interest if you choose one of today’s top rates. Whether you opt for a 3.50% cash management account, a top high-yield savings or money market account paying 5.00%, or something in between, here’s what different balances could earn over the next six months.

Six Months of Earnings at Various APYs
APY	Earnings on $5K for 6 months	Earnings on $10K for 6 months	Earnings on $25K for 6 months
3.50%	$87	$173	$434
3.75%	$93	$186	$464
4.00%	$99	$198	$495
4.25%	$105	$210	$526
4.50%	$111	$223	$556
4.75%	$117	$235	$587
5.00%	$123	$247	$617

The rate you earn from a savings account, money market account, cash account, or money market fund is variable and will generally drop whenever the Fed cuts rates. In contrast, CDs and Treasuries allow you to lock in your yield for a set time period.