With a CD ladder, you spread your money across multiple CDs with different maturity dates. For example, if you have $10,000 to invest , you could divide it up this way: $2,000 in a one-year CD ...

$5,000 CD vs. $5,000 traditional savings account: Which earns more interest right now? Calculating the interest earnings on a CD is simple, thanks to the fixed interest rate it comes with.

Upcoming rate changes. Depositing $20,000 into a 6-month CD with a rate of 4.49% can earn you more than $400 now. But doing the same with a high-yield savings account likely won't.

Opening a CD when rates are competitive can help you maximize your earnings. If you wait too long and rates drop, you won't be able to secure a high APY. For example, in 2023, APYs for the top CDs ...