They do this by code-sharing (selling seats on each other’s flights), providing reciprocal benefits to loyalty program members and elite status customers, and even transferring baggage between their flights. It’s a win-win for travelers and airlines.

And when there are flight delays or disruptions, alliances can support member airlines more easily. This makes traveling with alliance member carriers easier than with unaffiliated airlines because they have larger reach and assistance opportunities.

Here’s what elite status members of SkyTeam member airlines can enjoy as reciprocal perks, no matter what alliance member they are flying.

SkyTeam elite status is earned by attaining status through one of SkyTeam’s alliance members and meeting the qualifications with that particular airline’s frequent flyer program. There are 18 active members in the SkyTeam alliance, plus one airline (Aeroflot) that’s currently suspended.

SkyTeam elite status has two tiers.

The most valuable benefits for this tier is the priority check-in, which can save you a lot of time at an international airport when you may need to check bags, and the extra baggage allowance.

SkyTeam Elite Plus is the higher of the two, and it comes with a few more benefits.

SkyTeam Elite Plus members get an even higher checked bag weight limit than SkyTeam Elites, plus lounge access for themselves and a guest.

Let’s say you have Delta Diamond Medallion status. This also qualifies for SkyTeam Elite Plus status. So your next flight on Vietnam Airlines or Air France or Aeromexico would qualify for SkyTeam Elite Plus perks, such as lounge access and priority check-in.

Since Delta is the only U.S. member of SkyTeam, let’s look at how its status tiers match to SkyTeam elite status:

Delta Silver Medallion is the only elite tier with Delta to receive the reduced SkyTeam Elite status benefits.

General SkyMiles members receive no extra perks when flying with a SkyTeam carrier beyond the ability to earn Delta SkyMiles with certain SkyTeam airlines if they choose to link their Delta loyalty program number to their reservation.

These require you to prove equivalent status with a competing airline and, in some cases, meet a certain spending or flying threshold with the new airline.

Attaining elite status with a SkyTeam member airline also comes with instant status within SkyTeam to enjoy on all other carriers in the alliance. Your elite status card (physical or digital) as well as online account will indicate your status tier. This means it makes sense to fly with other alliance member airlines to take advantage of similar perks that can help to save money and improve your travel experience.

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Andrew Beattie

Updated Jul 13, 2022

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Certificates of deposit (CDs) can work well for young savers setting money aside for a specific goal, such as a down payment, wedding, emergency cushion, or major purchase. They offer predictable returns without the daily swings that come with investing. In 2026, the harder part is knowing where to research CDs and how to tell whether a listed rate is current, insured, and relevant to a saver’s timeline.

Many online “best CD rate” lists focus heavily on headline APYs. That can create problems for first-time CD shoppers. Rates change frequently, eligibility requirements vary between institutions, and some comparison sites rely heavily on paid placements or limited partner networks. Young savers need more than a high advertised rate, they need confidence that rates are current, institutions are federally insured, and comparison tools are transparent. The most useful CD comparison platforms help savers check rate accuracy, confirm FDIC or NCUA insurance, filter by term and deposit minimum, and compare offers from multiple institutions without relying only on brand familiarity.

CD Valet: Verified CD Rate Marketplace for Federally Insured Offers

CD Valet is a CD marketplace that gives savers a clear view of the top verified CD rates from federally insured banks and credit unions, and equips financial institutions with a reliable channel for deposit growth and customer acquisition. The platform operates as a verified CD marketplace rather than a bank or sponsored ranking site. Its emphasis on verification and insurance confirmation can be particularly relevant for young savers who may be opening CDs for the first time.

One of CD Valet’s key differentiators is the scale of its verification process. According to the company, Rate Watchers conduct daily audits of more than 38,000 CD offers, while the platform tracks over 40,000 CD listings from nearly 5,000 financial institutions nationwide. CD Valet focuses exclusively on FDIC- and NCUA-insured institutions and emphasizes transparent APY-based sorting rather than pay-to-play rankings. Institution-sourced rate data and ongoing verification help reduce uncertainty around rate accuracy.

The platform allows users to filter offers by term length, minimum deposit, institution type, and geographic location. That flexibility can be useful for young savers comparing nationwide opportunities while still evaluating local markets. For example, someone researching the best CD offers available in Chicago can review local options alongside nationwide offers to see how regional opportunities compare. CD Valet also provides RateWatcher reports, calculators, and rate alerts. The platform does not provide financial advice, recommend specific products, or promise specific returns.

