‘Ölü para ': Tasarruf hesabınız enflasyonla mücadelesini kaybediyor. İşte 3 finansal danışmanın bunun yerine nakit koyduğu yer

‘Dead money’: Your savings account is losing a fight with inflation. Here’s where 3 financial advisors put cash instead

Laura Grande

Wed, September 16, 2026 at 1:15 PM GMT+3 10 min read

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Inflation has cooled a bit, but that doesn't mean Americans can stop worrying about their purchasing power.

Consumer prices rose 3.4% in July from a year earlier, down slightly from 3.5% in June, according to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (1). But paychecks aren't necessarily keeping up: After adjusting for inflation, average hourly earnings fell 0.2% over the year (2).

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So, while workers may be making more dollars on paper, those dollars aren't quite stretching as far as they did a year ago. And that can be especially frustrating if you've got a pile of cash sitting in a savings account.

After all, earning interest doesn't necessarily mean you're getting ahead. If your account is paying less than the inflation rate, your money may be growing in dollars while quietly losing purchasing power.

For savers, the challenge can be even more frustrating. If your savings account is earning less than the rate of inflation, your money is effectively losing value over time.

It's also worth noting that inflation is still running well above the Federal Reserve's 2% target (3), even if some of the pressure has started to ease. The latest data show the Fed's preferred inflation gauge, the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index, rose 3.7% in July from a year earlier. Core PCE, which leaves out food and energy prices, was up 3.3% (4).

It's a long way from the Fed's 2% goal — and another reason savers may want to think twice about leaving large amounts of cash sitting idle.

That's why some financial advisors are rethinking where they keep their own cash. While many still prioritize safety and liquidity, they're increasingly looking for places that can help preserve purchasing power instead of letting savings become what one advisor called "dead money (5)."

Advisors are cutting expenses before touching their investments

Andrew Fincher, certified financial planner (CFP) at VLP Financial Advisers, told MarketWatch, "Inflation has definitely changed the way many people think about day-to-day spending and long-term planning (5)."

Fincher said that his plan of attack amid the inflation squeeze was to take a hard look at day-to-day spending.

"I've become more focused on cash flow efficiency — reviewing recurring expenses more closely, being more deliberate about large purchases and keeping a higher emphasis on value rather than convenience spending," he said.

Meanwhile, Andrew Herzog, a CFP at the Watchman Group, told MarketWatch that he was shifting what was classified as a family need to save money. He canceled the weed treatment and lawn fertilization service they'd been using, since "pursuing a perfect lawn is no longer viable."

Another CFP, Nicholas Bunio from Retirement Wealth Advisors, told MarketWatch that he's been thinking twice about bigger purchases — and it's been an ongoing process. "Last year, I put off getting a new set of irons and this year I'm putting off buying a new telescope, as I'm an amateur astronomer," Bunio said.

Bunio and his family have also shifted how they view dining out. "We don't go out on random days anymore. Just birthdays, anniversaries and Mother's Day," Bunio said. "Cutting back saves a few thousand bucks."

Read More: Vanguard reveals what's coming for U.S. stocks — and it could be bad news for this group of investors

Where financial advisors are parking cash to fight inflation

When it comes to your savings and investments, you could also consider how your financial planning stacks up when it comes to inflation.

Ideally, your savings will earn enough interest to at least keep pace with inflation.

But it's a stressful thought, especially if you are saving for a short- or medium-term goal and you want a low-risk option so that you can withdraw your money when you need it, without worrying about whether the market is in a downturn.

Today's rates show why it pays to think carefully about where you park your cash. As of September 2026, three-month Treasury yields were around 3.9%, while six-month Treasurys were around 4.0%, according to the U.S. Treasury (6).

Short-term Treasury securities and I bonds

Jeff Judge, a CFP at Chesapeake Financial Partners, told MarketWatch that he moved cash into low-risk, government-backed investments.

"I shifted some cash into shorter-duration Treasurys and I-bonds when rates were favorable," Judge said. He noted that he "didn't rebalance out of equities, but I made sure I wasn't holding two years of cash in a savings account earning nothing. That's dead money right now."

Government-backed securities aren't the only place cash can work harder. For savers who want to keep their emergency fund accessible while still earning a competitive return, high-yield savings accounts could be a compelling option.

A high-yield account like a Wealthfront Cash Account can be a great place to grow your uninvested cash, offering both competitive interest rates and easy access to your money when you need it.

A Wealthfront Cash Account currently offers a base APY of 3.30% through program banks, and new clients can get an extra 0.75% boost during their first three months on up to $150,000 for a total variable APY of 4.05%.

