Charles Schwab started offering AMT tax-free money market funds. I read about it in the spring 2008 edition of Schwab’s On Investing magazine. AMT tax-free money market funds are good for investors who are in a higher tax bracket due to the Alternative Minimum Tax, especially those who also face high state income tax.
Previously Fidelity is the only place I know that offers this kind of funds. Schwab now offers one national and four state-specific (CA, MA, NJ, and NY) AMT tax-free money market funds. The national fund and the NY fund also have two share classes with different expense ratios. The Value Advantage share class is cheaper but you can’t use them for automatic sweeps. Investors in MA and NJ only have the more expensive Sweep Shares version, while investors in CA only have the non-sweep version. Like the comparable Fidelity funds, these AMT tax-free money market funds all require a $25,000 minimum initial investment.
Here’s the complete list of Schwab’s AMT-free money funds*:
| Fund | Expense | Yield | Comparable Fidelity Fund |
| Schwab AMT Tax-Free Money Fund – Value Advantage Shares (SWWXX) | 0.45% | 2.80% | 0.43% / 2.83% |
| Schwab AMT Tax-Free Money Fund (SWFXX) | 0.63% | 2.61% | N/A |
| Schwab CA AMT Tax-Free Money Fund – Value Advantage Shares (SNKXX) | 0.45% | 2.42% | 0.30% / 2.76% |
| Schwab MA AMT Tax-Free Money Fund – Sweep Shares (SWDXX) | 0.65% | 2.64% | 0.30% / 2.72% |
| Schwab NJ AMT Tax-Free Money Fund – Sweep Shares (SWJXX) | 0.65% | 2.64% | 0.30% / 2.95% |
| Schwab NY AMT Tax-Free Money Fund – Value Advantage Shares (SWYXX) | 0.45% | 2.68% | 0.30% / 2.95% |
| Schwab NY AMT Tax-Free Money Fund – Sweep Shares (SWNXX) | 0.65% | 2.47% | N/A |
* Expense ratios and effective yields for the Schwab funds were from Schwab’s web site. Expense ratios and effective yields for the Fidelity funds were from Fidelity’s web site. All data were retrieved on Saturday March 8, 2008.
Except for the national fund, Schwab’s AMT tax-free money market funds all have a substantially higher expense ratio and a lower yield than the comparable Fidelity funds. But if you prefer to keep your money at Schwab, now you have some new options for your short-term cash.
Related posts:
- Which Vanguard Money Market Fund?
- Risks In Money Market Funds
- Tax Equivalent Yield Calculator Updated
- A Baby Step for Simplifying My Finances
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Anonymous says
Strange how they’re making these products look like they’re brand new … they’ve been around for a long time
Harry Sit says
I checked the prospectus for the California fund which was dated October 2007. It said the fund didn’t have performance data because it was new. So I think these are still relatively new.
Schmendrik says
What’s the risk of these funds?
Harry Sit says
I don’t think there’s much risk in these money market funds. See related post Risks in Money Market Funds. But as always, read the prospectus.
Andy says
I just moved my cash sitting on the sidelines to the Vanguard tax exempt money market fund. The yields on these tax free money market funds are amazing espically if you are in the 25% tax bracket and above. A 7.5% equivalent yield with a low 0.17% management fee. Can’t beat that in today’s market. If you live in a state that has state specific tax free money market funds then you are even better off – the Triple Play!