I bonds can be a safe immediate-term savings vehicle, especially in inflationary times. I bonds offer benefits such as the security of being backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, state and local tax-exemptions and federal tax exemptions when used to fund educational expenses.
Inflation sucks, but there is one upside: It's still a great time to buy a government-backed I bond. Series I savings bonds are conservative, safe investments that rise and fall with inflation, and they're earning far more than the best high-yield savings account or certificate of deposit.
I Bond Cons
The initial rate is only guaranteed for the first six months of ownership. After that, the rate can fall, even to zero. One-year lockup. You can't get your money back at all the first year, so you shouldn't invest any funds you'll absolutely need anytime soon.
When we compare the historical 6-month composite rates against 12-month Treasuries at the time we see that the 6-month I bond rate is an average of 0.31% lower. At an initial rate of 6.89%, buying an I bond in October gets roughly 2.1% more compared to the 4.76% 12-month treasury rate (December 13, 2022).
Normally, you're limited to purchasing $10,000 per person on electronic Series I bonds per year. However, the government allows those with a federal tax refund to invest up to $5,000 of that refund into paper I bonds. So most investors think their annual investment tops out at $15,000.
inflation rate can vary. You can count on a Series I bond to hold its value; that is, the bond's redemption value will not decline.
Series I savings bonds — commonly known as I-bonds — currently offer an interest rate of 6.89%. While that's lower than the 9.62% they offered during the six months that ended November 1, it's still an attractive rate for savers who would otherwise be putting money into a savings account or CD.
It has been a long time coming, but 2023 looks to be the year that bonds will be back in fashion with investors. After years of low yields followed by a brutal drop in prices during 2022, returns in the fixed income markets appear poised to rebound.
November 1, 2022. Effective today, Series EE savings bonds issued November 2022 through April 2023 will earn an annual fixed rate of 2.10% and Series I savings bonds will earn a composite rate of 6.89%, a portion of which is indexed to inflation every six months.
I bonds can be excellent options for retirees to build up the conservative bucket of their retirement income plan. As low-risk investments, they are a way for risk-averse investors to beat inflation without putting more resources into the stock market.
The biggest red flag for short-term investors: You can't redeem these bonds for a year after you purchase them, and you'll owe a penalty equal to three months' interest if you cash out any time over the first five years of owning the bond.
I bonds cannot be cashed for one year after purchase. If a bond is cashed in year two through five after purchase, the prior three months of interest are forfeited. There is no interest penalty for cashing in the bonds after five years.
Con #1: I bonds don't always pay generously
The rate of interest I bonds pay ties directly to inflation. Right now, because inflation is high, I bonds are paying a lot. But during periods when inflation is low, I bonds may not be your best wealth-building tool.
I-bonds help offset inflation
As of November 2022, you'll earn an interest rate of 6.89 percent. This rate will change again in May 2023. But before diving all in on I-bonds, speak with a financial adviser to understand future I-bond rate predictions and ensure it's a sound personal finance decision for you.
November 28, 2022. Much as I love I Bonds, the government's inflation-adjusted savings bonds, Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS), may be a better option today. They are providing an even better yield over inflation than I Bonds.
Effective today, Series EE savings bonds issued May 2022 through October 2022 will earn an annual fixed rate of . 10% and Series I savings bonds will earn a composite rate of 9.62%, a portion of which is indexed to inflation every six months.
The composite rate for I bonds issued from November 2022 through April 2023 is 6.89%.
It's not as strong as the 9.62% rate I bond owners enjoyed from April 2022 until the end of October 2022, but it's tough to find a guaranteed rate approaching 7%, and that's what you'll get for your first 6 months if you buy I Bonds between November 2022 until the end of March 2023.
1. Most people want to buy in October so they can end up with an interest rate of about 8% over 12 months, after combining the 9.62% rate for the first six months and what's expected to be the new 6.48% annualized rate for the next six months.
If your objective is to increase total return and "you have some flexibility in either how much you invest or when you can invest, it's better to buy bonds when interest rates are high and peaking." But for long-term bond fund investors, "rising interest rates can actually be a tailwind," Barrickman says.
Series I bonds are sold at face value and mature after 30 years. Interest is added monthly to the bond's value. Series HH bonds mature in 20 years. Bondholders receive monthly interest payments until they sell the bond or it reaches its maturity.
I bonds can be a safe immediate-term savings vehicle, especially in inflationary times. I bonds offer benefits such as the security of being backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, state and local tax-exemptions and federal tax exemptions when used to fund educational expenses.
Series I bonds, an inflation-protected and nearly risk-free asset, will pay 6.89% through April 2023, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced Tuesday. Based on the latest inflation data, it's the third-highest rate since I bonds were introduced in 1998.
A survivor is named on the bond(s)
If you are the named co-owner or beneficiary who inherits the bond, you have different options for paper EE or I bonds and paper HH bonds. If only one person is named on the bond and that person has died, the bond belongs to that person's estate.
I savings bonds earn interest monthly. Interest is compounded semiannually, meaning that every 6 months we apply the bond's interest rate to a new principal value. The new principal is the sum of the prior principal and the interest earned in the previous 6 months.