Lock in peak multi-year yields without freezing all your cash. The complete playbook for smart American savers.
Short-term CDs (6 months) leave your money vulnerable to Fed rate drops. Long-term CDs (5 years) freeze your cash, charging massive early withdrawal penalties if an emergency hits.
Take your total deposit (e.g. $25,000) and divide it evenly into five $5,000 certificates maturing in 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years.
When Year 1 matures, you can take the cash penalty-free OR roll it into a brand-new 5-year CD. In Year 2, your 2-year CD matures and does the exact same thing!
Model your exact budget, custom APYs, and project your annual cashout schedule on CDCalc.us with institutional precision.