Delta SkyMiles® American Express Cards – Up to 110,000 Bonus Miles

September 14, 2023 By Jonathan Ping 7 Comments
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards and may receive a commission. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned.

Updated with business card limited-time offers, changes to lounge access and status boosts. Delta Airlines American Express cards offer various special perks like free checked bags, priority boarding, and the ability to earn Delta Skymiles with card purchases. As you can only get the welcome offers once on each of these cards per person per lifetime (each card is considered different), I recommend waiting until a limited-time offer to maximize your benefit. Here are the current offers:

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

  • Earn 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
  • $100 Delta flight credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, receive a Credit to use toward future travel.
  • First checked bag free on Delta flights – that’s a savings of up to $240 per round trip for a family of four ($30 each way, per person).
  • Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
  • Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding.
  • 2X miles at Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 1 miles per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • Want even more flexibility? Take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com.
  • Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases after using your Card.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • $0 introductory Annual Fee for the first year, then $99. (See Rates and Fees)
  • Terms Apply.

40,000 Skymiles is worth at least $400 in Delta airfare. Delta offers a minimum value out of your Skymiles via the “Pay with Miles” option. That means 50,000 Skymiles can reduce the price of your Delta ticket by $500 at the very least. (5,000 mile = $50 minimum redemption.) You can still book the traditional award tickets and possibly get better value.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

  • Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
  • Status Boost(R) details. Earn 10,000 Medallion(R) Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Delta Platinum Card, up to two times through 12/31/23. Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available, and there will be a new way to earn toward Medallion Status with the Card. Learn more at delta.com/skymilesprogramchanges.
  • Up to $100 Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck(R) after you apply through any Official Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
  • Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate: Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
  • First checked bag free on Delta flights – that’s a savings of up to $240 per round trip for a family of four ($30 each way, per person).
  • Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
  • Delta Sky Club(R) access. Get access to Delta Sky Club(R) at a rate of $50 per person per visit for you and up to two guests or immediate family when traveling on a Delta flight from now until 12/31/23. Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available.
  • Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding.
  • Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
  • Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
  • Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • $250 annual fee. (See Rates and Fees)
  • Terms Apply.

The Platinum version can be a worthy upgrade from the Gold version if you can take advantage of the annual Companion Certificate (i.e. book two tickets together on Delta at least once a year). I’ve used it several times in the past and it is easy to use while booking tickets online at Delta.com. My savings from using the companion certificate has ranged from $200 to $500.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

  • Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
  • Status Boost(R) details. With Status Boost(R), earn 15,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card through 12/31/23, up to four times per year getting you closer to Medallion Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion Status and are different from the miles you earn towards flights. Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available, and there will be a new way to earn toward Medallion Status with the Card. Learn more at delta.com/skymilesprogramchanges.
  • Delta Sky Club(R) access. Enjoy Delta Sky Club(R) access at no cost and bring up to two guests or immediate family at a rate of $50 per person per visit. Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 10 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.
  • Centurion Lounge access. Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion(R) Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
  • Save 15% On Award Travel. Eligible Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
  • Up to $100 Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck(R) after you apply through any Official Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
  • First Class Main Cabin domestic round-trip companion certificate. Receive a domestic First Class, Delta Comfort+(R) or domestic Main Cabin round trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
  • First checked bag free on Delta flights – that’s a savings of up to $240 per round trip for a family of four ($30 each way, per person).
  • Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases.
  • Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
  • $550 annual fee. (See Rates and Fees)
  • Terms Apply.

The Reserve version can be a worthy upgrade for frequent Delta fliers. Enjoy Delta Sky Club and/or Centurion Lounge access on your Delta flights, that First Class companion certificate can be worth thousands, earn additional MQMs on your purchases, etc.

BUSINESS Card Versions

Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card

  • Limited Time Offer: Earn 75,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn an additional 5,000 Bonus Miles after you make an eligible Delta purchase with your new card within your first 6 months. Offer Ends 10/25/23.
  • Save 15% On Award Travel. Card Members save 15% when booking Award Travel with miles on Delta flights when using delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
  • $100 Delta flight credit. Additionally, receive a $100 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel after you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
  • First checked bag free on Delta flights – that’s a savings of up to $240 per round trip for a family of four ($30 each way, per person).
  • Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding.
  • Earn 2 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases at U.S. shipping providers and eligible U.S. advertising purchases in select media. Effective 1/1/2024, this benefit will have a cap of $50,000 in eligible purchases per category, per year. Earn 2 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and on every eligible dollar spent at restaurants. Earn 1 Mile on every eligible dollar spent on other purchases.
  • $0 annual fee for the first year, then $99. (See Rates and Fees)
  • Terms Apply.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card

  • Limited Time Offer: Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $8,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn an additional 10,000 Bonus Miles after you make an eligible Delta purchase with your new Card within your first 6 months. Offer Ends 10/25/23.
  • Save 15% On Award Travel. Delta SkyMiles(R) Platinum Business American Express Card Members save 15% when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
  • Status Boost(R) details. With Status Boost(R), earn 10,000 Medallion(R) Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to 2x per year getting you closer to Medallion Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion Status and are different from the miles you earn towards flights. Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available, and there will be a new way to earn toward Medallion Status with the Card. Learn more at delta.com/skymilesprogramchanges.
  • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. Worth up to $100 towards Global Entry (which includes TSA PreCheck).
  • Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate. You can receive a domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
  • First checked bag free on Delta flights – that’s a savings of up to $240 per round trip for a family of four ($30 each way, per person).
  • Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding.
  • Earn 3 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and on every eligible dollar spent on purchases made directly with hotels.
  • Earn more miles on big purchases with 1.5 miles per dollar on single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more (that’s an extra half mile per dollar), up to 50,000 additional miles per Calendar year. If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply (ex. you would earn 3X miles on purchases made directly with Delta and hotels instead of 1.5X).
  • Delta Sky Club(R) Access. Get access to Delta Sky Club(R) at a rate of $50 per person per visit for you and up to two guests or immediate family while flying together on Delta. Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available.
  • $250 annual fee. (See Rates and Fees)
  • Terms and limitations apply.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card

  • Limited Time Offer: Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after spending $12,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn an additional 10,000 Bonus Miles after you make an eligible Delta purchase with your new Card within your first 6 months. Offer Ends 10/25/2023.
  • Save 15% On Award Travel. Card Members now enjoy savings on Delta flights. Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
  • Status Boost(R) details. With Status Boost(R), earn 15,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card through 12/31/23, up to four times per year getting you closer to Medallion Status.* MQMs are used to determine Medallion Status and are different from the miles you earn towards flights.*Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available, and there will be a new way to earn toward Medallion Status with the Card. Learn more.
  • Delta Sky Club(R) Access. With complimentary access into Delta Sky Club(R), you can relax before your Delta flight, or find downtime between connections.* You’ll also receive two Delta Sky Club One-Time Guest Passes each year so you can share the experience with others when you’re traveling together. *Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 10 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.
  • Centurion Lounge access. Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion(R) Lounge or Escape lounges -The Centurion(R) Studio Partner when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
  • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. Worth up to $100 towards Global Entry (which includes TSA PreCheck).
  • First Class Main Cabin domestic round-trip companion certificate. Receive a domestic First Class, Delta Comfort+(R) or domestic Main Cabin round trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card.*Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
  • First checked bag free on Delta flights – that’s a savings of up to $240 per round trip for a family of four ($30 each way, per person).
  • Enjoy 3X miles per dollar on eligible Delta purchases.
  • After you spend $150,000 on your Card in a calendar year, you earn 1.5 miles per dollar (that’s an extra half mile per dollar) on eligible purchases the rest of the year. If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply (ex. you would earn 3X miles on purchases made directly with Delta instead of 1.5X).
  • $550 annual fee. (See Rates and Fees)
  • Terms and limitations apply.

Again, Delta offers a minimum value out of your Skymiles via the “Pay with Miles” option. That means 100,000 Skymiles can reduce the price of your Delta ticket by $1,000 at the very least. (5,000 mile = $50 minimum redemption.) You can still book the traditional award tickets and possibly get better value.

