Peter Crane Money Quotations

Money funds look very good at the moment, but you don't want to move everything into cash and at some point next year, when the rate hikes are over and the Fed starts cutting, find you've missed your chance to lock in higher long-term rates.

The saying goes, it's not bulls, not bears, but chickens who put their money in cash; they park it there and wait for better opportunities, ... So those chicken investors, and retirees and income investors, have reason to be thrilled about the rates, because for the first time in a while they're going to be paid decently to sit there.

Normally money market rates just sit there. But because we're in a rare period where the Fed is moving constantly, the rates bear watching. Nobody has to move tomorrow, but you want to monitor the rates and make sure your cash investment is going up. If your cash investment hasn't moved in the last few months, you're in the wrong place.

It's normal to see outflows at month end and quarter end. (Taxable) money funds are benefiting from renewed attention due to higher rates.

Is the retail investor better off in a money market or an insured account? The jury is still out.