Speaking of bond ladders, Bankrate.com helps you do something similar with certificates of deposit. Starting with $5,000 and investing over 60 months, you could end up with:
$6,072
... from a conservative CD ladder, with access to at least $1,000 every three months
$6,153
... from a moderate CD ladder, with access to at least $500 every three months
$6,233
... from a more aggressive CD ladder, with access to at least $1,000 every 12 months
