Savings accounts are a safe, reliable place for a lump sum of money. Your funds will not only be safe from daily spending, but your deposits will be guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) for bank accounts or the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) for credit union accounts.
Most competitive money market accounts offer APYs between 1.6% and 1.8%. A 1.8% APY would mean you earn $9,074.62 in the first year after depositing $500,000.
A savings account paying 2% provides $10,000 each year in interest. Stocks with 4% gains generate $20,000, while those generating 10% returns provide for $50,000 in interest. Bonds with 2.87% interest rate would offer $14,350 per year in interest income.
What is the smartest thing to do with a large sum of money?
Investing can mean the difference between having your money last you the rest of your life and being back to square one in a few years' time. It's the most-effective way to grow your money, and depending on how much money you have, you may be able to invest it and live off the return.
Do Banks Offer 7% Interest On Savings Accounts? 7% interest isn't something banks offer in the US, but one credit union, Landmark CU, pays 7.50% interest, though there are major requirements and stipulations.
What might you choose to do when you receive a lump sum of money? Some options might include paying down debt, building your emergency fund, investing, fund your retirement accounts, funding an HSA and more.
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 that they keep rolling over and reinvesting.
In fact, a good 51% of Americans say $100,000 is the savings amount needed to be financially healthy, according to the 2022 Personal Capital Wealth and Wellness Index. But that's a lot of money to keep locked away in savings.
Some choices include creating an emergency fund, paying off high-cost debt, building up retirement savings, saving for kids' educations and buying personal luxuries. While you won't owe taxes on an inheritance, earnings from the funds are subject to income taxes.
With $500,000 to invest, your best options for developing the right asset allocation while achieving optimal diversification are index funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). For many people new to investing, index funds and ETFs are popular because they offer instant diversification and professional management.
While the recommended retirement plan savings amount is up to four times your annual salary, this is not realistic for many Americans in their 40s. The average income for those in their 40s is just above $50,000, but the median retirement savings amount for this age group is $63,000.