In my opinion, the Delta Gold is still the best for most casual Delta customers because of the free checked bag, new $100 flight credit, and relatively big sign-up bonus. The main draw of the Platinum is the MQMs for those that want to achieve status (and thus free upgrades), along with the Main Cabin companion certificate. The main draw of the Reserve cards is MQMs, the airport lounge access and the First Class companion certificate. I have used the companion certificate several times in the past and have gotten good value out of it.

During a limited-time offer, I will add these to my list of the Top 10 Best Credit Card Bonus Offers.

Filed Under: Credit Cards, Deals & Offers, General
Last updated: September 14, 2023
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards, and may receive a commission from card issuers. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned. MyMoneyBlog.com is also a member of the Amazon Associate Program, and if you click through to Amazon and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. Thank you for your support.

Capital One Venture X Business Card Review: 150,000 Miles Intro Bonus

September 12, 2023 By Jonathan Ping 5 Comments
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards and may receive a commission. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned.

The Capital One Venture X Business Card is the newest entry into the ultra-premium business card category, with features similar to the Capital One Venture X Rewards credit card for consumers (you can have both at the same time). It has a large new-cardholder bonus, loads of perks, and a hefty annual fee. The net result is a first-year value of over $1,500! Let’s take a look at what it offers:

  • 150,000 bonus miles (equal to $1,500 towards travel) when you spend $30,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs.
  • $300 Annual Travel Credit. Get up to $300 in annual statement credits when booking through Capital One Travel. Book your choice of flights, hotel nights, or car rentals. You can redeem these in partial amounts over the course of the year.
  • 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary.
  • Up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Valid once every 4 years.
  • Airport lounge access. Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,200+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges, Priority Pass(TM) and Plaza Premium Group lounges.
  • Elevate your stay at luxury hotels and resorts from the Premier Collection with a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits on every booking.
  • This card has no preset spending limit, so you get purchasing power that adapts to your spending needs.
  • Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease.
  • This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month.
  • Annual fee is $395. Free employee cards.

If you use your credit card to pay your income taxes, right now the lowest processing fee is only 1.85%. That means that as long as you have enough travel purchases to offset, the 2X miles per dollar spent in rewards from this card (effectively 2% back towards travel) will more than offset the payment processor fee, while also counting towards the bonus requirements.

Here is the rewards structure on purchases:

  • 10X Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
  • 5X Miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel.
  • 2X Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day.
  • Redeem miles for any airline, any hotel, rental cars, and more.
  • Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs.

Redemption details. Capital One “miles” can be redeemed directly for a cash statement credit on a 1 mile = $0.01 basis when offsetting any travel purchase made on the card within the past 90 days. In other words, 100,000 miles = $1,000 toward travel. That means you can fly on any airline or stay at any hotel, pay with this card, and then “erase” that purchase using your miles balance later. This even includes AirBNB vacation rentals, car rentals, and Uber rides.

This means that earning 2 miles on on every $1 in purchases essentially makes this a 2% back card when applied towards travel. Earn even higher rewards of 5 miles per $1 spent on on flights booked through Capital One Travel, and 10 miles per $1 spent on on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

The Capital One Travel portal offers price matching: if you find a better price on another website within 24 hours of booking, they will refund you the difference.

Miles transfer options. Capital One now allows you to transfer your “miles” into select airline miles programs as well. Here are the airline transfer partners:

  • Aeromexico
  • Air France/KLM
  • Air Canada Aeroplan
  • Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
  • Avianca Lifemiles
  • British Airways Avios
  • Emirates Skywards
  • Etihad
  • EVA
  • Finnair
  • Qantas
  • Singapore Airlines Krisflyer
  • TAP Air Portugal
  • Turkish Airlines
  • Virgin Red

Hotel partners

  • Accor Live Limitless
  • Choice Hotels

If you know how to leverage one of these international airline miles programs, this can be a very valuable option. Otherwise, it’s nice to know you can always get a certain level of value by redeeming against any travel purchase.

Airport lounge access details. Capital One is creating their own lounges within select airports (currently in Washington DC’s Dulles Airport and Dallas/Forth Worth). Venture X Business cardholders get unlimited access and can bring 2 free guests per visit. Employee cards do not get lounge access benefits.

You also get Priority Pass membership, which includes access to 1,200+ participating VIP lounges and even included credits to spend at some restaurants, in more than 600 cities and more than 148 countries. You can bring yourself and up to 2 free guests.

Many people aren’t aware of the fact that they can apply for business credit cards, even if they are not a corporation or LLC. The business type is called a sole proprietorship, and these days many people are full-time or part-time consultants, freelancers, eBay/Amazon/Etsy sellers, Uber/Lyft drivers, or other one-person business owners. This is the simplest business entity, but it is fully legit and recognized by the IRS. On a business credit card application, you should use your own legal name as the business name, and your Social Security Number as the Tax ID.

Business cards from Capital One don’t show up on personal credit reports, so your outstanding balance, credit limit, and closure states won’t affect your credit score. You’ll still see a credit check on your personal credit report from the initial application.

Bottom line. The card_name is an ultra-premium business rewards card that earns a minimum of 2 Miles per dollar on all purchases, which you can either redeem against any travel purchase or transfer to one of their airline/hotel partners. There is a generous new-customer offer of 150,000 bonus miles (worth $1,500 towards travel). If you can take advantage of the $300 annual travel credit, $100 Global Entry fee credit, and add the 10,000 miles on every anniversary, then you’ve effectively offset the $395 annual fee in all future years. To top it all off, the airport lounge access is very nice.

Due to the $1,500+ first-year value, I will be adding this to my Top 10 Best Small Business Card Bonus Offers.

Filed Under: Credit Cards, Deals & Offers
Last updated: September 28, 2023
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards, and may receive a commission from card issuers. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned. MyMoneyBlog.com is also a member of the Amazon Associate Program, and if you click through to Amazon and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. Thank you for your support.

Fierce Finance Review: 5.25% APY + Up to $500 Deposit Bonus (App Only)

September 12, 2023 By Jonathan Ping 1 Comment
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards and may receive a commission. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned.

Update: Now, I’m not sure if you can do both, but my Fierce app is showing a $25 referral bonus if you open a new account and deposit $250. I would just consider this as an alternative if you don’t want to deposit $1,000+ for the bonus below. Swagbucks also has their own bonus (currently I see 3,000 SB for a $25 deposit).

Original post:

Fierce Finance is another small fintech with big ambitions. Currently available as an iPhone app (Android “coming soon”), it combines a checking account, stock trading, and crypto. Notably, the checking account pays 5.25% APY and has new customer bonus of up to $500 depending on deposit size. Additional details below.

Banking

  • 5.25% APY (as of 9/12/23) on the Fierce Checking Account.
  • No monthly fees, no minimum balance requirement.
  • Banking services provided by Cross River Bank, Member FDIC.
  • Uses the Allpoint ATM network of 55,000 surcharge-free ATMs worldwide.
  • “Live Support via phone, email, or live chat.”

Investing

  • It says “zero management fees”, I can only guess they also have zero stock commissions like nearly everyone else.
  • Brokerage services provided by FIN2, member FINRA and SIPC.
  • “Earn yield on your stocks” – I’m guessing this is also just fully paid securities lending.
  • Regulated Crypto Trading in all 50 states.

Deposit Bonus details. If you open a new Fierce account and reach one of the deposit tiers below within 30 days of account opening, keep it there for 180 days, and keep your account open for 210 days, you can receive the following bonus amount:

  • $25 for deposits of $1,000+
  • $100 for deposits of $10,000+
  • $200 for deposits of $30,000+
  • $500 for deposits of $100,000+

If everything goes perfectly, the $100 for $10,000 deposit tier would add about 2% to your APY over that period (in reality probably a little less). As long as they maintain their currently competitive interest rate, it’s not a bad combined total return for 6-7 months.

Full terms and conditions from the App Store page:

The Deposit Bonus offer is only available to new customers that meet all current account opening requirements.

To qualify for the Deposit Bonus, you are required to open a new Fierce account and initiate cumulative new money deposits, according to the table below, within 30 days of account opening. The cumulative value or greater must remain in your Fierce account for a minimum of 180 days. The Deposit Bonus will be credited to your Fierce Cash account at the end of the following month. Accounts must be kept open for 210 days from the time of qualifying. Normal account service charges and miscellaneous charges may apply to the Fierce account, which may reduce earnings.

