13 Best Compound Interest Accounts + Investments [2023]

If you want to grow your wealth, compound interest investing is one of the best ways to get there. If you’re wondering what investments have compound interest, below are some of the best compound interest investments available today.

We’ll teach you how to calculate compound interest, what investment accounts to consider, and how growth and capital gains can impact your long-term wealth over time.

Best Compound Interest Investments and Accounts—Our Top Picks

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What Is Compound Interest?

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Compound interest is the process of earning accrued interest on your investments, as well as reinvesting that interest back into the investment. Returning the accrued interest into the investment allows your money to grow at an accelerated rate. Essentially, you’re making money not only on your original investment but also on any previous earnings.

Over time, compound interest can have a dramatic effect on your overall net worth. You can focus on compounding interest in the short term, but you’ll likely earn more money in the long term. For example, most people’s retirement savings result from accumulated interest over many decades.

Calculating compound interest is straightforward. Here is a simplified example of a compound interest formula.

Imagine you invest $100 at a yearly interest rate of five percent. In the first year, you would earn $5 in interest, for a total of $105. In the second year, you no longer earn interest on just $100. Now, you earn interest on $105. As such, you make more than the $5 in interest you earned the year before.

Now, your investment would grow to $110.25 – an increase of five percent on top of the previous year’s earnings. The process continues each year, so your investment will grow exponentially over time if you have a positive rate of return.

The above is a quick example, but if you extrapolate it, you can imagine how much interest you can earn over 30-40 years when you invest thousands of dollars per year. Compound interest works, and the longer you let it work in your favor, the greater the future value.

The power of compound interest is one reason it’s essential to start saving for retirement as early as possible. Even if you can’t afford to contribute sizable amounts of money each month, investing consistently over time will result in significantly more savings than if you wait until later in life to get started.

What Are The Best Compound Interest Accounts?

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There are many different types of compound interest accounts. Most of them will require you to use brokerage services to open an investment account. However, with some options, only bank accounts are necessary.

If you’re looking for a place to invest your money and earn compound interest, here are some of the best compound interest accounts and compound interest investments to hold in them. (We also include investments that enjoy compounding returns if held in the account over time. These investments don’t necessarily provide interest payments but they can realize the same benefits of compounding.)

Best Compound Interest Accounts: Short-Term Investments

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Short-term investments represent an option for those looking for stability and liquidity in their investment portfolio. These types of investments typically have a shorter time horizon, meaning you will get your money back sooner rather than later.

One typical short-term investment is a certificate of deposit (CD). Banks and other financial institutions offer CDs, which allow you to invest your money for a predetermined period, usually between six months and five years. At the end of the term, you will receive your original investment plus interest payments at an annual interest rate agreed on ahead of time.

Another popular short-term investment is Treasury bills, debt issued by the US government. Treasury bills are considered very safe investments with a low risk of loss. You can also invest in local and state government municipal bonds and treasury securities like federal treasury bonds.

Ultimately, short-term investments tend to be more liquid assets that give investors fast access to their money should they need it. However, because the investment time frame is shorter, there’s not as much growth potential over more extended periods.

One downside, as mentioned, is these types of investments typically have lower interest rates, meaning less opportunity for meaningful returns on your initial investment. When considering short-term or long-term investments, you must keep all of this in mind and decide the best personal finance option for you.

1. Certificates of Deposit

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Certificates of deposit (CDs) are offered by most banks and credit unions and are easy to open and understand. CDs are almost risk-free and insured in the United States for up to $250,000. They are another savings instrument like savings accounts but come with longer-term commitments, varying from three months to five years.

CDs work by lending money to a bank for a set amount of time (the “term length”), with longer term lengths typically involving higher interest rates. Much like any interest-bearing asset, the longer the term length or commitment, the higher interest rate and return you can expect to earn in exchange for losing access to your money for longer.

During the term length, you gain interest on the principal at a rate usually higher than that of a high-yield savings account. If you take money out during the term length, you’ll have to pay a penalty, so it isn’t wise to invest money you anticipate needing in the near future.

Keep in mind that some CDs might have a lower interest rate than inflation and if that happens you may lose money. Depending on your current financial objectives, holding money in a risk-free CD might be one of the best investments for young adults who have short-term financial goals they need to meet.

