The Sun Sentinel answers your questions about the downturn every Wednesday in Your Money. Submit your questions in the form at the right.

Will my certificate of deposit at Wachovia be honored by Wells Fargo?

Wells Fargo completed its acquisition of Wachovia last Dec. 31.

Kathy Harrison, a spokesperson for Wells Fargo-Wachovia said terms on CDs from Wachovia will remain the same until the CDs mature. That’s good news, because a few months ago, Wachovia was offering some attractive rates.

When those CDs expire, Greg McBride, senior financial analyst at Bankrate.com, says those who hold them will come face-to-face with much lower rates. After the Federal Reserve cut its target federal funds interest rate to close to zero in December, CD rates plummeted. A six-month CD now averages a 1.64 percent return, down from 3.2 percent six months ago in September.

Your best strategy now: Be glad that inflation is next to zero, because even a CD paying little keeps you ahead of rising prices.

Don’t lock up your money for very long, McBride advises. Because while five-year CDs are paying just under 3 percent now, inflation could come roaring back at a higher rate over the long term.