Clark Howard's Tips

Avoid money-market funds that break the buck

November 16, 2007

The fallout from the mortgage market can affect you even if you don't have a mortgage!

Some 30 percent of people own their homes free and clear. Many of them are also investors who are now suffering because some major money-market funds have been diluted by getting into the subprime market.

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There's currently about $3.7 trillion floating around in money-market funds.

GE has been in the news lately for allegedly breaking the buck by dropping the value of their enhanced cash fund to 96 cents. This may not affect anyone you know because this particular GE fund is usually held by major financial players, not everyday individuals. But most brokerage houses have similar money-market fund options.

Clark's advice is to get out if you are in a fund that breaks the buck. How do you know if you're at risk? Check your monthly statements and make sure the value is listed at $1 a share. If not, it might be time to jump ship to an insured money-market account (usually at a slightly lower interest rate) or go into a government money-market fund.

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