2. High-Yield Savings Account

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High-yield savings accounts are another option for short-term investments. These accounts offer higher interest rates than traditional savings accounts but have similar liquidity to cash deposits in most cases.

One downside of a high-interest savings account is that interest rates can change. Know that even if you get the best interest rate deal possible initially, your rate may drop. For example, during 2020, many different banks dropped their high-yield savings account interest rates numerous times. Events like this often happen during an economic downturn. So, it’s essential to keep an eye on the rates banks offer.

Another thing to watch out for with high-yield savings accounts is fees. Some banks will charge a monthly maintenance fee or other fees for using certain bank account features. Make sure you understand all of the fees associated with your chosen account before signing up.

Ultimately, high-yield savings accounts are a great way to save money while earning a higher rate of return than a traditional savings account. They offer liquidity and safety, making them a good option for those who don’t want to take on as much risk as they would with other types of investments. These accounts are especially good for the money you plan to use in less than five years, like a house down payment fund or a vacation fund. Many people use high-yield savings accounts as goal accounts for that reason.

Save With Step

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Step, made popular by its unique “hybrid” Step Visa Card, has expanded its offerings to include a powerful high-yield savings tool.

Users earn 5% annually—compounded and paid monthly—on up to $250,000 saved in their Savings Goals, calculated using the average daily balance in your Savings Goals. Like with your average savings account, Step’s savings yield can change depending on movements in the Federal Funds Rate, but if that happens, Step will give you 30 days’ notice before it happens.

To qualify, the user must have a direct deposit of at least $500 per month, and the benefit extends for as long as the direct deposits continue. (Other perks of making qualifying direct deposits? Bonus points on dining, food delivery, charitable donations, specific merchants—and you can get paid up to two days early.)

And remember: When you sign up with Step, you also get their Step Visa Card—a spending card that functions like a debit card, but also boasts some of the features of a Visa credit card—including the ability to build your (or your child’s) credit history. You can’t spend money you don’t have, eliminating the fear of overdrafting. The card can be used to withdraw money fee-free at more than 30,000 ATMs, and it’s protected by Visa’s Fraud Protection and Zero Liability guarantee.

Users age 13 and older can also buy and sell stocks, ETFs, and Bitcoin. Sign up for high-yield savings with Step today.

Read more in our Step Banking review.

 

3. Money Market Accounts

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A money market account (MMA) is a type of savings account that offers a higher interest rate than a standard savings account. They also offer more liquidity than other short-term investments, such as certificates of deposit or treasury bills.

One downside to MMAs is that they typically have lower interest rates than other types of investment options. So, they might not generate compound interest in a meaningful way like other investment options on this list.

Another thing to watch out for with MMAs is the minimum balance required to keep the account open. Some banks will require a minimum balance to be kept in the account at all times. If the balance falls below this level, the bank may charge you a fee.

Some MMAs come with checkbooks, which can be an excellent way to access your money if you need it quickly. These checkbooks are a key difference between a MMA and a high-yield savings account. If you want to access money in your high-yield savings account, you usually have to transfer it to a checking account to use it.

Ultimately, a MMA is a good option for those looking for a higher interest rate than what’s offered in traditional savings accounts while still having access to their money if they need it. Like a high-yield account, you can use a MMA to save for short-term financial goals that you know you want to achieve soon.

Consider opening a MMA with an online bank like CIT Bank. These types of banks tend to pay the highest yields due to their low fixed cost structures.

 

4. Short-Term Alternative Investments

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Alternative investments is a catch-all term for any investment that doesn’t fall into the categories of stocks, bonds, or cash. It covers a wide variety of investments, from real estate to fine art to sneakers, and it has become increasingly popular as fintech services have opened up once-restrictive markets to the individual retail investor.

Often, because of the less transparent nature of these investments, they’re limited toward investors with more financial resources and understanding, namely accredited investors. These investors meet certain financial requirements (or qualify with recognized credentials) and can gain access to investments that can offer compelling risk-reward characteristics.

Below, we highlight one such option from EquityMultiple, a crowdfunding real estate platform focused largely on commercial real estate investments.

EquityMultiple’s Alpine Notes (Accredited Investors Only)

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• Available: Sign up here
• Price: Free

Are you an accredited investor looking for a short-term investment with attractive returns? Meet EquityMultiple’s Alpine Note series.

