My assumpting is SIPC, but will see once more is known. I hopped on the list. Assuming it's to it her more people on their brokerage accounts. Free there = selling your order flow. But kids these days like being the product to get something for free.
Yes, SIPC is my understanding of the insurance that will be provided on funds, up to $250k. The product is not scheduled to launch until Q1 of 2019, so, thing may change and there may be delays. I remember signing up with Robinhood - or trying to - a few years ago when they were about to launch free crypto services, but I didn't have the one type of cellphone platform (Apple) that they supported - and they had no other way to access their platform. Maybe that will change... or already has. I never went back.
There are a few 3% APY liquid FDIC checking/savings accounts around, but they're in limited areas. I think there's one in part of Texas, one in a few counties around Detroit. There's a 2.50% APY online FDIC acct being offered by a Boston bank, on the nationwide side. EBSBDirect, I believe, is the name of that one.
For short term CD's, I think there are some attractive-looking 3mo and 6mo at just under 3 (2.7-2.9 or so) at... Advancial? Sounds right - not sure. Connexial, Advancial, something like that.
I've been out of the equity market, mostly, for a while - still avoiding tech, kinda - but am starting to do some value shopping, at these levels. Not trying to catch the exact bottom, but do think the bullshit pessimism is overblown, on an earnings basis, for many names...