Certificate of deposit (CD) laddering strategy

Typically you can receive higher crediting rates on a CD if you commit to leaving your money with the bank for a longer period of time. This lack of liquidity causes many people to choose shorter-term CDs at the expense of receiving the higher interest rates. CD laddering is a strategy that gives you the benefit of receiving the higher-interest crediting rates of longer term CDs but still provide you with some liquidity. For example, rather than deposit $60,000 for a one-year period and renewing each year at a lower one-year rate, you could create a three-year ladder and put $20,000 in a one-year CD, $20,000 in a two-year CD and $20,000 in a three-year CD at the higher interest rates. After the first year, you take the one-year CD and purchase a new three-year CD. After the second year, you take the initial two-year CD and purchase a new three-year CD, and do the same with the initial three-year CD. Starting in year four, you will have the three CDs receiving the benefit of a three year rate but also have access to 1/3 of your money each year without penalty should you need it. Use this calculator to determine the additional interest you could earn with a CD laddering strategy.
CD Information and Assumptions
Deposit amount ($) 
Interest compounding frequency 
Number of years for analysis 
Marginal tax bracket (%)help
CD Interest Rates
One year (%) 
Two year (if applicable) (%) 
Three year (if applicable) (%) 
Four year (if applicable) (%) 
Five year (if applicable) (%) 
The information provided here is to assist you in planning for your future. Any analysis is a result of the information you have provided. Material discussed is meant for general illustration and/or informational purposes only and it is not to be construed as tax, legal, or investment advice. Although the information has been gathered from sources believed to be reliable, please note that individual situations can vary therefore, the information should be relied upon when coordinated with individual professional advice.

Any rate of return entered into the interactive calculator to project future values should be a reasonable average return for the period. Rates of return will vary over time, and generally the higher the rate of return the higher the degree of risk.

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