Alpine Notes are a savings alternative with competitive rates of return on three-, six-, and nine-month notes, providing another means of conservative diversification and short-term yield. Compared to the commercial real estate crowdfunding platform’s other investment offerings, these notes are extremely short-term in nature, and thus an optimal choice for EquityMultiple users who want better liquidity.

While the notes aren’t as liquid as a savings account, they do offer maturity dates that tend to be shorter than your typical CD—and significantly higher rates of return. While this product isn’t FDIC-insured, EquityMultiple does add a degree of protection by assuming the first-loss position in case of default. That means EquityMultiple will purchase a small portion of the aggregate notes issued in a series and will only receive payments after all other investors receive their total principal and interest. Such an arrangement puts their capital at risk, adding skin in the game and aligning their interests with yours.

In case you’re wondering what EquityMultiple does with your funds that justifies paying you such a healthy return, the platform takes the capital you provide and uses it as a line of credit to sponsors who bring real estate investments to EquityMultiple’s core investment platform. The credit allows sponsors to receive surety of funding on initial closing, thus attracting more high-quality investments from high-quality sponsors.

With EquityMultiple’s Alpine Note, you’ll need to be both an accredited investor and have at least $5,000 to participate. If you’re interested in accessing higher yields than traditional CDs or money market accounts, the Alpine Note series is one of the simplest and most efficient ways to take advantage of EquityMultiple’s real estate investment opportunities without tying up your money long-term.

 

Best Compound Interest Accounts: Long-Term Investments

5. Individual Stocks

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You buy a piece of a company that will hopefully increase in value over time when you buy stocks. In effect, this means that as the company grows, so does your investment.

With some stocks, you could receive dividends from the company, giving you an immediate return on your investment. You can often choose to automatically reinvest those dividends, which helps your overall investment grow over time.

There is no guarantee that a stock will increase in value. Stock investments can be volatile, especially during economic uncertainty, but have shown themselves as a strong investment option over long periods of time.

If you want to start investing in stocks, an excellent way to begin is to use an app that offers free stocks to new accounts. That way, you can get your feet wet without stressing about losing your initial principal. One such option is Plynk, a top stock investment app option for beginners.

Related: Best Stock Trading Apps for Beginners to Use

6. Exchanged-Traded Funds (ETFs)

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An ETF is a type of investment that tracks an index, such as the S&P 500. ETFs follow the index’s value as it goes up or down, reflecting in the underlying value of your ETF. ETFs can be bought and sold in the stock market during regular market hours, and many brokerages offer commission-free ETFs.

Having the ability to buy these low-cost investment vehicles makes them a popular choice for beginning investors. There are many different types of ETFs available, including those that focus on specific sectors of the economy (such as technology or health care) or geographic regions (such as Europe or Asia).

ETFs are a popular investment choice because they offer diversification and can be bought and sold promptly. Robo-advisors offer the capability to invest in ETFs automatically as you make deposits into your brokerage account. These investing apps handle all the investing on your behalf. You answer questions about your financial goals, risk tolerance, age, and preferences.

Consider starting an account with SoFi Invest, a hybrid robo-advisor and self-directed investing app that makes investing easy. The service offers automated investing into low-cost index funds to invest your money in alignment with your financial goals and preferences.

Related: Best Investments for Roth IRA Accounts [Target High-Growth]

7. Mutual Funds

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Mutual funds are professionally managed investments that pool money from multiple investors to buy stocks, bonds, or other securities. Mutual funds trade on stock exchanges just like individual stocks, and their prices fluctuate throughout the day.

However, unlike stocks representing ownership in a single company, mutual funds comprise multiple companies. Additionally, they are actively managed by professionals who decide how to invest the fund’s assets.

Because they offer professional oversight, mutual funds are often considered an excellent compound interest investment for beginning investors. Mutual funds typically charge fees for this service. They may also be subject to annual management fees depending on their structure. Again, we recommend considering Plynk and its access to several mutual funds.

Related: Tax Advantaged Investments & Accounts to Grow Wealth

Other Top Investment Opportunities to Consider

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Check out some of these other investment options for other FinTech-enabled investment opportunities popping up. They might represent some of the best assets to buy for your portfolio.

Accredited Investors Only:

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All Investors Welcome:

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8. Alternative Investments

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An alternative investment is any type of investment other than stocks, bonds, mutual funds, etc. In other words, largely non-stock investments or equity investments unavailable to retail investors. They can include hedge funds, venture capital investments, small business investments, and even collectibles.

