Cash equivalents are financial instruments that are almost as liquid as cash and are popular investments for millionaires. Examples of cash equivalents are money market mutual funds, certificates of deposit, commercial paper and Treasury bills. Some millionaires keep their cash in Treasury bills.
During times of uncertainty, you may be wondering where to safeguard your money. Is it better to stash it under your mattress than to keep it in your bank account? The short answer: No. Especially in turbulent times, a federally insured bank is the safest place for your money.
Upon receiving a large sum of money, before you book that dream holiday, it's worth considering where the money should be held. A savings account is a common choice, offering a secure place to keep your money while earning a decent rate of interest.
U.S. government securities—such as Treasury notes, bills, and bonds—have historically been considered extremely safe because the U.S. government guarantees timely payment of interest and principal, backed by its full faith and credit.
Paying down debt, investing the money or growing an emergency fund are all solid options that can bring you closer to your financial goals. Even if you opt to do nothing with it right away, there are savings alternatives to ensure that it doesn't get mismanaged in the interim.
Put it in a savings account - If you want to keep your money safe and let it earn interest, then a savings account is an option. Discover our savings accounts. Put it in a bank account - If you think you'll be spending money, then you could just keep it in your regular bank account.
DDA/MMDA allows you to place funds into demand deposit and/or money market deposit accounts. You can deposit up to $100 million for each account type. With this option, you may receive expanded insurance protection and still have the flexibility to access your funds when you need them.
Millionaires can insure their money by depositing funds in FDIC-insured accounts, NCUA-insured accounts, through IntraFi Network Deposits, or through cash management accounts. They may also allocate some of their cash to low-risk investments, such as Treasury securities or government bonds.
Generally, credit unions are viewed as safer than banks, although deposits at both types of financial institutions are usually insured at the same dollar amounts. The FDIC insures deposits at most banks, and the NCUA insures deposits at most credit unions. Seven banks have failed in 2023 and 2024, and all were insured.
Can you have a million dollars in a checking account? No rule says you can't have a million dollars in a checking account, but FDIC insurance typically only covers up to $250,000. Plus, you can get a bigger return on your investment by keeping $1 million elsewhere.
Musk's best investments include PayPal, SpaceX, DeepMind Technologies, Tesla, and The Boring Company. Elon Musk is an engineer, industrial designer, and technology entrepreneur known for disrupting multiple industries. Musk holds the distinction of being the world's richest person as of January 2025.
According to Knight Frank, ultra-wealthy investors (those with $30 million or more in net worth) allocate about 32% of their wealth to residential properties and around 21% to commercial real estate. Altogether, that's more than half of their assets in real estate.
As an example, your annual withdrawal at age 68 could be around $15,000, and by age 80, that withdrawal could be around $18,000. In sum, a $250,000 annuity could realistically pay you from $1,071 (guaranteed) up to $1,912 (non-guaranteed) per month.
Checking and savings accounts, money market deposit accounts, and certificates of deposit carry FDIC insurance of $250,000 per depositor per type of account, and many institutions offer additional insurance on top of that.
Cash and on-demand cash deposits are the epitome of safety in the asset world. There's virtually no risk of loss (unless it is lost or stolen), making it a very reliable asset. However, its safety comes at a cost: it generally yields minimal returns, especially when inflation runs high, reducing its purchasing power.
The $1,000 per month rule is designed to help you estimate the amount of savings required to generate a steady monthly income during retirement. According to this rule, for every $240,000 you save, you can withdraw $1,000 per month if you stick to a 5% annual withdrawal rate.