5 ways the Fed and higher interest rates may impact you

5 ways the Fed and higher interest rates may impact you


Interest rates are almost undoubtedly going up this month, for the first time in three years.

The Federal Reserve is expected to raise its benchmark interest rate by 0.25% next week to curb inflation, which is running at a 40-year high. Additional hikes are likely later this year.

American households will feel that policy impact in many ways, both positive and negative, according to financial advisors.

“The Fed raising rates touches pretty much every single corner of the economy,” said Andy Baxley, a certified financial planner at The Planning Center in Chicago.

1. Loans

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Borrowers with variable interest rates on should also weigh refinancing to a fixed rate now or trying to pay off their debt more quickly, advisors said.

However, would-be homebuyers should still be in a good financial position to make a purchase.

“Rushing to save money by buying could result in you ending up in financial hardship, which could be much more expensive in the long run,” according to Lauryn Williams, CFP, founder of Worth Winning in Dallas.

On the positive side, higher mortgage rates may cool off a hot housing market and bring home prices back down to earth, she said.

2. Investments

The dynamic is more pronounced for bond funds with a long duration (those with bonds maturing in 10 years vs. 1 year, for example), advisors said.

“If you have to pay for college or buy a house in a year, you shouldn’t be thinking, ‘I can’t lose money in bonds,'” said Ted Jenkin, CFP, co-founder of oXYGen Financial in Atlanta.

However, in the long term, higher interest rates ultimately mean higher returns for bond investors; new bonds are issued at higher yields that correspond to prevailing interest rates.

3. Savings accounts

The national average interest rate for savings accounts is a paltry 0.06%, according to a March 2 poll conducted by Bankrate.

But consumers will likely see higher bank-account interest if the Federal Reserve acts. Online banks offering high-yield accounts tend to pay higher rates than traditional banks, according to advisors.

If you have to pay for college or buy a house in a year, you shouldn’t be thinking, ‘I can’t lose money in bonds.’

Ted Jenkin

co-founder of oXYGen Financial

Rates on other savings accounts like certificates of deposit would also rise.

“It’s important to do some rate shopping if you’re trying to enjoy those gains,” Baxley said.

The gains likely won’t be immediate, though. It generally takes several months to a year for banks to raise rates on savings accounts, according to Jenkin.

4. Inflation

This knock-on effect stems from higher borrowing costs. Costlier financing translates to less investment from consumers and businesses, which cools demand in the economy and tames prices.

5. Jobs and wages



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