Deposit Bonus:
$25 for deposits of $1k+
$100 for deposits of $10k+
$200 for deposits of $30k+
$500 for deposits of $100k+

The Deposit Bonus offer cannot be used in combination with any other Fierce promotional offer. For tax purposes, the value of the bonus will be reported to the IRS on Form 1099-INT. Fierce reserves the right to limit an individual to one account-related gift incentive per rolling 12-month period. Accounts closed at the time of bonus payment are not eligible. Offer is subject to cancellation without notice and cannot be combined with any other bonus offer. Fierce is not responsible for, and will not honor, promotional offers that appear on third-party websites that are not authorized by Fierce.

Filed Under: Banking, Deals & Offers
Last updated: September 15, 2023
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards, and may receive a commission from card issuers. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned. MyMoneyBlog.com is also a member of the Amazon Associate Program, and if you click through to Amazon and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. Thank you for your support.

Michigan MESP 529 College Savings Plan: $100 Bonus Per Accountholder/Beneficiary Combo

September 11, 2023 By Jonathan Ping 2 Comments
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards and may receive a commission. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned.

The Michigan Education Savings Program (MESP) is offering a $100 bonus when you open a new account by 9/30/23 and deposit $1,000+ within 10 business days of establishing the account. Your $100 matching deposit will arrive by 1/31/24. The 529 account must be open with a non-zero balance to receive the bonus.

Compared to all 529 plans nationwide, MESP is a top overall plan with reasonable costs and good investment options (official plan of Michigan, run by TIAA-CREF), making it an excellent option for those without specific in-state tax incentives. See here to compare 529 tax benefits across all 50 states.

This offer is very similar to the ScholarShare 529 promo, as both are managed by TIAA-CREF and this also has a limit of “one (1) Matching Deposit pernew Michigan Education Savings Program (MESP) account per unique accountholder/beneficiary combination.” Please see that post for more background information. Additional considerations for this promo:

  • Michigan taxpayers may qualify for a state tax deduction up to $10,000 if married filing jointly ($5000 single), for contributions made into an MESP account.
  • You should be able to stack this with other 529 offers like that from California Scholarshare. If you have multiple 529 accounts from different state plans/managers, you can later transfer the balances and merge them into each other, although there may be a modest amount of paperwork required each time. You are allowed one rollover per beneficiary during a rolling 12-month period.

From the full fine print:

Offer Description: The Michigan Education Savings Program (MESP) is a 529 college saving splan administered bythe Michigan Department of Treasury, and managed by TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing, Inc. (“TFI”). To receive a $100 matching deposit (“the Matching Deposit”), eligible individuals must (a) open a new Michigan Education Savings Program (MESP) account (for a new beneficiary) online at www.MIsaves.com between September 1, 2023 at 12:01 AM Eastern Time (ET) and September 30, 2023 at 11:59 PM ET with an initial deposit of at least $1,000 to be contributed and invested at the time the new Michigan Education Savings Program (MESP) account is opened. The initial $1,000 deposit must be received within 10 business days after the account is established. The Matching Deposit will be made to the eligible Michigan Education Savings Program (MESP) account on or before 8:59 PM ET on January 31, 2024. To receive the Matching Deposit, the Michigan Education Savings Program (MESP) account must be open with a dollar balance greater than zero on the day the Matching Deposit is made. Limit: one (1) Matching Deposit per new Michigan Education Savings Program (MESP) account per unique accountholder/beneficiary combination.

Filed Under: College & Education, Deals & Offers, Investing, Taxes
Last updated: September 11, 2023
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards, and may receive a commission from card issuers. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned. MyMoneyBlog.com is also a member of the Amazon Associate Program, and if you click through to Amazon and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. Thank you for your support.

Oklahoma 529 College Savings Plan: $50/$100 Bonus Per Beneficiary

September 11, 2023 By Jonathan Ping Leave a Comment
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards and may receive a commission. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned.

The Oklahoma 529 College Savings Plan is offering a $50 or $100 bonus when you open a new account and meet these deposit requirements:

  • $50 bonus: Open with a minimum initial deposit of $250 and set up recurring contributions via bank account or direct deposit) of $50 or more per month until 3/31/2024.
  • $100 bonus: Open with a minimum initial deposit of $500 and set up recurring contributions (via bank account or direct deposit) of $100 or more per month until 3/31/2024. Note that the info on the offer page conflicts with the fine print.
  • After six months, your $50 or $100 bonus will be deposited in your account on or before 5/17/2024.

Compared to all 529 plans nationwide, MESP is an above-average overall plan with reasonable costs and investment options (official plan of Oklahoma, run by TIAA-CREF), making it an acceptable option for those without specific in-state tax incentives. See here to compare 529 tax benefits across all 50 states.

Note that this offer has a limit of “Only one Matching Deposit per new Oklahoma 529 account per beneficiary”, which is more restrictive than the ScholarShare 529 bonus promo. Please see that post for more background information. Additional considerations for this promo:

  • Oklahoma taxpayers may qualify for a state tax deduction up to $20,000 if married filing jointly ($10,000 single) for contributions made into Oklahoma 529 account.
  • You should be able to stack this with other 529 offers like that from California Scholarshare. If you have multiple 529 accounts from different state plans/managers, you can later transfer the balances and merge them into each other, although there may be a modest amount of paperwork required each time. You are allowed one rollover per beneficiary during a rolling 12-month period.

From the full fine print:

PROMOTION DESCRIPTION: To receive a $50 promotion deposit (“the Promotion Deposit”), eligible individuals must (a) open a new Oklahoma 529 account (for a new unique Account Owner/Beneficiary combination) online during the Promotion Period with an initial deposit of at least $250 to be contributed and invested at the time the new account is opened and (b) establish a recurring contribution (from a bank account or by payroll direct deposit) for the new account of at least $50 per month, and shall be maintained at minimum through 11:59 PM CT on March 31, 2024. The Promotion Deposit will be made to the eligible account on or before May 17, 2024.

To receive a $100 promotion deposit, eligible individuals must: a) open a new Oklahoma 529 account (for a new unique Account Owner/Beneficiary combination) online during the Promotion Period with an initial deposit of at least $500 to be contributed and invested at the time the new account is opened and (b) establish a recurring contribution (from a bank account or by payroll direct deposit) for the new account of at least $100 per month, and shall be maintained at minimum through 11:59 PM CT on March 31, 2024. The Promotion Deposit will be made to the eligible account on or before May 17, 2024.

Limit: Only one Matching Deposit per new Oklahoma 529 account per beneficiary. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.

Filed Under: College & Education, Deals & Offers, Investing, Taxes
Last updated: September 11, 2023
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards, and may receive a commission from card issuers. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned. MyMoneyBlog.com is also a member of the Amazon Associate Program, and if you click through to Amazon and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. Thank you for your support.

Top 10 Best Credit Card Bonus Offers – September 2023 (Updated)

September 7, 2023 By Jonathan Ping 33 Comments
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards and may receive a commission. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned.

Updated and checked September 2023. That space in your wallet or purse is valuable, and you should be the one to get that value. By being smart and picky, you can find offers worth $500+ for a single card, all to encourage you to apply and try it out. This adds up to thousands of dollars in extra income (over $3,000 so far in 2023). These are the top 10 credit card offers that I would personally apply for right now (or have already). Notable recent changes:

  • Added Aeroplan 100k, JetBlue 75k, Wyndham 75k, IHG 140k+credit, Hawaiian 70k
  • Removed AmEx Green 60k+200, Delta 65k, AA Red 70k, Southwest 60k+30%off, Citi Premier 75k

This is a companion post to my Top 10 Best Business Card Offers. Small business bonuses are on average even higher than those on consumer cards.

