A CD is a promissory note from a bank or thrift institution that typically offers a higher rate of interest than a regular savings account because it restricts the depositor from withdrawing funds prior to its time-based maturity date.

A few facts:

• CDs generally have maturity dates ranging from 3 months to as long as 10 years or more, with a minimum deposit of $1,000.
• The types of CDs available through TD Ameritrade are called brokered CDs.
• They are similar to CDs purchased directly from a bank, except they can be traded on the open market.  
• Brokered Certificates of Deposits that you choose to sell prior to maturity in a secondary market may result in loss of principal due to fluctuation of interest rates, lack of liquidity, or transaction costs.

U.S. Treasury securities are debt obligations issued by the U.S. government to support the day-to-day operations of the federal government and to finance the national debt. U.S. Treasuries are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. However, the government guarantee only applies to repayment of principal and interest earned if held to maturity.

Government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) securities, also referred to as Agencies, are issued by entities created by Congress to fund loans to certain groups of borrowers such as homeowners, farmers and students. All GSE debt is sponsored, but not guaranteed, by the federal government. The risk of investing in these bonds varies based on the GSE that issued them (credit risk).

Corporate notes are fixed-rate, unsecured, continuously offered debt obligations from a variety of issuers with maturities ranging from short-term to long-term. The risk of investing in these bonds varies based on the credit rating of the company that issued them. 

Municipal bonds are interest-bearing debt obligations issued by a state, state agency or authority, or a political subdivision such as a county, city, town or village, to fund public projects.