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Every brokerage account has what is called a "sweep" feature or sweep account. In accordance with your instructions and pursuant to these disclosures, the uninvested balances in your core account may be held in a position called the FDIC-. Fidelity has the right to limit the Cash Balances that are swept into a Program Deposit Account, or to move. What is an FDIC-Insured Deposit Sweep? To provide you with the benefit of FDIC insurance eligibility, the cash balance in your account will be automatically.

Fidelity money market funds are important investment vehicles that provide ready access to cash and relative safety.

The above attributes enable investors to temporarily park cash in such mutual funds before putting them to work in long-term investments.

Cash parked in Fidelity money market funds usually generates higher income than bank accounts. Unlike deposits in bank accounts, deposits in these mutual funds are not federally insured.

The U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulates the investments owned by Fidelity money market funds to minimize investors’ risks

Generally speaking, the SEC permits Fidelity money market funds to invest in debt securities issued by government entities or corporations that mature in 397 days or less.

The SEC also requires the money market fund’s mix of debt securities to meet specific conditions. The fund must maintain an overall weighted average maturity of 60 days or less. Additionally, it must allocate stipulated percentages of assets to specific buckets such as Weekly Liquid Assets and Daily Liquid Assets depending on the type of the fund.

The SEC regulations collectively seek to ensure the fund’s investors have ready access to the money they invest. The regulations also seek to minimize the odds of investors losing principal or interest in case interest rates change or the borrower defaults.

Learn more: How you can reduce risk in your investments at Fidelity

Fidelity money market funds fall into one of three major categories based on the types of investments owned by the fund:

Fidelity government money market funds primarily invest in debt issued by the U. S. Treasury and U. S. Government sponsored-entities like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Fidelity prime money market funds, also known as general-purpose money market funds, invest in any eligible money market investment denominated in U. S. dollars including short-term debt issued by corporations and certificates of deposit.

Fidelity municipal money market funds primarily invest in debt issued by municipalities to earn income interest that is exempt from federal income tax.

The Fidelity prime money market funds and Fidelity municipal money market funds come in two types, Retail and Institutional, with these key differences.

Retail money market mutual funds are essentially limited individual investors (also called ‘natural persons’). These funds often to seek to maintain a stable $1.00 net asset value (NAV). If the fund’s ability to convert its holdings to cash falls below required minimums because of market conditions or other factors, the funds may impose a fee when shares are sold (also called liquidity fees) or may suspend share sales temporarily (also called redemption gates).

As implied in the name, Institutional money market mutual funds are held by institutional investors. They typically have minimum investment requirements in excess of $1,000,000. These funds transact at a floating NAV that is priced to 4 decimal places, e.g. $1.0000, and will experience fluctuations from time to time. Investors in these funds too can be subject to liquidity fees and redemption gates.

Fidelity government money market funds, in contrast, are available to both retail and institutional investors. Additionally, investors in these funds are not subject to liquidity fees, redemption gates, or a floating NAV.

Learn more: How to cut your expenses in managing your money at Fidelity

Although money market funds may appear simple investments, you need to look beyond just current yield and expense ratio to figure out the right Fidelity money market fund for your hard-earned dollars. It is useful to evaluate Fidelity money market funds on four dimensions to determine the best fit.

After-tax income: Income from different types of money market funds is treated differently for tax purposes. Dividends from government money market funds are totally or partially exempt from state income taxes while those from national municipal money market funds are exempt from federal income taxes.

Income from state-specific municipal money market funds is exempt from both federal and state income taxes. AMT tax-free money market funds seek to provide income that is sheltered from the alternative minimum tax.

You can maximize your after-tax income from a Fidelity money market fund by considering factors such as your marginal tax bracket and state of residence.

Learn more: How you can increase returns in your Fidelity account

Account type: Qualified accounts such as Individual Retirement Accounts provide tax-deferred growth. Taxable money market funds are often a better choice than tax-exempt money market funds for investing monies in qualified accounts.

Risk: While the probability of money market funds breaking the $1.00 NAV mark is remote, there have been a few instances. Fidelity U. S. Treasury money market fund is the safest of the lot while Fidelity U. S. Government Reserves and Fidelity Government Money Market Fund are a close second. Money market funds investing in commercial paper or debt issued by municipalities tend to carry a bit more risk.

Fund features: From applicability and usage perspectives, minimum amounts for opening an account, maintaining the account, and writing checks need to be considered.

Retail investors can choose from the following Fidelity prime money market funds. Among them Fidelity Prime Money Market Fund (SPRXX) is popular and has no minimum investment requirement.

*Net expense ratio and 7-day yield as of December 14, 2019

Additionally, the following Fidelity Prime Money Market funds are available to institutional investors: Fidelity Money Market Prime Money Market Portfolio – CL I (FIDXX), Fidelity Money Market Prime Reserves Portfolio – Class I (FDPXX), Fidelity Money Market Prime Money Market Portfolio – Institutional CL (FIPXX), and Fidelity Money Market Prime Reserves Portfolio – Institutional Class (FHPXX).

The following Fidelity government money market funds are available to retail as well as institutional investors. Among them Fidelity Government Money Market Fund (SPAXX) is popular and has no minimum investment requirement.

*Net expense ratio and 7-day yield as of December 14, 2019

The Fidelity Flex Government Money Market Fund (FLGXX) is closed to new investors.

The following Fidelity municipal money market funds are available to retail investors. Among them Fidelity Municipal Money Market Fund (FTEXX) is popular and has no minimum investment requirement.

*Net expense ratio and 7-day yield as of December 14, 2019

Fidelity money market funds are useful investment vehicles that often provide higher income than bank accounts. Since they provide ready access to cash, investors can use them to hold money that may be needed at a short notice. Investors with a low tolerance for volatility are likely to appreciate the stability they provide. Investors with long investment time horizons can also use Fidelity money market funds to diversify and stabilize their portfolios. Investors should consider after-tax income, account type, risk, and fund features to determine the best Fidelity money market fund for their particular situation.

There are several benefits of setting up a sweep account correctly.  First, most sweep accounts are FDIC insured, which provides your cash with a level of protection.

Second, you can earn interest on the money in the sweep.  If the money just sat in your brokerage, chances are you would earn nothing.  To earn some interest with the cash outside of a sweep account, you would have to invest in a money market fund.

Third, many brokerages are now allowing you to set their money market fund as your default for the sweep account (but you have to make that choice)!

For example, Fidelity allows the following sweep account options (they call it the core account):

It is important to note that sweep accounts are one of the most profitable products that investment firms offer.  You may wonder why?  Because most individuals don't set them up correctly, and as a result, the firm pays you nothing on you cash.

When setting up your sweep account, look at the options available to you.  Money market, savings accounts, etc.  Don't just settle for a yield of 0.01%.

If you don't make a choice, many brokerages just keep your cash sitting there - doing nothing for you! You have to make a choice to put your money to work for you!

Some institutions are very flexible with what you use as your sweep account.  There are some that even let you link your sweep account to your regular checking account.  This can be very convenient if you draw on the cash in your brokerage regularly.  On the same front, if you have a high-yield savings account, this could be a great sweep account.

It is important to note that the sweep feature is only available on standard brokerage accounts.  If you have a retirement account, you need to look at how your cash is being handled in the account.