“The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.” – Proverbs 21:20

It seems like every time I turn on the radio, someone’s promoting CDs—Certificates of Deposit, not the old-school music kind! They're pitched as a “safe” option, a place to park your money and forget about it. But lately, I’ve been getting more and more questions from investors asking: Is this really the best place to keep my savings?

As someone who talks daily with families trying to make wise choices with what they’ve been given, here’s what I’ve learned about CDs—and why “safe” might not always mean “secure.”

The appeal is obvious. With a CD, you lock in a fixed rate of return, and it can feel like a comfort blanket when the economy is full of uncertainty. But what many people don’t consider is inflation. If your CD earns 4% but inflation is 5%, you’re actually losing buying power—quietly, year after year.

And what happens when life throws a curveball? CDs tie up your funds—often for years. You can’t access your money without penalties, which means you lose flexibility when you might need it most. I’ve seen this firsthand with clients who regretted not having access when a financial need—or opportunity—arose.

Sometimes people tell me, “But my CD is guaranteed!” And on paper, yes—it’s guaranteed in dollars. But what are those dollars worth five years from now?

Take Japan, for instance. Once a top buyer of U.S. Treasury bonds, they’ve now become a net seller. That shift has ripple effects! When countries stop financing our debt, the U.S. has to either print more money or raise interest rates to keep buyers interested. Both scenarios lead to rising inflation and more economic uncertainty. That “guaranteed” return … may not keep up if the rules of the game keep changing.

And if we ever experience a currency reset or transition into a digital dollar system—something that’s been publicly discussed in financial circles—that CD guarantee may only apply to yesterday’s dollars, not tomorrow’s purchasing power.

Of course, I’m not offering financial advice. I’m not a financial advisor, and I don’t pretend to have a crystal ball. But I do believe in stewardship—and stewardship asks better questions. It challenges us to prepare for what might lie ahead rather than hold tight to what used to feel safe.

Precious metals, like gold and silver, have historically served as a store of value across generations and civilizations. They don’t pay interest, but they don’t vanish during market swings either. For many families I’ve worked with, especially in the Christian community, metals bring a peace of mind that’s rooted in something tangible and enduring—not just the promise of a number on a paper.

Even if you’re currently locked into a CD, it may be worth evaluating whether it's time to make a shift. Some clients I’ve worked with have chosen to absorb the penalty and move into assets they believe will better protect their wealth long term. That’s a deeply personal decision, but it starts with asking the right questions.

If you’re thinking about your next step, or wondering whether your current plan is working for you, I’d love to connect!

Until next time, keep asking, keep praying, and keep preparing. That’s the heart of a good steward.

Have a question for a future Ask Becca? Send it my way at info@stjosephpartners.com—I’d love to hear from you!

Until next time,

Becca


Past performance is not indicative of future results.