Best for: Young savers who want verified CD rates from federally insured banks and credit unions, with clear filtering by term and deposit requirements.

BoundlessCash: Beginner-Friendly CD Education and Simplified Comparisons

BoundlessCash is a broad consumer finance site covering banking, credit cards, loans, investing, and insurance. Its CD coverage is most useful for readers who want simple explanations before comparing accounts.

The site offers plain-language guides explaining CD terms, APYs, maturity periods, and early withdrawal penalties. Readers can also find calculators, savings-product comparisons, and articles that compare CDs with alternatives such as high-yield savings accounts. Because BoundlessCash covers many financial categories, its CD content sits alongside other banking, credit card, loan, and investing resources rather than functioning as a specialized CD marketplace. It is useful for learning the basics, but it is less focused on institution-level CD verification across the broader market.

Best for: Beginner or intermediate savers who want simple CD guidance before moving into more detailed rate comparisons.

Bankrate: Broad Personal Finance Research and CD Rate Tables

Bankrate is a long-running personal finance site covering banking, mortgages, credit cards, loans, and savings products. CD rates are one part of that broader coverage.

Readers can access national CD rate tables, banking guides, educational articles, and financial calculators in one place. That makes Bankrate useful for people comparing CDs alongside other financial products, rather than using a CD-only site. However, its CD coverage typically focuses on featured institutions and partner relationships rather than comprehensive market-wide verification. CDs remain one category within a much larger financial publishing operation.

Best for: Readers who want broad personal finance context alongside CD rate information.

Investopedia: Educational Resource for CD Terms and Rate Concepts

Investopedia is mainly a financial education site, so its CD content is better for learning terms and concepts than comparing live offers.

Its CD-related content includes guides covering APYs, maturity dates, early withdrawal penalties, interest calculations, and deposit insurance basics. Readers who are unfamiliar with CDs can use these resources to understand the terms they will see later in rate comparisons. Investopedia’s main strength is education, not real-time rate verification.

Because education is the platform’s primary mission, it is not designed to serve as a real-time verified CD marketplace. Readers typically use it to build foundational knowledge before comparing actual offers from financial institutions.

Best for: Readers who want to understand CD concepts before comparing rates across institutions.

What to Look for in a CD Rate Comparison Platform

Different savers use comparison platforms for different reasons. Some want education. Others want current rates. Some prioritize insurance verification. The right platform depends on which of those needs matters most.

Rate Accuracy

CD rates can change quickly. Comparison tools are most useful when they clearly explain how rates are collected, reviewed, or updated. Outdated information can make side-by-side comparisons less reliable.

Insurance Verification

When evaluating unfamiliar institutions, readers should confirm whether they are FDIC-insured banks or NCUA-insured credit unions. Federal insurance status remains one of the most important safeguards for CD savers.

Filtering by Term and Deposit Amount

Useful comparison tools let savers narrow results by term length, minimum deposit, institution type, and local versus nationwide availability. This can help when someone is saving for longer-term goals and needs a CD that fits a specific timeline.

Transparency in Rankings

Not every platform ranks offers the same way. Some prioritize APY. Others may rely more heavily on editorial selections, affiliate relationships, or featured placements. Checking how a site ranks offers helps savers understand what they are actually comparing.

For first-time CD shoppers, these checks can reduce the risk of relying on outdated rates or unclear ranking systems.

Choosing the Right CD Comparison Tool

No single platform fits every saver’s research needs. The right choice depends on what someone wants to check first: education, current rates, insurance status, or broader financial context.

Young savers looking for verified CD rates from federally insured institutions with strong filtering capabilities may gravitate toward CD Valet. Those who prefer beginner-friendly explanations may start with BoundlessCash. Readers researching several financial products at once may find Bankrate useful, while Investopedia can provide educational context before comparing actual offers.

Understanding these differences helps savers choose a platform based on what they need most: education, verified rates, or broader financial context. Finding a strong CD offer requires more than scanning headline APYs. Savers should also look at rate accuracy, deposit insurance, term length, minimum deposit rules, and how each platform sources its data.

Smart CD Shopping Starts with the Right Tools

The CD comparison landscape offers young savers more information than ever before, but not all platforms approach rate collection and verification the same way. A headline APY can be useful, but it rarely tells the whole story.

Reliable comparison tools make it easier to evaluate rate accuracy, federal insurance status, filtering options, and ranking transparency. Understanding those differences helps young savers make more confident decisions and choose comparison platforms that align with their savings goals.

