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Investment Opportunities for your Excess Liquidity

To combat inflation, the Federal Reserve continues to raise interest rates. While rate increases present challenges for all borrowers, it provides companies with an exceptional opportunity to receive higher yields from safer assets. In other words, less risk for the same reward.

When interest rates were at 0%, companies with liquidity to spare could get yields at 3-4% by investing in riskier assets, such as equities and lower-quality bonds. With rising interest rates, now they can find the same yields, or higher, investing in safer assets: Treasury bills, high-quality corporate bonds, or bank money market and CD rates.

Companies with at least $500,000 in excess liquidity are best positioned to take advantage of the increase in interest rates.

Here are several key opportunities worth exploring to enhance your investment strategy.

Laddering Various U.S. Treasury Maturities

U.S. Treasury bonds are among the safest and most liquid investments available, and under current conditions, yields are notably higher with some exceeding 4%. Laddering multiple maturities together—for instance, buying a 30, 60, and 90-day bond simultaneously—can lead to constantly maturing investments every month. Companies can use these yields to help fund repurchase obligations or reinvest in potentially higher-yielding bonds as rates rise. It is also important to note that income from US Treasuries is not subject to state income taxes, further pushing up the yield in high tax states.

Laddering High-Quality Corporate Bonds

Just as you can get reliable yields from Treasury bonds, blue chip corporate bonds offer the potential for higher returns as well. When compared to Treasury bonds, corporate bonds offer higher yields, though without the backing of the U.S. government. Fundamentally, the strategy remains the same: construct a ladder of bonds utilizing multiple maturities over whatever timeframe is most appropriate and have regularly maturing bonds which can be used for repurchase obligations or reinvested in potentially higher-yielding bonds at a future date.

High Dividend Stocks Mixed with Bonds

This option presents the best of both worlds: a portfolio of high-yielding stocks and a steady source of reliable returns through investment grade bonds. Combining dividend paying stocks from large, stable companies with a fixed income portfolio can offer higher returns, especially while interest rates are elevated. And, by including a diversified portfolio of stocks you may also benefit from any potential price appreciation.

Regular Bank Deposits, CDs, and Overnight Money Market Sweep

This option requires opening an account with an FDIC-insured institution (like First American Bank). For a sweep, when funds in the account exceed its threshold, the excess money transfers into a secondary account with a higher interest rate. This option has begun to show a sharp improvement in yields—in some cases, more than 2% for a sweep or a CD with a set term. It is a simple, straightforward approach, and you can implement it almost immediately.

How First American Bank can help

At First American Bank, we have extensive experience in working with companies to manage their portfolios and maximize returns while balancing risk to protect hard-earned assets. Our Wealth Management Group and Business Specialists can provide investment options and customized business solutions to ensure you are taking advantage of higher interest rates and the ever-changing economic environment allowing you to meet short- and long-term goals.

Improve the yield of your idle liquidity. Let’s talk.

First American Bank is a privately held, full-service bank with international expertise. With almost 50 years of experience and 61 locations across Florida, Illinois, and Wisconsin, we aim to create custom solutions, deliver exceptional customer service and provide unmatched expertise in commercial banking, wealth advisory, and personal finance solutions.

Disclosure: First American Bank investment products are Not FDIC Insured, Not Bank Guaranteed, and May Lose Value.

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Drew Limsky

Drew Limsky

Editor-in-Chief

BIOGRAPHY

Drew Limsky joined Lifestyle Media Group in August 2020 as Editor-in-Chief of South Florida Business & Wealth. His first issue of SFBW, October 2020, heralded a reimagined structure, with new content categories and a slew of fresh visual themes. “As sort of a cross between Forbes and Robb Report, with a dash of GQ and Vogue,” Limsky says, “SFBW reflects South Florida’s increasingly sophisticated and dynamic business and cultural landscape.”

Limsky, an avid traveler, swimmer and film buff who holds a law degree and Ph.D. from New York University, likes to say, “I’m a doctor, but I can’t operate—except on your brand.” He wrote his dissertation on the nonfiction work of Joan Didion. Prior to that, Limsky received his B.A. in English, summa cum laude, from Emory University and earned his M.A. in literature at American University in connection with a Masters Scholar Award fellowship.

Limsky came to SFBW at the apex of a storied career in journalism and publishing that includes six previous lead editorial roles, including for some of the world’s best-known brands. He served as global editor-in-chief of Lexus magazine, founding editor-in-chief of custom lifestyle magazines for Cadillac and Holland America Line, and was the founding editor-in-chief of Modern Luxury Interiors South Florida. He also was the executive editor for B2B magazines for Acura and Honda Financial Services, and he served as travel editor for Conde Nast. Magazines under Limsky’s editorship have garnered more than 75 industry awards.

He has also written for many of the country’s top newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, Boston Globe, USA Today, Worth, Robb Report, Afar, Time Out New York, National Geographic Traveler, Men’s Journal, Ritz-Carlton, Elite Traveler, Florida Design, Metropolis and Architectural Digest Mexico. His other clients have included Four Seasons, Acqualina Resort & Residences, Yahoo!, American Airlines, Wynn, Douglas Elliman and Corcoran. As an adjunct assistant professor, Limsky has taught journalism, film and creative writing at the City University of New York, Pace University, American University and other colleges.