Chase Aeroplan Credit Card

  • Up to 100,000 points – 75,000 points after $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months, plus 25,000 points after $20,000 on purchases in the first 12 months. 100,000 points is worth $1,250 in travel value on ANY airline with Pay Yourself Back®. See link for details.
  • Free first checked bags on Air Canada flights: one free checked bag for the primary cardmember and up to eight other travelers on the same itinerary.
  • Aeroplan 25K Elite Status benefits for the remainder of the first calendar year, plus the following calendar year.
  • $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit.
  • $95 annual fee.
  • Subject to 5/24 rule.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

  • 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points (worth $750 towards travel or transferrable to miles/points) after $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. See link for details.
  • $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards(R), 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases.
  • $95 annual fee.
  • Subject to 5/24 rule.*
  • Upgrade pick: Chase Sapphire Reserve Card. Higher travel perks including airport lounge access, higher annual fee.

The Platinum Card from American Express

  • 80,000 Membership Rewards(R) points after $8,000 in purchases in the first 6 months.
  • $200 Hotel Credits, $240 Streaming Credits, $200 Airline Fee Credits, $200 Uber Cash, $189 CLEAR Credit, $300 Equinox credit, $155 Walmart+ credit and more annually!
  • $100 Global Entry or $85 TSA PreCheck fee credit.
  • Premium airport lounge access through the American Express Global Lounge Collection®.
  • $695 annual fee.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Card

  • 75,000 miles (worth $750 towards travel, or transferrable to miles) after $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. See link for details.
  • $300 annual travel credit. Get up to $300 in statement credits when booking through Capital One Travel.
  • Additional 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary.
  • Priority Pass + Capital One airport lounge access. Additional cardholders are free, and also get their own Priority Pass!
  • Up to $100 credit towards TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee.
  • $395 annual fee.

American Express® Gold Card

  • 60,000 Membership Rewards points after $4,000 in purchases in first 6 months. Limited-time offer. See link for details.
  • $120 in Uber Cash annually (good towards Uber Eats or Uber rides in the US).
  • $120 in annual dining credit at Grubhub, Seamless, and more.
  • 4X points at restaurants.
  • 4X points at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 per year.
  • $250 annual fee.

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

  • 140,000 IHG Rewards club points after $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. Plus, earn up to $100 in IHG® statement credits on purchases at IHG® Hotels and Resorts during the first 12 months. See link for details.
  • Free Night after each account anniversary year (valued up to 40,000 IHG points).
  • $99 annual fee.
  • Subject to 5/24 rule.
  • Don’t like annual fees? The no-annual fee Traveler version is now offering 80,000 IHG bonus points + $50 IHG credit.

JetBlue Plus Card

  • Up to 75,000 bonus TrueBlue points – 70,000 bonus points after $1,000 on purchases and paying the $99 annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days. Plus additional 5,000 bonus points if you apply using the special application link given. See link for details.
  • First checked bag free for the primary cardmember and up to 3 companions when tickets are purchased with your JetBlue Plus Card.
  • $99 annual fee.

Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card

  • 75,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days. See link for details.
  • 75k points worth between 2 and 10 free nights. Wyndham hotel award nights cost between 7,500 to 30,000 points.
  • Automatic upgrade to Wyndham Rewards Platinum status.
  • $75 annual fee.

British Airways Visa Signature Card

  • 75,000 Avios after $5,000 in purchases within first 3 months. See link for details and redemption tips.
  • 10% off British Airways flights starting in the US when you book through the website provided in your welcome materials.
  • Free Travel Together companion ticket when you spend $30,000 in calendar year.
  • $95 annual fee.

Chase United Explorer Card

  • 60,000 miles after $3,000 in purchases within 3 months. See link for details.
  • Free first checked bag for both you and a companion (a savings of up to $140 per roundtrip) when you use your Card to purchase your United ticket.
  • Expanded award availability. Having this card makes it easier to find that saver award economy ticket.
  • $0 annual fee for the first year, then $95.
  • Subject to 5/24 rule.

Capital One Venture Rewards Card

  • 75,000 miles (worth $500 towards travel, or transferrable to miles) after $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. See link for details.
  • 2% cash back on ALL purchases.
  • Up to $100 credit towards TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee.
  • $95 annual fee.

Bank of America Premium Rewards Card

  • 60,000 points (worth $600) after $4,000 in purchases within the first 90 days. See link for details.
  • 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases. Eligible for 25%-75% boost with Preferred Rewards status.
  • $100 annual Airline Incidental Statement Credit.
  • Up to $100 credit towards TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee.
  • $95 annual fee.

Hawaiian Airlines MasterCard

  • 70,000 Hawaiian miles after any purchase (of any amount) within the first 90 days. Any 6-digit code will work, like “000000”. See link for details.
  • Free first checked bag for primary cardmember.
  • One-time 50% off companion discount for roundtrip coach travel between Hawaii and The Mainland on Hawaiian Airlines.
  • $99 annual fee.

Alaska Airlines Visa Card (Bank of America)

  • 62,000 bonus miles + Companion Fare voucher after $3,000 in purchases within first 90 days. See link for details.
  • Companion fare voucher is “Buy one ticket, get one from $122” ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from just $23).
  • Free checked bag on Alaska flights for you and up to six other passengers on the same reservation (worth $60 roundtrip per person).
  • $95 annual fee.

Citi Premier Card

  • 60,000 points (worth $600 in gift cards, or transferrable to miles/points) after $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months. See link for details.
  • 3X points for every $1 spent on restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel and hotels.
  • Must not have gotten bonus from or closed a Citi Rewards+, ThankYou Preferred, Premier, or Prestige card in the past 24 months.
  • $95 annual fee.

U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card

  • 50,000 bonus points (worth $500 in statement credits) after $2,000 in purchases within 120 days. See link for details.
  • 4X points on travel and gas stations, 2X points on dining and grocery stores.
  • Up to $100 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
  • $30 annual streaming bonus.
  • $0 annual fee the first year, $95/year thereafter.

Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Red Mastercard

  • 50,000 American Airlines miles after any purchase in the first 90 days. See link for details.
  • First checked bag free on domestic AA flights ($60 value per roundtrip, per person).
  • $99 annual fee.

If you pay off your balances every month, then you can join me and many others in funding a huge chunk of your annual travel budget with cash credits, points, and miles. I mostly use my rewards points on family trips – domestic economy flights, mid-range hotels, and cheap car rentals. If you have credit card debt, you should focus on paying that off first as the interest charges could offset most of the perks.

* 5/24 Rule? Certain Chase cards have a “5/24 rule” which is an unofficial rule that they will automatically deny approval on new credit cards if you have 5 or more new credit cards from any issuer on your credit report within the past 24 months (2 years). This rule applies on a per-person basis, so if you are new, you might want to start with those Chase cards.

Filed Under: Credit Cards, Deals & Offers Tagged With:
Last updated: September 22, 2023
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards, and may receive a commission from card issuers. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned. MyMoneyBlog.com is also a member of the Amazon Associate Program, and if you click through to Amazon and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. Thank you for your support.

World of Hyatt Business Card Review: Up to 75,000 Bonus Points + $100 Annual Hyatt Statement Credits

September 7, 2023 By Jonathan Ping Leave a Comment
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards and may receive a commission. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned.

Improved 75k offer. The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card issued by Chase is the small business version of the consumer World of Hyatt credit card. Here are the highlights:

  • Up to 75,000 Total Bonus Points. 60,000 Bonus Points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Additionally, earn 15,000 Bonus Points after you spend $12,000 in the first 6 months.
  • Up to $100 in Hyatt statement credits – spend $50 or more at any Hyatt property and earn $50 statement credits up to two times each anniversary year.
  • 9X points total per $1 spent at Hyatt – 4 Bonus Points per $1 when you use your card at Hyatt hotels & 5 Base Points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member.
  • 2X Points per $1 spent in your top three spend categories each quarter through 12/31/24, then your top two categories each quarter.
  • 2X Points per $1 spent on fitness club and gym memberships
  • 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
  • 5 Tier-Qualifying night credits toward status and Milestone rewards for every $10,000 you spend in a calendar year.
  • World of Hyatt Discoverist status for as long as your account is open. Plus, gift Discoverist status to up to five employees.
  • 10% Redemption bonus. Spend $50,000 in a calendar year and get 10% of your redeemed points back for the rest of the year.
  • $199 annual fee.