Many investors choose alternative investments because they offer the potential for higher returns and a diversification position in their portfolios. They also come with increased risk compared to traditional investments like stocks and mutual funds.

Alternate investments can be attractive, but it’s hard to predict how much money you can make or how liquid the investments will be. For that reason, more traditional investments like dividend stocks or mutual funds are a better option for those starting to invest.

Beginning investors should only consider alternative investments if they have extra money they can afford to lose.

Mainvest

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One popular option to consider is Mainvest, a crowdfunding service that allows you to invest in Main Street small businesses across America. The company vets small businesses, only allowing 5% of businesses who sign up for the platform to get chosen for raising capital from investors like you.

You can use the platform to build a small business investment portfolio that aligns with your investment objectives, tastes, and preferences. Mainvest collects quarterly revenue and updates from the companies, offering you a share of these businesses’ revenues.

 

Kickfurther

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Kickfurther is a digital marketplace that distinguishes itself in the world of crowdfunding by allowing investors to fund not entire companies, but one pivotal part of the process: inventory. Specifically, instead of investing in or loaning money to a business, Kickfurther’s technology allows you to earn profits by facilitating consignment.

Let’s say a small business develops a product that sells like gangbusters, and there’s clearly more customer demand to be fulfilled. In many cases, this small business will need a considerable sum of cash to produce enough inventory to meet that demand. Banks are often hesitant to give early stage companies the money they need. However, Kickfurther provides companies with the money they need—and the flexibility not to pay that money back until the inventory is sold—by connecting them to a marketplace of users.

The Kickfurther platform allows its users to purchase this inventory up-front for the brand and earn a profit as the inventory is sold.

Kickfurther users are provided with consignment opportunities (Co-Ops) from brands that have already demonstrated a track record of sales and now need to produce more inventory to keep up with demand. Co-Ops will outline the inventory to be purchased, a specific profit for each piece of inventory sold, and an estimated timeline of when the inventory will be sold and the Co-Op will be completed (typically a matter of months).

Signing up for a Kickfurther account costs nothing. Inventory is sold as “packs” for each Co-Op which consist of specific inventory. Each pack usually costs between $100 and $500 to purchase, but you can participate in some Co-Ops for as little as $20.

 

9. Fine Art

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Fine art can be an excellent investment if you have the cash to spare and look for something with a little more risk and excitement. Unlike more traditional forms of investment, such as real estate or stocks, fine art is harder to value and predict returns. These characteristics can make it a higher-risk option and has the potential for significantly greater rewards.

The upside of investing in fine art is that it represents an asset that tends to hold its value over time, even appreciate when chosen carefully.

The downside is that buying into the market can be risky because it’s difficult to value and predict returns. Additionally, unlike other investments such as stocks or bonds, no regular income is generated from the artwork.

If you’d like to invest in blue-chip art, consider a service like Masterworks. The investment platform allows you to invest in fractional shares of iconic artworks and build a diversified portfolio curated by the company’s industry-leading research team.

Once purchased, Masterworks securitizes the artwork for fractional investing and holds it for three to ten years to allow for appreciation. You can choose to sell your shares on the secondary market within the platform or wait until the artwork sells, delivering you your pro-rata proceeds, net of fees.

If you’d like to try your hand at investing in blue-chip artworks, consider opening an account with Masterworks to learn more.

Related: How to Invest in Blue Chip Stocks for Starters [Steady Eddies]

10. Cryptocurrencies

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Cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, are a relatively new form of investment that has seen significant growth in recent years. Cryptocurrencies work by using blockchain technology rather than relying on central authorities such as banks. The decentralized nature of cryptocurrencies makes them an attractive option if you look for privacy and security in your investments.

The downside of cryptocurrencies is that they are incredibly volatile. The value of Bitcoin, for example, has been known to jump or drop significantly in just a few hours. It’s important to remember this before investing any money into cryptocurrencies and only to do so if you’re comfortable with the risks involved.

Ultimately, cryptocurrencies are a high-risk and potentially high-reward investment option that can add diversity to your portfolio. They also offer a new type of asset class in what has proven to be a burgeoning market, especially among Millennials and Generation Z.

To participate in cryptocurrency investing, consider opening an account with eToro, the leading cryptocurrency trading app.

