Have money market funds ever lost money?
Yes. In the United States, the very first money market fund (“Reserve Fund”) was created in 1971, and had a small loss in 2008 during the financial crisis. There have been a few other money market funds that lost money.
It's technically possible to lose money in a market account, but not in the same way you can lose money in an investment account. Depending on the terms of your money market account, you could lose value to fees and inflation.
How much should a money market investor be concerned with that risk? Smith: Since their introduction in 1971, money market funds have broken the buck just two times. The first was in 1994, when a fund was liquidated at 96 cents per share because of large losses in derivatives.
The Bottom Line. Both money market accounts and money market funds are relatively safe, low-risk investments, but MMAs are insured up to $250,000 per depositor by the FDIC and money market funds aren't. Banks use money from MMAs to invest in stable, short-term securities with minimal risk that are liquid.
Low Risk and Short Duration
As stated above, money market funds are often considered less risky than their stock and bond counterparts. That's because these types of funds typically invest in low-risk vehicles such as certificates of deposit (CDs), Treasury bills (T-Bills), and short-term commercial paper.
The biggest risk a money market account poses is that your money may lose value over time to inflation. Depending on inflation and the interest rate you earn with your money market account, inflation may outpace your MMA's earnings.
Many accounts have monthly fees
Another drawback to remember is that while they have high yields, money market accounts can also come with cumbersome fees. Many banks and credit unions will impose monthly fees just for the upkeep of your account.
A15: If a money market mutual fund held securities on which the U.S. Treasury defaulted on the payment of interest or principal, then the fund would need to sell those defaulted securities, unless the fund's board of trustees determines that disposing of the securities would not be in the best interests of the fund.
On Sept. 16, 2008, the Reserve Primary Fund broke the buck when its net asset value (NAV) fell to $0.97 cents per share. It was one of the first times in the history of investing that a retail money market fund had failed to maintain a $1 per share NAV. The implications sent shockwaves through the industry.
Money market accounts held at banks are FDIC-insured for up to $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank. Most credit unions provide similar coverage. If your balance exceeds the coverage limit—and your financial institution fails, which is rare—you could lose those excess funds.
Should I worry about money market funds?
If you're saving for something you'll need the money for in less than three to five years, saving in a money market fund may make sense for you. Money market funds are ideal for short-term saving because they invest in highly liquid securities with the objective of capital preservation and income.
Vanguard Treasury Money Market Fund
This fund only invests in US Treasuries and repurchase agreements insured by the federal government, making it among the safest in a category of relatively safe investments.
1. Federal Bonds. The U.S. Treasury and Federal Reserve (Fed) would be more than happy to take your funds and issue you securities in return. A U.S. government bond still qualifies in most textbooks as a risk-free security.
CDs and money market accounts are equally safe. They are both insured accounts and will not lose value.
Money Market 'Runs'
There have been only two known incidents in which money market funds were unable to pay 100 cents on each dollar invested in them — they “broke the buck,” in Wall Street jargon — and, despite headaches and long payment delays, no significant losses occurred in those cases.
Money Market Funds
Ultra-conservative investors and unsophisticated investors often stash their cash in money market funds. While these funds provide a high degree of safety, they should only be used for short-term investment. There's no need to avoid equity funds when the economy is slowing.
The key difference between the two is that high-yield savings accounts are FDIC-insured, while money market funds are not. However, money market funds are considered very low-risk investments and may even have higher interest rates than high-yield savings accounts.
| BANK | APY | MONTHLY MAINTENANCE FEES |
|---|---|---|
| DISCOVER BANK | 4.15% | $0 |
| EVERBANK | 4.75% | $0 |
| FIRST FOUNDATION | 4.90% | $0 |
| FIRST INTERNET BANK | 3.77% | $5 |
Money market accounts tend to pay you higher interest rates than other types of savings accounts. On the other hand, money market accounts usually limit the number of transactions you can make by check, debit card, or electronic transfer.
Money market accounts (MMAs) and certificates of deposit (CDs) are types of federally insured savings accounts that earn interest. But their rates and ease of access differ. CDs tend to have higher rates than money market accounts and give no access to your money until a term ends.
Do money market accounts ever fail?
Both FDIC and NCUA insure money market accounts up to $250,000. It's important to note that the deposit insurance amount of $250,000 is provided per depositor, per FDIC-insured bank, per ownership category. Because all deposits are insured from bank failure, it is uncommon to lose money in a money market.
Money market funds are another option for holding on to cash during a recession. While their yields may eventually fall when interest rates do, they can offer protection for your capital and easy access to your cash when longer-term investment opportunities reappear.
On Tuesday, September 16, 2008, the $62.6 billion Reserve Primary Fund "broke the buck." That meant the fund managers couldn't maintain its share price at the $1 value. 1 Money market funds used that value as a benchmark.
Stability & safety
While not insured by the FDIC, the funds are required by federal regulations to invest in short-maturity, low-risk investments, making them less prone to market fluctuations than many other types of investments.
However, unlike cash at the bank, there'll be times when money market funds lose value. This will usually be when interest rates rise quickly and the short-term bonds lose value, usually before rebounding back as it gets close to their maturity date – of course, there are no guarantees.
