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CD vs Vanguard Federal Money Market Fund (VMFXX) vs T - bills

Posted on 10/2/23 at 9:44 am
Posted by Gator feather
Member since Jan 2017
14 posts
Posted on 10/2/23 at 9:44 am
What would the be advantages of cds or tbills over VMFXX in taxable account for modest rainy day fund? Vmfxx has a 5.3% 7 day sec yield (been similar for a while now). I feel like those rates are similar or better than the ither options and Vmfxx would be more liquid?

My understanding is a large portion of VMFXX's holdings would be tbills and other secure government debt.

I guess with cds and t bills you give up a little liquidity for guaranteed/stable returns?
Posted by SloaneRanger
Upper Hurstville
Member since Jan 2014
7921 posts
Posted on 10/2/23 at 9:56 am to
Remember that the CD term binds both sides—you and the bank. A long term CD makes sense if you think there is a chance of rates coming down. Those high money market rates can disappear with the quickness.
Posted by frogtown
Member since Aug 2017
5064 posts
Posted on 10/2/23 at 9:58 am to
IMO the good thing about VMFXX, and others like it, is you get interest paid every month. That is key to me. I like to reinvest those funds.

Just so you know, some brokerages will charge you a fee to buy VMFXX. Others won't. Schwab will want you to buy SNOXX instead which is a similar product.
Posted by lynxcat
Member since Jan 2008
24205 posts
Posted on 10/2/23 at 10:49 am to
Duration. Money Markets are great as the rates have risen and stayed higher. But CDs can lock a rate with surety for a longer period of time.

One is not 'better'...they just have tradeoffs.
Posted by Clint Torres
Member since Oct 2011
2663 posts
Posted on 10/2/23 at 10:57 am to
Yup… if you suspect that rates will continue to rise, you can take advantage of that in VMFXX too
Posted by bovine1
Walnut Ridge,AR via Tallulah,LA
Member since Dec 2004
1286 posts
Posted on 10/2/23 at 11:03 am to
VMFXX invests in agency short term paper along with Tbills. If you want a straight Tbill MMF go with Vanguard Treasury. Current 7-day yields are Federal 5.3% and Treasury 5.24%.
Posted by KillTheGophers
Member since Jan 2016
6236 posts
Posted on 10/2/23 at 12:01 pm to
CDs - you pay local and state tax.
Posted by slackster
Houston
Member since Mar 2009
85191 posts
Posted on 10/2/23 at 12:36 pm to
In LA you save up to 4.25% in state taxes on a government money market and/or treasuries.

A 5.3% yield can be as high as 5.53% in tax equivalent yield. States with higher income taxes benefit even more vs CDs.
Posted by Suntiger
BR or somewhere else
Member since Feb 2007
33004 posts
Posted on 10/2/23 at 4:47 pm to
I think only a portion of VMFXX is exempt from local and state taxes.

So you pay federal taxes on all of them, pay local and state taxes on CDs, pay local and state taxes on a portion of VMFXX and pay no local or state taxes on tbills
Posted by Jmcc64
alabama
Member since Apr 2021
563 posts
Posted on 10/3/23 at 2:17 pm to
What about VWALX? I've been seriously looking into it. 30 Day SEC 4.64%
Posted by LSUSports247
Member since Apr 2007
675 posts
Posted on 10/30/23 at 9:02 am to
I’m currently in VMFXX but was wondering is there a difference in just keeping money in the settlement fund (which I believe is VMFXX) and buying VMFXX?
This post was edited on 10/30/23 at 9:11 am
Posted by bovine1
Walnut Ridge,AR via Tallulah,LA
Member since Dec 2004
1286 posts
Posted on 10/30/23 at 2:56 pm to
No it's the same either way. If you'd rather they actually have a cash option that's insured like a savings acct but you'll give up the yield.
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