Saving vs Investing | Wells Fargo (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to have a savings account or invest? ›

Saving is generally seen as preferable for investors with short-term financial goals, a low risk tolerance, or those in need of an emergency fund. Investing may be the best option for people who already have a rainy-day fund and are focused on longer-term financial goals or those who have a higher risk tolerance.

The difference between saving and investing

Saving can also mean putting your money into products such as a bank time account (CD). Investing — using some of your money with the aim of helping to make it grow by buying assets that might increase in value, such as stocks, property or shares in a mutual fund.

It can be difficult to justify stashing your savings in an account that only offers 0.01 or 0.25 percent APY when other options pay significantly more. Having an account with Wells Fargo, however, may interest those who value the accessibility of its many branches and ATMs.

As of May 2024, no banks are offering 7% interest rates on savings accounts. Two credit unions have high-interest checking accounts: Landmark Credit Union Premium Checking with 7.50% APY and OnPath Credit Union High Yield Checking with 7.00% APY.

Imagine you wish to amass $3000 monthly from your investments, amounting to $36,000 annually. If you park your funds in a savings account offering a 2% annual interest rate, you'd need to inject roughly $1.8 million into the account.

The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals.

Saving provides a safety net and a way to achieve short-term goals, while investing has the potential for higher long-term returns and can help achieve long-term financial goals. However, investing also comes with the risk of losing money.

If you're 30 and wondering how much you should have saved, experts say this is the age where you should have the equivalent of one year's worth of your salary in the bank. So if you're making $50,000, that's the amount of money you should have saved by 30.

If you aim to save money for an expense in the short term, savings accounts offer a relatively safe way to protect and grow your money. However, if you want financial growth over the long term, an investment account may be a better fit — although investing comes with risks.

You'll often find higher fees with Wells Fargo than with some competing banks, although in some instances, the bank will waive those fees. Also, the interest rates on its deposit accounts generally aren't as competitive as you'll find with online banks and credit unions.

What are 3 cons to using a savings account? ›

Avoid the monthly service fee with one of the following each fee period: $300 minimum daily balance.

For those planning to purchase a home within the next 3 years, Fidelity suggests holding down payment cash in checking, regular savings, or high-yield savings accounts—or in cash-like investments such as money market funds or certificates of deposit (CDs) that will mature before you anticipate needing the money.

A savings account is a safe place to put your money when you can't afford to lose any or think you'll need it in an emergency. It's also a good place to put some of your investments as a hedge against losses – you can't lose everything if some of your money is in an ordinary savings account, after all.