Are high-yield savings accounts safe?

Yes — as long as they're FDIC-insured (banks) or NCUA-insured (credit unions), your deposits are protected up to $250,000 per depositor, per institution. Online banks like Marcus, Ally, and Discover offer 4-5% APY versus 0.01-0.05% at traditional banks. The higher rate comes from lower overhead, not higher risk. Shop rates at bankrate.com or depositaccounts.com.