Fixed Deposit

Usually brokered CDs are insured by the FDIC upto $250,000 per individual at each bank. Just make sure the insurance relates to the issuing bank rather than from any broker.

Minimum deposit, bank's reputation, interest rates, maturity dates and early withdrawal penalties you need to keep in mind while choosing the suitable CD for yourself.

You should avoid foreign broken CDs, as these are not FDIC insured, but still, if you want to take them, then carefully investigate the reputation and financial condition of that bank.

To get your money back from the bank, document everything, including when you contracted with the bank, the person who spoke with you, the mobile number, and all the corresponding emails. File an online complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), explain your situation, and submit all the documents related to your bank account. CFPB gives you a timely response.

The current Federal Reserve Rate is 5% to 5.25%, which you need to keep in mind while choosing between short-term and long-term goals. To control inflation and economic growth, the Federal Rates need to be changed from time to time.

But you have short-term goals, so you can choose High-Yield Savings Accounts, Certificates of Deposit (CDs), Money Market Accounts, Treasury Bills (T-Bills), and Short-Term Bond Funds.

All these options are good for short-term goals. They often require a minimum balance to qualify for the higher rates, have flexibility with your money, and have fixed interest rates from a few months to a few years.