Rate Benchmarks

Rates & Yields Audit

Objective market benchmarks for capital preservation and high-yield fixed income across the trails.

Data Benchmark Date
December 22, 2025
Wealthfront
Cash Account
Top Pick
Min. Deposit
$1
Yield (APY)
4.50%
VIEW RATE
Betterment
Cash Reserve
Min. Deposit
$10
Yield (APY)
4.25%
VIEW RATE
SoFi
Savings Account
Best Bonus
Min. Deposit
$0
Yield (APY)
4.20%
VIEW RATE
Marcus by Goldman Sachs
Online Savings
Min. Deposit
$0
Yield (APY)
4.10%
VIEW RATE

Security & FDIC Protection

We only index institutions that carry full FDIC or NCUA insurance ($250,000 per depositor). Treasury securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the US Government, representing the "risk-free" benchmark for global finance.

Data as of December 22, 2025

Optimizing Your Cash Position

Most savers keep 3-12 months of expenses in liquid accounts. When Treasury yields exceed HYSA rates by more than 0.25%, consider T-Bill ladders to boost your risk-free returns while maintaining access to funds.

Benchmarked Spread: +0.28% vs Cash Average