Under-the-radar benefit: The “2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in your top three spend categories each quarter through 12/31/24, then your top two categories each quarter” is pretty good if you want to earn 2X Hyatt points per dollar spent. Eligible categories are:

  • Dining
  • Shipping
  • Airline tickets when purchased directly with the airline
  • Local transit & commuting
  • Social media & search engine Advertising
  • Car rental agencies
  • Gas stations
  • Internet, cable & phone services

Application details. Note the following:

This bonus offer is available to you if you do not have this card and have not received a new Cardmember bonus for this card in the past 24 months.

The 5/24 rule is believed to apply to this card. On many Chase cards, there is an unwritten rule that they will automatically deny approval on new credit cards if you have 5 or more new credit cards from any issuer on your credit report within the past 2 years (aka the 5/24 rule). This rule is designed to discourage folks that apply for high numbers of sign-up bonuses. This is applied on a per-person basis, so in our household one applies to Chase while the other applies at other card issuers.

The value of Hyatt hotel points. The most valuable redemption options are for free hotel nights, points+cash hotel combinations, and/or room upgrades. Hyatt allows you the flexibility of combining your points with any other World of Hyatt member to redeem an award. They are also somewhat unique in that you can book a suite directly with points.

Below is their points award chart, and here is their award search tool. Free rooms start at 3,500 points, and you can book suites with points as well.

If you compare with the cash cost of these hotels, the number varies but you are nearly always getting between 1 cent and 2 cents per point value on the low end, and possibly much more on the luxury end. We stayed at Grand Hyatt Kauai on Hyatt points (earned via credit cards), where the cash value is $701 per night when you include all taxes and the $35/night resort fee. That worked out to 2.8 cents per Hyatt point.

I am conservative with point valuations, so I prefer to use a simple value of 1 cent per Hyatt point. After the Marriott/Starwood merger, I believe that Hyatt points are now the most valuable hotel points on a per-point basis. In general, I would rather convert my Chase Ultimate Rewards points into Hyatt points than any other hotel program.

Hyatt points expire after 24 months of inactivity, but earning points via this credit card counts as activity. Chase Ultimate Rewards points also convert to Hyatt points and the transfer counts as activity.

The free Discoverist status from this card gets you a free bottle of water daily, a free upgrade to premium WiFi internet, dedicated check-in area, and a 2pm late checkout upon request at participating locations. You are also eligible for a minor room upgrade within your type booked.

Bottom line. The new World of Hyatt Business Credit Card offers the best value to small businesses that frequently stay at Hyatt properties. (World of Hyatt is my favorite hotel rewards program.) The first-year value on this business card is very strong. 60,000 Hyatt points even at a conservative 1 cent per point value is worth $600. One perk missing that is included with the consumer version of this card is the Free Night award each after your Cardmember anniversary at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort, but that is effectively replaced by the $100 statement credit. As long as you have two $50+ charges at a Hyatt property (including a food or spa purchase), that is another $100. Ignoring every other perk and subtracting the $199 annual fee, that’s still an estimated first-year value of $500.

I will be adding this to my Top 10 Best Small Business Card Bonus Offers.

Filed Under: Credit Cards, Deals & Offers, General
Last updated: September 8, 2023
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards, and may receive a commission from card issuers. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned. MyMoneyBlog.com is also a member of the Amazon Associate Program, and if you click through to Amazon and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. Thank you for your support.

Schwab Cash Sweep Options – Increase Yield 10X, Updated September 2023

September 6, 2023 By Jonathan Ping 20 Comments
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards and may receive a commission. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned.

Updated September 2023. Charles Schwab became a major player by offering discounted stock trades back when high commissions were the norm. These days, nearly every broker offers $0 commission trades on online equity/ETF trades. Where they differ is how they choose to squeeze out profit in such a lean environment. Even though Schwab will deny it publicly, they have chosen in many cases to focus on earning interest from their customers’ idle cash as one of their major sources of revenue.

Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, they all make money by making money off your idle checking account balances while paying you nothing or 0.01% APY. They could all pay you more interest, but they don’t. This is why I post regular updates and monthly summaries of better banking options.

However, Schwab has the worst default cash sweep option for cash sweep amongst the “Big Three” brokerage firms by asset size (Vanguard, Fidelity, Schwab). Their mandatory default cash sweep pays only 0.48% APY as of 9/6/23.

For comparison, Vanguard’s default cash sweep is the Vanguard Federal Money Market Fund, which has an SEC yield of 5.27% as of 9/6/23. If I make a sale or receive a dividend distribution, my Vanguard cash automatically waits in this low-cost fund and earns a competitive interest rate. I may complain about how Vanguard is slipping in the customer service area, but this feature by itself is a major reason that I maintain my Vanguard brokerage account.

Fidelity has a FDIC cash sweep available as well, but they also let me switch my “core position” (their term for default cash sweep) to a higher-yield money market fund like Fidelity Treasury Money Market Fund (FZFXX) which has an SEC yield of 4.97% as of 9/6/23 or Fidelity Government Money Market Fund (SPAXX) which has an SEC yield of 4.97% as of 9/6/23. I find it amusing that Schwab was so chippy with Fidelity in this old article Zero Confusion: Setting the Record Straight. There is a reason why Schwab places that “one click” wall between you and a higher APY.

In the end, the most important thing is for you as the customer to understand the situation. Schwab still has other positive attributes and a reputation for good customer service. The good news is that there are several options for self-motivated individuals (like you that read posts like this!) who are willing to put forth a little effort to earn what could add up to hundreds or thousands in extra interest.

Manually invest in Schwab money market funds. The key is to visit this page: Schwab Purchased Money Funds for the most current fund options, minimums, and rates. These are not FDIC-insured, but they are still regulated by the SEC and required to hold very safe investments of a very short duration. Here the the available Schwab funds and SEC yields as of 9/5/23 with zero minimums. No transaction fees. There are higher-yielding options if you have more than $1 million.

  • Schwab Value Advantage Money Fund® – Investor Shares (SWVXX) 5.23%
  • Schwab Government Money Fund – Investor Shares (SNVXX) 5.05%
  • Schwab Treasury Obligations Money Fund – Investor Shares (SNOXX) 5.06%
  • Schwab U.S. Treasury Money Fund – Investor Shares (SNSXX) 5.03%

Again, these money market mutual funds can’t be set as an automatic sweep; you must manually move money in and out of the product. Every time you have a dividend or capital gains distribution, or you made a sale, you have to remember to move your cash (“sort”) into a higher-yielding option. This also means that if you want to for example buy new shares of stock, you would need to first put in an order to sell your money market mutual fund shares into cash (in order to have the funds available to buy that stock). The system won’t be able to automatically sell your fund. You’ll have to coordinate settlement times, and it may be helpful to have a margin account for faster funds availability.

Treasury bills (auction and secondary). You can buy US Treasury bills and bonds directly through the Schwab fixed income desk. You can place either an auction order for a “new” T-Bill or buy them on the secondary market. There is no commission for online orders and a $25 fee per broker-assisted trade.

Buying an outside ETF. You can also use your free stock trades to buy an ETF that is close to cash (ultra-short duration, high-quality bonds). These will not be FDIC-insured and carry a bit of duration risk, but if your ETF holds T-Bills then those are also fully backed by the US government. Here are a few ideas (note the the reported rates may lag by up to one month):

  • The iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (SGOV) has an effective duration of 0.10 years. SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF (BIL) has an effective duration of 0.08 years.
  • The PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Active Bond ETF (MINT) and the iShares Short Maturity Bond ETF (NEAR) hold a portfolio of investment-grade bonds with an average duration of ~6 months.

Bottom line. Charles Schwab has a default cash sweep option with a relatively tiny interest rate. To earn more, you must do some research and manually buy one of the alternatives listed above that can earn ~10x more.

Filed Under: Banking, Deals & Offers, Investing
Last updated: September 6, 2023
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards, and may receive a commission from card issuers. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned. MyMoneyBlog.com is also a member of the Amazon Associate Program, and if you click through to Amazon and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. Thank you for your support.

Moomoo Investing App Promo: $400 ACAT Transfer Bonus + Free $TSLA/$GOOG + $50 Cash Reward + 15 Free Stocks

September 6, 2023 By Jonathan Ping 54 Comments
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards and may receive a commission. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned.

