SwitchWizeFinancial Decisions, Made Clearer

The Liquidity Guidebook

A chapter-by-chapter guide to holding cash well: reserve tiers, CD penalties and ladders, FDIC limits, Treasuries and state tax, with calculators.

SwitchWize Research DeskEditorial review by Jay Rege, Head of Financial Research, is in progress19 of 19 chapters published

Volume 1: Foundations

What idle cash really costs, how to tier it, and what protects it.

  1. Chapter 1 · FoundationalThe Illusion of Inert CashInflation and cash drag
  2. Chapter 2 · FoundationalThe Three-Tier Liquidity FrameworkCash allocation
  3. Chapter 3 · FoundationalCD Anatomy and the Early Withdrawal PenaltyCD mechanics
  4. Chapter 4 · IntermediateFDIC and NCUA Insurance: Getting Past $250,000Deposit insurance
  5. Chapter 5 · FoundationalThe Cash Equivalent MapCash equivalents

Volume 2: The Ladder

Build, schedule and run a CD ladder without the rollover traps.

  1. Chapter 6 · FoundationalThe Ladder BlueprintCD ladders
  2. Chapter 7 · IntermediateDesigning the CadenceCD ladders
  3. Chapter 8 · IntermediateRunning the Ladder: Maturities and RolloversCD ladders
  4. Chapter 9 · IntermediateBank-Direct vs Brokered CDsCD types
  5. Chapter 10 · IntermediateCallable, Step-Up and No-Penalty CDsCD types

Volume 3: Rates and Terms

Reading the yield curve and choosing terms as rates move.

  1. Chapter 11 · IntermediateThe Yield Curve and Choosing a TermYield curve
  2. Chapter 12 · IntermediateLadder, Barbell, Bullet or One Long CDStrategy
  3. Chapter 13 · IntermediateWhen Rates Rise or Fall: Adjusting Your CashRate cycles

Volume 4: Substitutes and Taxes

Treasuries, tax-exempt funds and ultra-short funds against bank cash.

  1. Chapter 14 · IntermediateTreasury Bills vs CDsTreasuries
  2. Chapter 15 · AdvancedState Tax: Why Treasury Interest Can Beat a Higher CD RateTax-equivalent yield
  3. Chapter 16 · AdvancedTax-Exempt Municipal Money Market FundsTax-equivalent yield
  4. Chapter 17 · AdvancedUltra-Short Bond Funds and Prime Money FundsCash alternatives

Volume 5: Safety and Your Plan

Judging bank safety beyond FDIC, then writing your own liquidity plan.

  1. Chapter 18 · IntermediateIs Your Bank Safe? Beyond FDIC InsuranceCounterparty risk
  2. Chapter 19 · IntermediateYour Personal Liquidity PlanPlanning

Educational content, not individualized financial, tax or legal advice. Examples use hypothetical figures unless a source is cited.