Watercooler: CD ladders can put you a step ..

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

A certificate of deposit ladder may provide a good way to gain a step up on the personal finance climb. It involves setting up CDs at different maturity periods, allowing an investor to take advantage of interest rates spread out over time. Once the first CD matures after a year, it can be reinvested as a new ladder rung. If you're interested in how a CD ladder works, several websites offer good information.

CDRateGuide.com • Discusses the basic approach to building a CD ladder portfolio, at http://bit.ly/19wkYNg.

Interest.com • Provides brief CD ladder overview and calculator, at http://bit.ly/11cyQYr.

Investopedia • Covers variety of CD ladder topics, including laddering basics, considerations and benefits, at http://bit.ly/ZKOx8n.

MainStreet • Explains how CD laddering works, and how to set one up, at http://bit.ly/11XjH8V.

The Street • Focuses on developing a CD ladder strategy, at http://bit.ly/1bAVET2.

Watercooler: CD ladders can put you a step ahead