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CD's or Vanguard ETF's

280 93 January 22, 2026 at 09:21 AM in Finance
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Last Edited by slicbrat January 22, 2026 at 11:38 AM
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For recurring investments, I'm evaluating whether CDs or ETFs (Vanguard or similar) make more sense. I plan to invest on a weekly or monthly basis and prefer not to pick individual stocks. With CD rates currently around 4.5% and trending downward, I'm looking for tax-efficient, long-term, moderately aggressive investment options that carry some risk and have the potential to deliver approximately 6–7% annual returns. What are some options out there and how should I go about it?
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UniqueMeal900
01-22-2026 at 02:05 PM.
01-22-2026 at 02:05 PM.
Vanguard for sure!!!
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ElatedCreator3600
01-23-2026 at 04:45 PM.
01-23-2026 at 04:45 PM.
You can do both for diversification. I do think the stock market is a bit overheated though and depending on whether or not you think artificial intelligence is a bubble can be an added risk. Do note, the Schiller PE Ratio is at 40 and a correction often happens to the stock market when it goes that high.

https://www.multpl.com/shiller-pe

Trends can take awhile to break, even when all logical sense says it shouldn't, so it could just keep going and going. That stuff aside, just putting money an ETF tracking the S&P 500 gives you a simple and diversified setup. SPY, IVV and VOO do this.
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slicbrat
Yesterday at 06:59 AM.
Yesterday at 06:59 AM.
Would non-federal tax bonds that Vanguard offers make sense instead of CD's?

On SPY, IVV & VOO ETF's would I be taxed for gains when reinvesting occurs? I am not planning on doing any withdrawals for the foreseeable future, 5+ years or more!
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slicbrat
Yesterday at 07:00 AM.
Yesterday at 07:00 AM.
Quote from ElatedCreator3600 :
You can do both for diversification. I do think the stock market is a bit overheated though and depending on whether or not you think artificial intelligence is a bubble can be an added risk. Do note, the Schiller PE Ratio is at 40 and a correction often happens to the stock market when it goes that high.

https://www.multpl.com/shiller-pe

Trends can take awhile to break, even when all logical sense says it shouldn't, so it could just keep going and going. That stuff aside, just putting money an ETF tracking the S&P 500 gives you a simple and diversified setup. SPY, IVV and VOO do this.
Would tax free options that Vanguard offers make more sense instead of CD's for diversification?

On SPY, IVV & VOO ETF's would I be taxed for gains when reinvesting occurs? I am not planning on doing any withdrawals for the foreseeable future, 5+ years or more!
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Last edited by slicbrat January 24, 2026 at 07:35 AM.
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WindySummer
Yesterday at 03:17 PM.
Yesterday at 03:17 PM.
Invest in the S&P 500
SPYM has the the lowest expense ratio.


**Open a Roth every year no matter what**
ALL investment gains are tax free.
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ElatedCreator3600
Yesterday at 04:59 PM.
Yesterday at 04:59 PM.
Quote from slicbrat :
Would tax free options that Vanguard offers make more sense instead of CD's for diversification?

On SPY, IVV & VOO ETF's would I be taxed for gains when reinvesting occurs? I am not planning on doing any withdrawals for the foreseeable future, 5+ years or more!
I'm not sure about the tax free options.

With regards to ETFs (and stocks), you only get taxed when you sell. Long term holds (at least one year) like what you want to do are taxed at a lower rate.
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