Update September 2023: Both new and existing Moomoo users are eligible for an up to $400 ACAT Transfer promotion. The sweet spot is $100 cash reward for a $2,000+ of assets transferred from another broker (can be stocks or ETFs). Existing users must visit the link and login/register first. Full terms here.

New users should first take advantage of their new user free TSLA/GOOG stock promo. See original post below for more details on how to maximize this promo. Full terms here. After that, then take advantage of ACAT transfer promo as an existing user.

Original post:

Moomoo is a full-featured brokerage app with free stock trades, free options trades, and so on. Right now, they have increased their sign-up bonus significantly if you can deposit $5,000+ and maintain the deposit for 60 days. You must be a new client that has never made a deposit at Moomoo previously.

If you open a new Moomoo account via referral link (works on desktop, but recommend opening on mobile device if going to use app) and then deposit $5,000 during the promotion period (now through 9/30, but often extended) and maintain the average asset balance of $5,000+ for 60 days, you can receive all of the following:

  • 15 free shares of stocks, each worth between $2 and $2,000.
  • 1 bonus share of TSLA or GOOG stock.
  • $50 cash reward (* with referral link only, works as a deduction on stock purchase, details below)

If you conservatively assume the minimum $2 per share value and the current share prices for TSLA (~$252) and GOOG (~$135), the total bonus value would be an estimated 30 + 252/135 + 50 = $215 to $332. That’s an excellent ROI on a $5,000 deposit for 60 days, and you can also invest the $5,000 as you wish. Conservatively, you could hold an ETF like SGOV or BIL to trigger the $50 cash reward credit along with earning some additional interest with minimal risk. The previous standard offer was only worth 15 free shares (value ~$30). You can view the full terms here.

Note the following details about the cash reward and stock claiming process. In order to “cash out” your $50 coupons, you will need to make a trade worth at least $500 each (varies by promo). A simple trade would be to buy 5 shares of SGOV (1-3 month T-Bill ETF) which would cost about $500.xx. You’d trigger the cash coupon. In three business days, the trade will clear and you will own $500.xx of SGOV and $50 (whatever the coupon value) will be deposited as cash into your account. You can then sell the SGOV if you want, and clear roughly $500.xx again (some interest may have accrued or have been distributed). In the end, you’ll have roughly $550.xx in cash and can do whatever you want with it – reinvest, transfer out, etc. Pretty simple.

$50 Cash Reward to use towards your next order (subject to limitations below)

The Cash Reward is valid for 24 months. After receiving the Cash Reward, it will automatically be used towards your next order that totals at least $500, not including fees or commissions. The Cash Reward is only applicable for trading US market Stocks, Fund(REITs, ETF); HK market Stocks, Fund(REITs, ETF, Leveraged and Inverse Products); Cash Rewards represent the value of a potential credit to a brokerage account.

Don’t forget to claim your free stocks:

Where can I claim my rewards?
– Once your deposit settles and meets the promotion criteria, we’ll send you an in-app notification. Then you can go to the “Welcome Bonus” page on the moomoo app and tap the “Draw” button on the page to claim your rewards (You can go to the event page via “Me” – “Promotions” – “Welcome Bonus”. If you didn’t receive the in-app notification or any opportunities to draw within five business days after you met the promotion criteria, please do not hesitate to contact our customer service);
– Tap “Draw” to draw a free stock. If you have multiple opportunities, you can continue to draw until you use them up, and you need to finish the “Draw” within the promotion period.
– Within 5 business days of a successful draw, your free stock will be added to your account as “Pending” or “Frozen”. You can check it at the bottom of the “Brokerage Account” page in “Trade”.

How does moomoo choose your free stock in a draw?
Your free stock is chosen randomly according to a specific probability distribution, so you may not receive the same stock as others.
There is approximately a 92% chance of getting a share of stock worth $2-$9.99, a 7.9% chance of getting a share of stock worth $10-$99.99, and a 0.1% chance of getting a share of stock worth $100 or more.

Do I have to make a lump-sum deposit to meet the deposit criteria and get my bonus?
No. You can make deposits in any amount each time. If you successfully make an initial deposit during the promotion period and your average asset balance meets the promotion criteria, you will be eligible for the bonus.

Filed Under: Deals & Offers, Investing
Last updated: September 7, 2023
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards, and may receive a commission from card issuers. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned. MyMoneyBlog.com is also a member of the Amazon Associate Program, and if you click through to Amazon and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. Thank you for your support.

Best Interest Rates on Cash – September 2023

September 5, 2023 By Jonathan Ping 4 Comments
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards and may receive a commission. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned.

Here’s my monthly roundup of the best interest rates on cash as of September 2023, roughly sorted from shortest to longest maturities. There are often lesser-known opportunities available to individual investors. Check out my Ultimate Rate-Chaser Calculator to see how much extra interest you could earn from switching. Rates listed are available to everyone nationwide. Rates checked as of 9/5/2023.

TL;DR: Mostly minor movements this month. 6% APY now (barely) available with 12-month CD special and rewards checking accounts. Compare against Treasury bills and bonds at every maturity, taking into account state tax exemption.

Fintech accounts
Available only to individual investors, fintech companies often pay higher-than-market rates in order to achieve fast short-term growth (often using venture capital). “Fintech” is usually a software layer on top of a partner bank’s FDIC insurance.

  • 5.26% APY ($1 minimum). SaveBetter lets you switch between different FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit unions easily without opening a new account every time, and their liquid savings rates currently top out at 5.26% APY from multiple banks. See my SaveBetter review for details. SaveBetter does not charge a fee to switch between banks.
  • 5.30% APY (before fees). MaxMyInterest is another service that allows you to access and switch between different FDIC-insured banks. You can view their current banks and APYs here. As of 8/7/23, the highest rate is from Customers Bank at 5.30% APY. However, note that they charge a membership fee of 0.04% per quarter, or 0.16% per year (subject to $20 minimum per quarter, or $80 per year). That means if you have a $10,000 balance, then $80 a year = 0.80% per year. This service is meant for those with larger balances. You are allowed to cancel the service and keep the bank accounts, but then you may lose their specially-negotiated rates and cannot switch between banks anymore.

High-yield savings accounts
Since the huge megabanks STILL pay essentially no interest, everyone should have a separate, no-fee online savings account to piggy-back onto your existing checking account. The interest rates on savings accounts can drop at any time, so I list the top rates as well as competitive rates from banks with a history of competitive rates. Some banks will bait you with a temporary top rate and then lower the rates in the hopes that you are too lazy to leave.

  • The top rates at the moment are at Valley Direct and Milli.bank (app-only) at 5.25% APY. CIT Platinum Savings at 5.05% APY with $5,000+ balance.
  • SoFi Bank is now up to 4.50% APY + up to $275 new account bonus with direct deposit. You must maintain a direct deposit of any amount each month for the higher APY. SoFi has their own bank charter now so no longer a fintech by my definition. See details at $25 + $250 SoFi Money new account and deposit bonus.
  • There are several other established high-yield savings accounts at 4.25%+ APY that aren’t the absolute top rate, but historically do keep it relatively competitive for those that don’t want to keep switching banks.

Short-term guaranteed rates (1 year and under)
A common question is what to do with a big pile of cash that you’re waiting to deploy shortly (plan to buy a house soon, just sold your house, just sold your business, legal settlement, inheritance). My usual advice is to keep things simple and take your time. If not a savings account, then put it in a flexible short-term CD under the FDIC limits until you have a plan.

  • No Penalty CDs offer a fixed interest rate that can never go down, but you can still take out your money (once) without any fees if you want to use it elsewhere. CIT Bank has a 11-month No Penalty CD at 4.90% APY with a $1,000 minimum deposit. Ally Bank has a 11-month No Penalty CD at 4.55% APY for all balance tiers. Marcus has a 13-month No Penalty CD at 4.50% APY with a $500 minimum deposit. Consider opening multiple CDs in smaller increments for more flexibility.
  • American 1 Credit Union has a 12-month CD special at 6.00% APY. Probably won’t last long. Minimum opening deposit is $1,000. Early withdrawal penalty is 90 days interest. Anyone can join this credit union via $3 membership fee to join partner organization (must also keep $5 in share savings).
  • MapleMark Bank has a 12-month certificate at 5.75% APY. Also a limited-time offer. $25,000 minimum. Early withdrawal penalty is 6 months interest.

