Millionaires don't worry about FDIC insurance. Their money is held in their name and not the name of the custodial private bank. Other millionaires have safe deposit boxes full of cash denominated in many different currencies.
Certificates of deposit issued by banks and credit unions are also insured for up to $250,000, guaranteeing your deposit and any interest returns you earn. Money market accounts are worth considering as well. They're FDIC-insured and combine features of checking and savings accounts.
If a couple has a joint money market deposit account, a joint savings account, and a joint CD at the same insured bank, each co-owner's shares of the three accounts are added together and insured up to $250,000 per owner, providing up to $500,000 in coverage for the couple's joint accounts.
The FDIC adds together the balances in all Single Accounts owned by the same person at the same bank and insures the total up to $250,000.
You can increase your FDIC insurance coverage by creating a payable-on-death account (also known as an informal trust or in-trust-for) or titling an account in the name of a formal revocable trust. For these account types, each unique beneficiary adds $250,000 of coverage up to FDIC limits.
The standard deposit insurance coverage limit is $250,000 per depositor, per FDIC-insured bank, per ownership category. Deposits held in different ownership categories are separately insured, up to at least $250,000, even if held at the same bank.
Private banking may include wealth planning services, waived fees, dedicated bankers, and additional perks. J.P. Morgan Private Bank, Citi Private Bank, and Bank of America Private Bank are among some of the most popular banks for millionaires. Read more: What is private banking, and how does it work?
The key to making the most of the money is to put it somewhere to earn interest or to invest it – if you're comfortable with the risks associated with this. The main questions you should be thinking about are when you might need the money, how long you can put it away for, and what level of risk you are happy with.”
More rich people are using 'secret' trusts and LLCs to hide money from their spouses. Secret trusts and LLCs are increasingly common ways wealthy people are shielding assets in divorce. Trusts and offshore accounts controlled by a shadowy company.
Millionaires don't worry about FDIC insurance. Their money is held in their name and not the name of the custodial private bank. Other millionaires have safe deposit boxes full of cash denominated in many different currencies.
A bank becomes FDIC-insured (or Member FDIC) by applying for FDIC insurance coverage and paying premiums, much like an individual would pay for health or auto insurance. These premiums are then pooled and used to protect the depositors of insured banks should a bank failure occur.
X.com developed and operated a financial services website with banking services provided by First Western National Bank, an FDIC-insured bank in La Jara, Colorado. The company was initially funded by Elon Musk and Greg Kouri, who went on to fund Musk's later ventures: Tesla and SpaceX.
Stocks. Historically, stocks have provided the highest rate of return compared to other common investments, like savings accounts and bonds. That's why many wealthy people often invest heavily in the stock market. In fact, Warren Buffett advised his trustee in 2014 to put 90% of his funds into an S&P 500 index fund.
The $250,000 limit applies per depositor, per FDIC-insured bank and per ownership category. This means that by opening different accounts, you can end up with much more than just $250,000 in insured funds. Insurance limits apply to the entire depository institution – not individual branches.
But fewer than one percent–just 0.83 percent–of these accounts have more than $250,000. It is true that almost 60 percent of total deposits, by dollar amount, is in those accounts.
Inflation Is Eating Away at Your Funds
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average rate of inflation from April 2023 to April 2024 was 3.4%. If you've been keeping your money in a savings account with a lower yield than the rate of inflation, you should switch over to a higher-yield account.
Namely, the $250,000 limit is per account holder, not per account, as you might think. But before we dive into insurance limits, here are the basics about FDIC insurance you need to know.
By naming a beneficiary/nominee, you ensure that your assets, specifically your bank account funds, go to the person that you want. This clarity minimises the risk of disputes and confusion between relatives and legal heirs regarding the allocation of your assets.