That's 10 times the national deposit savings rate, according to the FDIC's July report.

Additionally, Wealthfront is offering new clients who enable direct deposit ($1,000/month minimum) to their Cash Account and open and fund a new investment account an additional 0.25% APY increase with no expiration date or balance limit, meaning your APY could be as high as 4.30%.

With no minimum balances or account fees, as well as 24/7 withdrawals and free domestic wire transfers, your funds remain accessible at all times. Plus, you get access to up to $8 million FDIC Insurance eligibility through program banks.

Treasury bills and CDs

Another CFP, Catherine Valega from Green Bee Advisory, has been giving similar advice to her clients. "Make your cash and emergency savings work for you ... money markets, Treasury bills [and] CDs for that short term cash," Valega told MarketWatch, noting that she recommends you "add more stocks as your time horizon extends beyond three years."

For those with cash sitting on the sidelines, certificates of deposit (CDs) can be an easy way to earn more without taking on stock market risk. So, if you've got money earmarked for future expenses — but don't expect to need it anytime soon — locking it into a CD could help generate a steadier return than a traditional checking account.

An additional benefit is that, in exchange for keeping your money deposited for a fixed period, banks typically offer higher interest rates on CDs than standard savings accounts. The result is a low-maintenance way to put idle cash to work while preserving your principal.

For those seeking the predictable, reliable growth of a CD, platforms like CD Valet can help you find higher-yield options that work for you, whether you're saving for something soon or building a cushion for the long haul.

CD Valet tracks over 40,000 verified rates from FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit unions nationwide. Unlike other websites, they show every publicly available rate, ensuring you have a comprehensive view of the market.

What's more, their CD rates are updated continuously, so you can shop, compare and open CDs with ease.

Earn more without taking on risk

One option some retirees use to grow savings without market risk is a fixed annuity. In exchange for a lump-sum deposit, an insurance company guarantees a fixed rate of return for a set term, similar to a CD but often with a higher rate.

For some retirees, a fixed annuity from a provider like Gainbridge can help grow retirement savings safely while complementing Social Security and other income sources.

Gainbridge currently offers rates up to 5.45%, more than 3x the national CD average, with built-in principal protection.

Unlike a regular CD, Gainbridge lets you withdraw up to 10% of your balance each year with no penalty, and there are no hidden fees or commissions. Terms range from three to 10 years, with a $1,000 minimum to open.

Just answer a few questions to see your guaranteed rate and open an account online in minutes — funding and setup only take a few steps to complete.

Add a little shine to your portfolio

Gold has long been viewed as a hedge against inflation, making it another option for investors looking to diversify beyond cash and stocks. While it doesn't generate interest or dividends, its value can rise when investors are looking for a safe haven during periods of economic uncertainty.

For retirement savers, a gold IRA is one way to get exposure to physical gold inside a tax-advantaged account. Opening a gold IRA with the help of Goldco allows you to invest in gold and other precious metals in physical forms while also providing the significant tax advantages of an IRA.

With a minimum purchase of $10,000, Goldco offers free shipping and access to a library of retirement resources. Plus, the company will match up to 10% of qualified purchases in free silver.

If you're curious whether this is the right investment to diversify your portfolio, you can download your free gold and silver information guide today.

Find a reliable advisor

Finally, a good financial advisor is someone you'd confidently recommend to the people closest to you. If you're hesitant to do that, it could be a sign that the relationship isn't working as well as it should.

The stakes only get higher as your wealth grows. Investors with larger portfolios often face increasingly complex decisions around taxes, withdrawals, portfolio allocation and preserving wealth over the long haul.

Those challenges can require a level of planning that goes beyond basic investment advice. Managing withdrawals, minimizing tax exposure and ensuring long-term sustainability can require greater coordination and strategic planning than it once did.

No matter how much you like your financial advisor as a person, if they're not keeping you on track to reach your financial goals, it might be time to find another pro who will.

If you have a portfolio of $250,000 or more, platforms like WiserAdvisor can connect you with vetted professionals who specialize in this kind of planning.

Simply answer a few questions about your savings, retirement timeline and overall investment portfolio. From there, WiserAdvisor reviews its network to match you — for free — with up to three vetted, reputable advisors aligned with your specific needs.

You can then schedule no-obligation consultations with your matches to determine who is the best fit for your long-term goals.

WiserAdvisor is a matching service and does not provide financial advice directly. All matched advisors are third parties, and specific financial results are not guaranteed.

— With files from Rebecca Payne.

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Article sources

We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (), (); Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (); Bureau of Economic Analysis (); MarketWatch (); U.S. Department of the Treasury ()

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.