I bonds issued from May 1, 2023, to Oct. 31, 2023, have a composite rate of 4.30%. That includes a 0.90% fixed rate and a 1.69% inflation rate. Because I bonds are fully backed by the U.S. government, they are considered a relatively safe investment.
I bonds are a type of savings bond that are designed to protect your investment from inflation. Some people opt to use their tax refund to purchase I bonds. I bonds have a 4.30% interest rate until October 31, 2023. If rates stay the same you could earn over $434 in interest in one year.
I bonds are a great idea for retirees and other investors looking for competitive inflation-adjusted returns. “They offer such a great deal that the government limits the annual purchase amount to $10,000 per Social Security number,” Reilly notes.
Key Points. Pros: I bonds come with a high interest rate during inflationary periods, they're low-risk, and they help protect against inflation. Cons: Rates are variable, there's a lockup period and early withdrawal penalty, and there's a limit to how much you can invest.
I bonds are an excellent choice for conservative investors seeking a low-risk investment to protect their cash from inflation. Although the bonds are illiquid for one year, after that period you can cash them at any time. The three-month interest rate penalty for I bonds cashed within the first five years is minimal.
The interest rate for Series I Bonds is unimpressive in some economic environments. But during the high inflation period of 2022-2023, however, these bonds are extremely attractive. Bonds issued in the six months leading up to October 2022 paid an impressive 9.62% interest rate.
I bonds issued from May 1, 2023, to Oct. 31, 2023, have a composite rate of 4.30%. That includes a 0.90% fixed rate and a 1.69% inflation rate. Because I bonds are fully backed by the U.S. government, they are considered a relatively safe investment.
Another advantage is that TIPS make regular, semiannual interest payments, whereas I Bond investors only receive their accrued income when they sell. That makes TIPS preferable to I Bonds for those seeking current income.
$10,000 limit: Up to $10,000 of I bonds can be purchased, per person (or entity), per year. A married couple can each purchase $10,000 per year ($20,000 per year total). 7.12% interest: The yield on I bonds has two components—a fixed rate and an inflation rate.
The limit is per person — so if you're married, each spouse is allowed to purchase $10,000 in I bonds (plus the paper bonds if they have a tax return). You can also purchase up to $10,000 in I Bonds for your children, but they must be used for the child, to save for college, perhaps.
The 4.30% composite rate for I bonds issued from May 2023 through October 2023 applies for the first six months after the issue date. The composite rate combines a 0.90% fixed rate of return with the 3.38% annualized rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U).
"It is possible that the I Bond fixed rate could rise in May," he said, "so it does make sense to hedge your bets by buying half of your annual I Bond purchase before May and the other half after April." Buying before the end of April also makes sense to lock in the 6.89% annualized rate for the next six months.
You can cash in (redeem) your I bond after 12 months. However, if you cash in the bond in less than 5 years, you lose the last 3 months of interest. For example, if you cash in the bond after 18 months, you get the first 15 months of interest.
Series I Savings Bonds
The combined rate is currently 6.89% for bonds issued between Nov. 1, 2022 and April 30, 2023. Put $10,000 into I bonds and you can earn almost $700 this year — assuming the bond's variable inflation rate remains roughly the same.
You can count on a Series I bond to hold its value; that is, the bond's redemption value will not decline. Question: What is the inflation rate? November 1 of each year. For example, the earnings rate announced on May 1 reflects an inflation rate from the previous October through March.
Interest on I bonds is exempt from state and local income taxes and, if you qualify, from federal income tax when used to pay for higher education. You can buy up to $10,000 in electronic I bonds per person in a calendar year, with an online account at TreasuryDirect.gov.
Individuals, organizations, fiduciaries, and corporate investors may buy Treasury securities through a bank, broker, or dealer.
The rules of purchasing I bonds
So if you bought $10,000 worth of I bonds recently, you can purchase additional I bonds in January 2023 since it's a new calendar year. You don't necessarily have to wait 12 months from the time you last bought I bonds.
I bonds are an excellent option for those who want to invest their money safely but still reap some rewards along the way. With their low minimum purchase amount, guaranteed return on investment, inflation protection, and tax-deferment features, it's no wonder Suze Orman continues to recommend them.
A higher fixed rate will offer more assurances that the bond will maintain purchasing power in the face of inflation. It will also provide some benefit in times of deflation. The current variable rate is 3.24% which is annualized and added to the current fixed rate of 0.4% for a composite rate of 6.89%.
Historically, stocks have higher returns than bonds. According to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the stock market has provided annual returns of about 10% over the long term. By contrast, the typical returns for bonds are significantly lower. The average annual return on bonds is about 5%.
Fed forecasts show one more rate hike could be possible for 2023, likely at the May 3 meeting. But Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell emphasized they “may” hike rates one more time, suggesting that increase might not happen. So far in 2023, the Fed raised rates 0.25 percentage points twice.
Series EE savings bonds are a low-risk way to save money. They earn interest regularly for 30 years (or until you cash them if you do that before 30 years).