Take Charge of Your Finances Savings Tools Take Charge of Your Finances Financial Literacy

To Develop a Savings Fund: Determine how much money is appropriate for a savings fund 1. Determine which savings tools in which to place money 2.

Savings Tools Savings tools are secure and liquid accounts offered by depository institutions assisting in the management of a savings fund

Savings Tools Five types of savings tools Checking Account Savings Account Money Market Deposit Account Certificate of Deposit Savings Bond Five types of savings tools Determine which savings tools are appropriate to assist in the attainment of personal financial goals

Low Risk Savings tools are very secure Most depository institutions offering savings tools are backed by government insurance

FDIC The most common type of government insurance is offered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) FDIC is a federal government agency insuring certain depository institutions against loss If a depository institution covered by FDIC fails, FDIC will restore the lost funds up to $250,000 per account

NCUA The National Credit Union Administration is a federal agency, much like the FDIC It will cover member accounts at the same level as the FDIC

Checking Account DEFINITION INTEREST Tool used to transfer funds deposited into an account to make a cash purchase INTEREST May be non-interest or interest earning Interest rate is usually the lowest available for the savings tools

Checking Account ACCESSIBILITY Most liquid of all the savings tools Funds are easily accessed by: Checks Automated teller machines (ATMs) Debit cards Telephone Internet

Checking Account FEATURES Can have minimum balance requirements Can charge transaction fees Can have a limit on the number of checks written monthly Reduces the need to carry large amounts of cash Before opening a checking account, learn all of the requirements and restrictions.

Savings Account DEFINITION INTEREST Account to hold money not spent on consumption INTEREST Interest earning Lower interest rates compared to the other savings tools except checking accounts

Savings Account ACCESSIBILITY More liquid than all savings tools except a checking account Funds may be accessed or transferred between accounts through: Automated teller machines Telephones Internet

Savings Account FEATURES Allows for frequent deposits or withdrawals Easily accessible Money storage for emergencies or daily living Available at depository institutions May require a minimum balance or have a limited number of withdrawals per month

Money Market Deposit Account DEFINITION A government insured account offered at most depository institutions

Money Market Deposit Account INTEREST Minimum balance requirement with tiered interest rates The amount of interest earned depends on the account balance For example: a balance of $10,000 will earn a higher interest rate than a balance of $2,500

Money Market Deposit Account ACCESSIBILITY Less liquid than checking and savings accounts Accessibility is limited to a certain number of transactions per month (usually 3-6)

Money Market Deposit Account FEATURES Minimum amount required to open the account, often $1,000 If the average monthly balance falls below a specified amount, the entire account will earn a lower interest rate

Certificate of Deposit DEFINITION An insured interest earning savings tool that allows restricted access to the funds Deposits have to be held for a certain length of time Usually 7 days to 8 years INTEREST Varies depending upon the time length and amount of money deposited The longer the period of time, the higher the interest rate

Certificate of Deposit ACCESSIBILITY Less liquid than checking, savings, and money market deposit accounts Large fees are assessed if funds are withdrawn before the end of the designated time period

Certificate of Deposit FEATURES Minimum deposits range from $100-$250,000 Low risk and no fees if funds are held for the designated time period

Savings Bond DEFINITION Discount bond purchased for 50% of the face value from the U.S. Government Similar to a loan but is given to a company or the government

Savings Bond INTEREST Can be redeemed once the investment doubles Amount of time it takes to double in value depends on the current interest rate offered Invest $50 for a $100 savings bond The bond can be redeemed once the investment doubles to reach $100

Savings Bond ACCESSIBILITY Least liquid of all the savings tools Access to funds is restricted

Savings Bond FEATURES Safe, secure, and affordable Purchased for $25.00 - $10,000.00 Taxes Interest earned on a bond is tax exempt until redeemed If the bond is used to pay for college, the interest it earned will be tax exempt when redeemed

Liquidity Liquidity means how quickly an asset can be turned into cash Cash is the most liquid asset, since it is already cash Generally, the more liquid the asset, the lower the interest rate.

Liquidity Checking Account Savings Account Most Lowest Interest Liquid Least Lowest Interest Highest Interest Checking Account Savings Account Money Market Deposit Account Certificate of Deposit Savings Bond

Choosing a Savings Tool Different savings tools can be utilized to assist in reaching personal financial goals Higher interest rates are a trade-off for lower liquidity Higher Interest Lower Liquidity

Choosing a Savings Tool When and how often access is needed to funds helps determine which savings tool to use An individual wants to develop an emergency savings fund They need a very liquid account A savings account is very liquid and accessible in emergency situations

Choosing a Savings Tool When and how often access is needed to funds helps determine which savings tool to use An individual wants to save money for retirement They need a non-liquid savings tool, which will not be accessed for many years A non-liquid savings tool will give a better interest rate

Choosing a Savings Tool By understanding the features of different savings tools, an individual can choose which tools will help them reach their financial goals.

Depository Institutions Features of savings tools vary between different depository institutions Interest rates Accessibility options Fees Penalties Minimum balance requirements

Depository Institutions Research and compare savings tools at different depository institutions in order to find the best option Not limited to one depository institution Can have different savings tools at different depository institutions

Savings Tools Scenarios Read each Savings Tool Scenario Discuss which savings tool would be recommended for each scenario

Savings Tools Scenario #1 Mariah has twin daughters that will be graduating from high school in two years. They both have a goal to attend college after graduation, and Mariah wants to help them reach this goal by paying for some of their schooling. She has $2,000 for each daughter that she would like to save and then be able to access in two years. Which savings tool would you recommend Mariah utilize and why?

Savings Tools Scenario #2 Conner and Lisa were recently married and purchased a new house. They received $1,000 as a wedding present from Lisa’s parents. They want to use this money to buy new furniture for their house in six months. Which savings tool would you recommend Conner and Lisa utilize and why?

Savings Tools Scenario #3 Sean is a high school student that just received his first paycheck from his new part-time job at the local grocery store. He currently has no expenses to pay, and his goal is to save every paycheck from his job to buy a new car in two years. He needs to find a savings tool that will help him reach his financial goal. Which savings tool would you recommend Sean utilize and why?

Savings Tools Scenario #4 Brittany recently moved into her first apartment. Before, she was living with her parents and had very few expenses to keep track of. Now that she has to pay rent and utilities for her apartment, she needs to find a savings tool that will help her manage her money and ensure she can pay her bills every month. Which savings tool would you recommend Brittany utilize and why?  

Savings Tools Scenario #5 Bryan has a goal to become financially secure by developing an emergency fund. He has been saving twenty percent of his net income for the past year and now has $2,000. He plans to maintain this balance and only use this money for emergency expenses. Which savings tool would you recommend Bryan utilize and why?

Savings Tools Scenario #6 Paul and Grace want to purchase a house in two years. They want to begin saving money to use for the down payment on a home. They are able to save $300 per month and need to know which savings tool would be the best option for them to put their money in. Which savings tool would you recommend Paul and Grace utilize and why?

Five types of savings tools: Summary Five types of savings tools: Checking Account Savings Account Money Market Deposit Account Certificate of Deposit Savings Bond

Summary Savings tools are very secure Most depository institutions offering savings tools are backed by FDIC insurance Different savings tools can be utilized to assist in reaching personal financial goals Features of savings tools vary between depository institutions