Photo By Jakub Żerdzicki, Unsplash

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Perhaps you’ve seen those WE BUY GOLD billboards along the side of highways. Or the South Park episode making fun of those places.

Either way, you’re probably wondering if there’s an air of legitimacy to buying and storing gold as an investment — and how to do it properly.

I’m here to tell you there definitely is, and buying physical gold bullion is just one of the three main ways to invest and profit from the rise in gold prices.

So let’s explore all three, the pros and cons of each, and discuss whether you should invest in gold in the first place.

Gold bullion

First up is gold bullion. You know, literal gold. The stuff Goldmember and Scrooge McDuck loved to bathe in, back when shameless billionaires were still funny.

Anyway, the term “bullion” refers to precious metal that’s melted into bars, ingots, or coins. Basically, bullion is the fungible, transferable, “currency” form of a precious metal, with its weight etched into the metal itself.

And, according to Gold Bars Worldwide, gold bullion has to be 99.5% pure to be considered a true investment — meaning anything shy of that might be hard to sell back to the market, so be careful not to buy any “fool’s gold.”

Bars, ingots, and coins of 99.5% purity are considered bullion. Jewelry is not.

Oh, and an “ingot” is just a gold bar shaped into that classic trapezoid shape you see in movies (or in real life, if you’re a baller).

So that’s bullion — physical gold melted into bricks or coins that are easy to buy and sell.

So how do you buy bullion?

How to buy gold bullion

Between 1879 and 1933, you could actually trade in your USD for gold with the Federal Reserve. But FDR did away with that in 1933 and Nixon closed the “gold window” for good in 1971.

Today, investors can buy bullion from reputable dealers online. JM Bullion is like the Amazon of precious metals, and investments above $199 ship for free. APMEX is their closest competitor, and definitely worth hitting for some price comparison shopping.

Some folks buy their gold at pawn shops, although you’re much more likely to find jewelry than bullion which is harder to appraise. So it’s probably best for newbies to stick with trusted retailers.

Now, which bullion should you buy?

Many experts recommend American Eagles, which are guaranteed by the federal government — that means dealers have to buy them and can’t pull any shenanigans.

“If you buy Eagles they’re very liquid, they’re internationally recognized,” wrote Mike Clark, president and general manager of Diamond State Depository, to CNBC. “If you go retrieve them someday and take them to a coin dealer they will buy them over the counter, without exception.”

Finally, storage. To keep things brief, don’t try to keep your gold at home — it’s just too likely to get lost or stolen, and poof! Your whole investment is gone. Instead, consider a safety deposit box at your local bank branch. They’re typically just $20 to $50 a year, and the peace of mind will be worth it.

Buying gold bullion: Pros and cons

Pros

• Easy to buy online
• Objectively the most direct form of investing in gold
• You get to hold your own gold

Cons

• Shipping, insurance, and storage can affect your bottom line
• Physical gold can get lost or stolen
• Driving to the bank/dealer reduces liquidity

Gold Futures

A gold future is an agreement to buy gold at a set price on a set date in the future.

Let’s say you pay $10 for a futures contract that lets you buy one ounce of gold at $1,000 on September 10. If the price of gold rises to $1,500 before then, another investor might want to buy your futures contract off you for $100 so they can buy the gold at $1,000. So you 10x your investment without having to buy any physical gold. Nice!

That being said, futures trading can be immensely risky and complicated. Like the black diamond of trading, futures tend to chew up a lot of newbies since a single bad trade can result in steep, tumbling losses. So before considering futures, gold or otherwise, talk to your financial advisor.

How to buy Gold Futures

Generally speaking, if a brokerage platform supports futures it will also support gold futures. 

Specifically, gold futures are traded at the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX). The most popular contract size is for the future purchase of 100 troy ounces ($173,390 in today’s prices), although contracts also exist for 50 and 10 troy ounces. (Troy ounces are a special metric for precious metals. 1 troy ounce = 1.09714 traditional ounces).

Hopefully the above figure illustrates why futures get folks in so much trouble — they’re cheap to buy, but obligate you to pay as much as $173,390 in the near future. Approach with caution!

Gold Futures: Pros and cons

Pros

• Low cost of entry (some contracts trade for as little as $2.25)
• Broader market hours (most futures trade 24 hours a day, M-F)
• Doesn’t require you to hold physical gold (at least, not until the contract expires)
• Can generate high returns in a short amount of time

Cons

• Steep learning curve
• Widely considered speculative and extremely difficult to time the markets
• High risk of failure for newcomers

Gold stocks and ETFs

“Gold stock” is an umbrella term for a stock or ETF whose value is somehow tied to the current market value of gold.

