Approaching Retirement? Suze Orman's 2025 Plan For Safe, High-Earning Cash

Kaili Killpack

Wed, May 7, 2025, 7:54 AM 4 min read

As retirement approaches, many people start to shift their focus from growing their investments to protecting what they've built. Financial expert Suze Orman has a clear strategy for 2025 that focuses on helping near-retirees earn more on their cash while keeping it safe.

Whether you're just a few years away from retirement or already there, Orman's recommendations offer a roadmap for where to park your money in today's higher-interest environment.

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Before thinking about investing or even locking money into a longer-term product, Orman urges everyone to build a solid emergency fund. Her advice: aim to keep three to twelve months of living expenses in an easily accessible savings account.

One option she recommends is the Ultimate Opportunity Savings Account at Alliant Credit Union. According to Orman's blog, this account currently earns a 3.10% annual percentage yield and comes with a $100 bonus for anyone who deposits at least $100 a month for 12 consecutive months.

Orman wrote that this "remains my go-to advice for building up a savings account." The key benefit here is combining steady savings habits with one of the more competitive yields available for liquid cash.

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If you don't need immediate access to some of your money, Orman says certificates of deposit can offer even better returns. For example, in her blog, she states that Alliant's one-year CD is currently offering 4.00% APY. Longer-term CDs, like those with 17-month or two-year terms, may offer slightly more.

CDs require you to commit your funds for a fixed period, and pulling money out early typically results in a small interest penalty. Still, they're considered low-risk and are insured up to the legal limits by the FDIC or NCUA.

To balance access and earnings, Orman suggests a CD ladder. By dividing your money among CDs of different lengths — say, one-year and 18-month terms — you'll have cash maturing at staggered intervals. This approach can help you maintain flexibility while capturing today's high rates.