Money market mutual funds + Ultra-short bond ETFs*
Many brokerage firms that pay out very little interest on their default cash sweep funds (and keep the difference for themselves). * Money market mutual funds are regulated, but ultimately not FDIC-insured, so I would still stick with highly reputable firms. I am including a few ultra-short bond ETFs as they may be your best cash alternative in a brokerage account, but they may experience losses.

  • Vanguard Federal Money Market Fund is the default sweep option for Vanguard brokerage accounts, which has an SEC yield of 5.28%. Odds are this is much higher than your own broker’s default cash sweep interest rate.
  • The PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Active Bond ETF (MINT) has a 5.52% SEC yield and the iShares Short Maturity Bond ETF (NEAR) has a 5.57% SEC yield while holding a portfolio of investment-grade bonds with an average duration of ~6 months.

Treasury Bills and Ultra-short Treasury ETFs
Another option is to buy individual Treasury bills which come in a variety of maturities from 4-weeks to 52-weeks and are fully backed by the US government. You can also invest in ETFs that hold a rotating basket of short-term Treasury Bills for you, while charging a small management fee for doing so. T-bill interest is exempt from state and local income taxes, which can make a significant difference in your effective yield.

  • You can build your own T-Bill ladder at TreasuryDirect.gov or via a brokerage account with a bond desk like Vanguard and Fidelity. Here are the current Treasury Bill rates. As of 9/5/23, a new 4-week T-Bill had the equivalent of 5.38% annualized interest and a 52-week T-Bill had the equivalent of 5.43% annualized interest.
  • The iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (SGOV) has a 5.36% SEC yield and effective duration of 0.10 years. SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF (BIL) has a 5.18% SEC yield and effective duration of 0.08 years.

US Savings Bonds
Series I Savings Bonds offer rates that are linked to inflation and backed by the US government. You must hold them for at least a year. If you redeem them within 5 years there is a penalty of the last 3 months of interest. The annual purchase limit for electronic I bonds is $10,000 per Social Security Number, available online at TreasuryDirect.gov. You can also buy an additional $5,000 in paper I bonds using your tax refund with IRS Form 8888.

  • “I Bonds” bought between May 2023 and October 2023 will earn a 4.30% rate for the first six months. The rate of the subsequent 6-month period will be based on inflation again. More on Savings Bonds here.
  • In mid-October 2023, the CPI will be announced and you will have a short period where you will have a very close estimate of the rate for the next 12 months. I will have another post up at that time.
  • See below about EE Bonds as a potential long-term bond alternative.

Rewards checking accounts
These unique checking accounts pay above-average interest rates, but with unique risks. You have to jump through certain hoops which usually involve 10+ debit card purchases each cycle, a certain number of ACH/direct deposits, and/or a certain number of logins per month. If you make a mistake (or they judge that you did) you risk earning zero interest for that month. Some folks don’t mind the extra work and attention required, while others would rather not bother. Rates can also drop suddenly, leaving a “bait-and-switch” feeling.

  • Credit Union of New Jersey pays 6.00% APY on up to $25,000 if you make 15 debit card purchases, opt into online statements, and make at least 1 direct deposit, online bill payment, or automatic payment (ACH) per statement cycle. Anyone can join this credit union via $5 membership fee to join partner organization.
  • Pelican State Credit Union pays 6.05% APY on up to $10,000 if you make 15 debit card purchases, opt into online statements, log into your account at least once, and make at least 1 direct deposit, online bill payment, or automatic payment (ACH) per statement cycle. Anyone can join this credit union via partner organization membership.
  • Orion Federal Credit Union pays 6.00% APY on up to $10,000 if you make electronic deposits of $500+ each month (ACH transfers count) and spend $500+ on your Orion debit or credit card each month. Anyone can join this credit union via $10 membership fee to partner organization membership.
  • Genisys Credit Union pays 5.25% APY on up to $7,500 if you make 10 debit card purchases of $5+ each, and opt into receive only online statements. Anyone can join this credit union via $5 membership fee to join partner organization.
  • The Bank of Denver pays 5.00% APY on up to $25,000 if you make 12 debit card purchases of $5+ each, receive only online statements, and make at least 1 ACH credit or debit transaction per statement cycle. Thanks to reader Bill for the updated info.
  • All America/Redneck Bank pays 5.30% APY on up to $15,000 if you make 10 debit card purchases each monthly cycle with online statements.
  • Find a locally-restricted rewards checking account at DepositAccounts.

Certificates of deposit (greater than 1 year)
CDs offer higher rates, but come with an early withdrawal penalty. By finding a bank CD with a reasonable early withdrawal penalty, you can enjoy higher rates but maintain access in a true emergency. Alternatively, consider building a CD ladder of different maturity lengths (ex. 1/2/3/4/5-years) such that you have access to part of the ladder each year, but your blended interest rate is higher than a savings account. When one CD matures, use that money to buy another 5-year CD to keep the ladder going. Some CDs also offer “add-ons” where you can deposit more funds if rates drop.

  • United States Senate FCU has a 60-month CD at 4.86% APY $1,000 minimum. Jumbo CDs have slightly higher rates ($100k+, $200k+). The early withdrawal penalty is 360 days of interest. Anyone can join this credit union via partner organization.
  • Dept of Commerce FCU has a 60-month CD at 4.67% APY $500 minimum. The early withdrawal penalty is 180 days of interest. Anyone can join this credit union via partner organization.
  • You can buy certificates of deposit via the bond desks of Vanguard and Fidelity. You may need an account to see the rates. These “brokered CDs” offer FDIC insurance and easy laddering, but they don’t come with predictable early withdrawal penalties. Right now, I see a 5-year non-callable CD at 4.65% APY (callable: no, call protection: yes). Be warned that now both Vanguard and Fidelity will list higher rates from callable CDs, which importantly means they can call back your CD if rates drop later.

Longer-term Instruments
I’d use these with caution due to increased interest rate risk, but I still track them to see the rest of the current yield curve.

  • Willing to lock up your money for 10 years? You can buy long-term certificates of deposit via the bond desks of Vanguard and Fidelity. These “brokered CDs” offer FDIC insurance, but they don’t come with predictable early withdrawal penalties. You might find something that pays more than your other brokerage cash and Treasury options. Right now, I see a 10-year CDs at 4.35% (callable: no, call protection: yes) vs. 4.28% for a 10-year Treasury. Watch out for higher rates from callable CDs where they can call your CD back if interest rates drop.
  • How about two decades? Series EE Savings Bonds are not indexed to inflation, but they have a unique guarantee that the value will double in value in 20 years, which equals a guaranteed return of 3.5% a year. However, if you don’t hold for that long, you’ll be stuck with the normal rate, currently 2.50% for EE bonds issued from May 2023 to October 2023. As of 9/5/23, the 20-year Treasury Bond rate was 4.56%.

All rates were checked as of 9/5/2023.

Filed Under: Banking, Deals & Offers, Investing
Last updated: September 5, 2023
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards, and may receive a commission from card issuers. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned. MyMoneyBlog.com is also a member of the Amazon Associate Program, and if you click through to Amazon and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. Thank you for your support.

ScholarShare 529 College Savings Plan: $100 Bonus Per Accountholder/Beneficiary Combo

September 5, 2023 By Jonathan Ping 9 Comments
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards and may receive a commission. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned.

The ScholarShare 529 College Savings Plan is offering a $100 bonus when you open a new account by 9/30/23 and deposit $1,000+ within 10 business days of establishing the account. Your $100 matching deposit will arrive by 1/31/24. The ScholarShare 529 account must be open with a non-zero balance to receive the bonus.

Compared to all 529 plans nationwide, the ScholarShare 529 is a solid overall plan with reasonable costs (official plan of California, run by TIAA-CREF), making it a good option for those without specific in-state tax incentives. See here to compare 529 tax benefits across all 50 states.