The service offers a service called Copy Trader that assists you with making trades if you don’t know how to invest in cryptocurrencies by yourself. eToro’s Copy Trader feature mimics the trades of leading traders on the platform, leaving the guesswork out of deciding what to buy and sell for your own portfolio.

Consider opening an account to learn more. They sometimes offers an account sign up bonus for getting started. Check the product box below for more details.

Related: Best Commission-Free Stock Trading Apps & Platforms

11. Real Estate (Direct Ownership)

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Real estate is an investment that has been around for centuries. It can be a great way to build wealth over time.

There are two ways to invest in real estate: direct ownership or pooled investments (e.g., mutual funds, ETFs, REITs, etc.).

Buying and holding real estate directly can be a great option if you’re looking for long-term stability and like a hands-on approach. When you invest in real estate directly, you become the property owner. However, it’s important to note more work is involved when owning your property, from finding and screening tenants to handling repairs and maintenance yourself.

Suppose you’d prefer to invest in real estate without the need for hands-on ownership. In that case, pooled investments such as mutual funds, ETFs, REITs or crowdfunding platforms can be great options. These types of investments allow you to buy into more extensive portfolios that give your money exposure to many different properties with just one purchase.

12. Real Estate (Online + Crowdfunding)

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Online real estate investing and real estate crowdfunding are lesser-known forms of investing. Multiple investors pool their money together to invest in various projects, such as real estate. Online real estate investing and crowdfunding take amounts varying from small to large from many different investors instead of significant investments from a few individuals.

It’s an attractive option for those who don’t have money to buy into more traditional forms of real estate investment. A structure like this can be especially beneficial for investors with smaller amounts of money to invest. They may want to get involved with property ownership but might not otherwise have enough cash on hand to do so.

The downside is that you may lose control over exactly how you invest and which properties your pooled funds target. Additional fees may also be associated with the investment process. Before getting involved, you should understand the risks involved and how much return you might expect from these investments.

You might consider the most popular online real estate investing platform, Fundrise. The platform provides diversification by allowing its investors to access several funds, each of which holds a number of properties and is designed to provide varying levels of risk and income.

Getting started only requires an initial $10 investment to explore the opportunities.

Related: Which Type of Real Estate Investment is Right for You? 8 to Know

13. Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

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Real estate investment trusts, or REITs, are a type of pooled investment that allows you to invest in real estate without needing to purchase a property yourself. A model like this can be an excellent option for those who want the benefits of real estate ownership but don’t have the time or resources to manage their properties.

REITs work by pooling money from many different investors and then investing it into various forms of real estate. Investments can include anything from residential housing, to apartment complexes, office buildings and shopping malls. Because REITs offer immediate access to a range of properties, they’re an attractive option for those looking for diversification in their portfolio.

One downside is that you lose control over which specific properties your money is invested in, as with any pooled investment. Additionally, REITs can be riskier than some other forms of investment.

If you’d like to explore investing in REITs, consider Streitwise. For several years, this private REIT fund has beaten REIT industry peers in yields and investment returns. The initial minimum is on the higher side at ~$5,000. Still, the high-yielding investment appears to deliver solid returns. It works well as a passive income idea for your overall investment portfolio.

Related: Best Investment Opportunities for Accredited Investors

Can the Best Compound Interest Investments Make You Rich?

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The answer to this question is yes. Compound interest can make you rich, but there are a few things you need to do to achieve this.

First, you need to start investing as early as possible, so the effects of compounding have more time to work in your favor. Investing in your 20s and 30s is an excellent idea and a decision that can seriously pay off down the road. Remember, you don’t have to invest a lot to get started. Every little bit counts.

Secondly, invest your money in investment vehicles that offer high returns, such as stocks and mutual funds. Investing like this can also help create passive income, especially if you earn dividend payments. Take the time to learn about various funds and your options before choosing them. The more knowledge you have, the better.

Finally, resist the temptation to spend all of your hard-earned money. Budget, plan, save and invest regularly. Please pay attention to your money and track it as it grows through compounding. If you can do these things over time, you will likely see your wealth grow, which will help you eventually reach financial freedom.

While it takes time to become wealthy through compound interest investments, it is possible with enough time and patience.

Related:

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• 19 Best Stock Investment Research Software & Websites
• How to Know What Stocks to Buy [Picking Stocks for the Long-Term]
• How to Increase Net Worth: 14 Best Ways to Grow Your Assets