Gold stocks may include, but aren’t limited to:

• Companies that mine and process gold
• Companies involved in “gold exploration” (i.e., searching for it)
• ETFs that contain companies that mine, process, and explore for gold
• ETFs that track the current price of gold (and are even backed by stores of bullion in some cases)

Here are a few examples of the best gold stocks and ETFs:

• Barrick Gold (NYSE: GOLD) is a mining company with gold and copper mines in 18 countries. Investors are bullish on the stock because the company has plenty of life left in their mines and was able to secure tons of raw materials (cyanide, explosives) before prices rose in 2022.
• SPDR Gold Shares (NYSE: GLD) is the largest physically backed gold fund in the world. Each share of SPDR represents one-tenth of an ounce of gold, so if you buy 10 shares, you effectively “own” 1 ounce of gold. You can’t touch it, but you can trade it just like real gold, and shares of SPDR are designed to stay within 1% of the price of gold bullion.
• The VanEck Gold Miners ETF (NYSEARCA: GDX) contains 56 different mining companies. They say that during a gold rush it’s better to invest in shovels than gold. If that’s a philosophy you agree with, GDX might be the best “shovel ETF” out there.

Broadly speaking, gold stocks and ETFs tend to follow the price of gold. Sometimes, they exceed it; when the value of gold rose 300% from 2008–2011, shares of GDX rose 400%.

But overall, buying shares of gold stocks offers a familiar, convenient, and indirect method of investing in the shiny stuff. You may not always benefit from the meteoric rise in gold prices, but the indirect exposure helps to hedge your risk.

How to buy gold stocks and ETFs

Convenience is one of the biggest appeals of trading gold stocks and ETFs. No gold to send in the mail, no safety deposit boxes, no messy futures contracts.

You can buy gold stocks and ETFs pretty much anywhere you can trade regular stocks and ETFs. If you’re new to trading, check out our best online brokerage accounts for beginners.

Gold stocks and ETFs: Pros and cons

Pros

• Easy to buy, sell, and trade on common brokerage platforms
• Allows you to hedge your risk with diversity and indirect exposure
• Enables you to invest in the “shovel makers,” which sometimes rise in value faster than gold itself

Cons

• Not as resilient or recession-proof as gold itself
• Shares of gold ETFs often become uncoupled to the price of gold
• Mining companies may not be the most ESG-friendly, socially conscious investments

Should you invest in gold?

Now that you’re aware of the options, should you invest in gold in the first place?

Well, the main reason investors buy gold is because it’s perceived as a safe way to preserve wealth during crazy times. Let’s say U.S. inflation wasn’t 9% this year, but 900%. What can you do to protect your life savings from losing value?

For hundreds of years, the answer has been “convert your cash into gold.” The value of gold has survived falling empires, crippling recessions, and more simply because humanity has assigned it artificial value for 2,500 years and shows no signs of stopping.

So to draw an analogy, many investors treat gold like a parking deck during a hailstorm — a place to park their “asset” (i.e., their car) to protect it until the storm blows over.

To illustrate, take a look at the value of gold since 1993 and see if you can spot when — and why — people started parking in the “parking deck.”

What’s interesting is that even when the hailstorm passed, people stayed in the parking deck. According to a study by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, “In the early part of the sample, variation in inflation or inflationary expectations was the single most important consideration for the real price of gold. From 2001 on, however, long-term real interest rates and pessimism about future economic activity appear as the dominant factors.”

Basically, gold isn’t just a hedge against inflation or interest rates — it’s a hedge against pessimism. “Pessimism” is hard to measure, of course, which is why timing the market for gold is so notoriously tricky.

To circle back, should you buy gold in 2022?

If you’re pessimistic — or if you think everyone else is pessimistic — a little gold might make sense. And even if you’re more optimistic than most, some investors still keep a little gold in their portfolio just for the sake of diversity. It doesn’t hurt to have something that’s relatively stable in value and doesn’t collapse with the markets.

Pros of investing in gold

• It’s a potential hedge against inflation
• Gold and mining stocks and ETFs offer convenient, indirect methods of investing
• Buying physical gold is undeniably cool

Cons of investing in gold

• Gold does not generate interest
• Market timing can be extremely difficult and speculative
• Physical gold can be difficult to purchase, store, and convert back into liquid

The bottom line

At the end of the day, gold is just one of the potential building blocks for a diverse, healthy investment portfolio.

To take a step back and survey all of your options, check out our essential advice to help you start investing.

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