I find that having an open 529 plan is a great way to redirect various gifts from friends and family (like grandparents) so that the money doesn’t just get spent mindlessly and then forgotten. If someone gives them a gift card, I just put the equivalent value into the 529 and spend the gift card myself. Since by the time they really understand money it will have been 10 years since birth, it can been a good lesson on how steady saving and investing adds up. Finally, opening a plan and making any contribution also starts the 15-year clock on potential future 529-to-Roth IRA rollovers.

This specific bonus is also interesting due to the limit of “one (1) Matching Deposit per new ScholarShare 529 account per unique accountholder/beneficiary combination.” That means a couple with three children could open six accounts for $600 in total bonuses. It would also require a significant upfront deposit, but many families are already setting aside $100+ each month per kid for future college expenses.

  • Spouse 1 + Child 1
  • Spouse 1 + Child 2
  • Spouse 1 + Child 3
  • Spouse 2 + Child 1
  • Spouse 2 + Child 2
  • Spouse 2 + Child 3

If you have multiple 529 accounts from different state plans/managers, know that you can later transfer the balances and merge them into each other, although there may be a modest amount of paperwork required each time. You are allowed one rollover per beneficiary during a rolling 12-month period.

From the full fine print:

Offer Description: The ScholarShare 529 College Savings Plan (“ScholarShare 529”) is a 529 college savings plan administered by the ScholarShare Investment Board (“SIB”), an instrumentality of the state of California, and managed by TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing, Inc. (“TFI”). To receive a $100 matching deposit (“the Matching Deposit”), eligible individuals must (a) open a new ScholarShare 529 account (for a new beneficiary) online at www.ScholarShare529.com between September 1, 2023 at 12:01 AM Pacific Time (PT) and September 30, 2023 at 8:59 PM PT with an initial deposit of at least $1,000 to be contributed and invested at the time the new ScholarShare 529 account is opened. The initial $1,000 deposit must be received within 10 business days after the account is established. The Matching Deposit will be made to the eligible ScholarShare 529 account on or before 8:59 PM PT on January 31, 2024. To receive the Matching Deposit, the ScholarShare 529 account must be open with a dollar balance greater than zero on the day the Matching Deposit is made. Limit: one (1) Matching Deposit per new ScholarShare 529 account per unique accountholder/beneficiary combination.

Filed Under: College & Education, Deals & Offers, Investing, Taxes
Last updated: September 11, 2023
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards, and may receive a commission from card issuers. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned. MyMoneyBlog.com is also a member of the Amazon Associate Program, and if you click through to Amazon and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. Thank you for your support.

Vanguard Cash Plus Account Review: FDIC-Insured, But Missing Useful Features

August 29, 2023 By Jonathan Ping 3 Comments
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards and may receive a commission. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned.

Vanguard has been piloting some new products recently, and I was finally invited to try out the Vanguard Cash Plus Account. I’ve been playing with it for a few days and here are my thoughts. First, it’s important to note that there are two separate FDIC-insured products available from Vanguard:

  • Vanguard Cash Deposit – This is a new option for the settlement fund (default cash sweep) in your brokerage account. The interest rate has historically been lower than Cash Plus. 3.70% APY as of 8/28/23. You can make immediate trades straight from the funds in this account. FDIC insurance up to $1.25 million ($2.5 million for joint accounts).
  • Vanguard Cash Plus Account – This is a separate FDIC-insured account with a historically higher interest rate that is not a settlement account. 4.70% APY as of 8/28/23. It is meant as an alternative to a bank savings account and allows incoming ACH direct deposits and ACH withdrawals. FDIC insurance up to $1.25 million ($2.5 million for joint accounts).

Invitation and opening process. I received a physical mailer with an invitation last week, but the application was all online. The invitations are sent to individuals, and if you want to open a joint account, the joint owner must also have a Vanguard brokerage account. The implication is that this product is meant for existing Vanguard brokerage customers only, not as a standalone product.

Features. This is not a full-featured account, but a pretty minimalist FDIC-insured savings account. No minimum balance, no monthly fees. You get a routing number and account number (routing number is 242071583 which turns out to be PNC Bank NA, their bank partner.

It’s important to note all that is not included:

  • No ATM or debit card. (No ATM rebates.)
  • No checkwriting. (I did find mobile check deposit on the app.)
  • No online bill payment service. (You can use your account number to link at your credit card’s website for example, but there is no in-house system.)
  • No automated recurring transfers.
  • No ability to use your money market fund as a backup overdraft source.

Historical note: For a while, Vanguard did offer an “Advantage” account to select customers which did include all these things, but they abruptly discontinued it in 2019. So Vanguard is definitely intentionally leaving all these features out.

Basically, you get to make ACH direct deposits and ACH withdrawals. This enables the direct deposit of paychecks, Social Security, pensions, PayPal/Venmo transfers, and pay bills through vendor websites.

You might think that since it is a Vanguard account, you could use the funds in Cash Plus directly to buy some Vanguard ETFs or mutual funds. Not quite. First, all accounts must be “like registered” for you to transfer from Cash Plus. I am not allowed to transfer to my trust accounts. Second, you must manually transfer the money over, and then it should be available the same day. I found this statement in one place:

A transfer from a Cash Plus Account into a Vanguard Brokerage Account will settle by the next business day, but will be available for trading immediately.

But a slightly different one on their public FAQ:

How long will it take to move my cash from one account to another?

Transfers (including from one Vanguard account to another) generally take 2–3 business days, but at times may be quicker.

The competition. This is a supplemental Vanguard account meant to add functionality for existing Vanguard customers. However, I must point out that Fidelity has included a much higher level of functionality for its customers for a long time.

The plain taxable Fidelity brokerage account will also provide you account and routing numbers so that you can perform ACH deposits and withdrawals. Their core options (settlement fund) also include an FDIC-insured option with lower interest rate, but you can use a money market mutual fund like SPAXX that currently has a 4.98% yield.

But Fidelity also includes a nice bill payment interface, ATM debit card, checkwriting (with free checks), and mobile check deposit all within their standard brokerage account. (Fidelity also includes domestic and international ATM rebates if you have at least $250k in total assets with them. The alternative Fidelity Cash Management Account does include ATM rebates with no minimum balance requirement, but takes a bit more work to manage the cash optimally by manually purchasing their money market funds. I’ll leave the details for another review.)

Basically, if you are the type to want an all-in-one banking solution, Fidelity has already been doing it for years and years with more features. I feel that Fidelity’s customer service is also much better than Vanguard’s.

The Cash Plus account appeals to a niche customer. You are a loyal Vanguard customer that wants the added functionality from a basic high-yield savings account with bank routing and account numbers. You want one that shows up when you log into Vanguard, so you don’t have to log into another bank. The interest rate is pretty good and should stay that way, but still lower than Vanguard’s own money market funds. Maybe you want that FDIC-insurance. Finally, you are satisfied with Vanguard’s level of customer service these days. In my experience, the differences in hold times between Vanguard and Fidelity is simply night and day.

Will I actually use it? Honestly, it’s kind of hard to get excited that Vanguard is offering a barebones FDIC-insured savings account like ING Direct in 2023. I’d love to see the Cash Plus APY as the standard settlement fund along with account/routing numbers. They could even add the other features like ATM debit cards, but I don’t think they can handle the customer service level required. Instead, we just get this little step forward.

Mostly, I don’t need the FDIC insurance as I have full faith in the Vanguard Federal Money Market Fund (VMFXX, 5.28% yield as of 8/28/23) and Vanguard Treasury Money Market Fund (VUSXX, 5.19% yield as of 8/28/23) which both offer much higher interest rates and partial state income tax deductions. These are perfectly acceptable as my “savings accounts”. Stay lean Vanguard, just take the customer service back to the acceptable levels you had before your huge growth.

For now, my plan is to simply keep my Cash Plus account open with minimal activity in case one day the APY is higher than the money market alternatives.

Filed Under: Banking, Deals & Offers, Investing, Reviews
Last updated: August 29, 2023
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards, and may receive a commission from card issuers. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned. MyMoneyBlog.com is also a member of the Amazon Associate Program, and if you click through to Amazon and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. Thank you for your support.

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