Where should I keep cash I'll need in 1 to 3 years?

For money with a 1-to-3-year horizon — a planned car purchase, a wedding, a known tax bill, or a home down payment — safety and stability matter more than growth, so keep it out of stocks. Good homes include high-yield savings, money market funds, short-term CDs, T-bills, or a short CD ladder timed to your need. This is too soon to risk a market drop, but long enough that you can earn a meaningful, low-risk yield rather than letting the cash sit idle. Match maturities to your timeline: if you'll need the money in two years, a CD or T-bill maturing around then locks a rate without forcing early withdrawal. The closer the deadline, the more liquid you should stay. Reserve stocks for goals five or more years out.