Move your money to a higher-yielding account without sacrificing safety.

Still have cash parked in a money-market mutual fund? It's time to move it out. A year ago, when the stock market was in free fall and investors were seeking refuge, money funds were earning 2% or more. Now the yields, which track short-term Treasuries, are below 0.4%. Yet money funds still hold $3.5 trillion in assets, just about the same amount as they held a year ago, according to Money Fund Report newsletter. Prospects for higher rates are better at a bank, but even if you're willing to tie up your money for five years in a certificate of deposit, you'll be hard-pressed to find yields higher than 3.5%. And top one-year yields are only 2% or so.

Even as market forces undermine the earning power of your savings, don't let inertia add insult to injury. To find decent, supersafe yields now, you have to think outside the box. For example, you'll find some of the highest interest rates at community banks and credit unions. And your money is safe, as long as you know the limits of deposit insurance. If you're willing to step up the risk pyramid for a decent shot at higher returns, consider a short-term bond fund.

Safety Plus High Yields

You can earn as much as 5% on balances up to $25,000 (and sometimes more) at a community bank or credit union. For example, Union State Bank in Atchison, Kan., pays 5.01% on up to $25,000 in its My Rewards checking account. And you need a deposit of just $25 to open an account. (To find banks and