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☆ Treasury Department announces new Series I bond rate of 4.28% for the next six months
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Jitalia17 | E+ | Getty ImagesHow I bond rates workThere are two parts to I bond rates — a variable- and fixed-rate portion — which the Treasury adjusts every May and November. Based on inflation, the variable rate stays the same for six months after purchase, regardless of when the Treasury announces new rates. There are no state or local levies on interest and you can defer federal taxes until redemption. What's the interest rate from May 1 to Oct. 31, 2024? $10,000 per person every calendar year, plus an extra $5,000 in paper I bonds via your federal tax refund.

Persons: Jeremy Keil, Keil, there's, Will Organizations: Treasury, Keil Financial Partners Locations: Milwaukee

☆ Bonds offer income and some volatility protection. Pick out the right bond fund for your portfolio
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Michelle Fox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

That said, in general, most investors would be best served buying a diversified bond fund, said Mulach. What to look for in bond fundsThere are several factors to consider when investing in a bond fund. Intermediate-core durations typically range between 75% and 135% of the three-year average of the effective duration of the Morningstar Core Bond Index. Top Morningstar Bond Funds Ticker Fund Morningstar Category Type 30-day SEC yield Adj. Aggregate Bond ETF can be a great option to simply replicate that index, he said.

Persons: Morgan Stanley, shouldn't, Morningstar, Mike Mulach, Chuck Failla, Failla, Mulach, You'll, Baird, BSBSX Baird, Morningstar's Organizations: Treasury, Federal Reserve, Sovereign Financial, Morningstar, SEC, Mutual, FLTB Fidelity, Fidelity, Hartford, Aggregate

☆ How to make high interest rates work for your hard-earned savings
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-20 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

However, that won’t happen if you just let it sit in a traditional checking or savings account that yields next to nothing. High-yield online savings accountsThe average annual percentage yield on bank savings accounts was just 0.52% as of March 13, according to Bankrate. As with any bank savings rate, high-yield savings account rates can change overnight, and the bank may not alert you when it lowers it. But don’t confuse money market accounts with money market mutual funds, which invest in short-term, low-risk debt instruments. Unlike money market deposit accounts, money market mutual funds are not insured by the FDIC.

Persons: ”, Ted Rossman, ” Rossman, Ken Tumin, Schwab, you’d, Tumin, Doug Ornstein, Andy Smith, Ornstein, doesn’t, ” Smith Organizations: New York CNN, Bankrate, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Fidelity, TIAA Wealth Management, FDIC, Securities Investor Protection Corp, Edelman, AAA Locations: New York, Wells Fargo, United States

☆ These surprise sources of income could cost you during tax season
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Darla Mercado | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Investors are celebrating a year of easy-to-obtain interest income, but the Tax Man will want his slice this spring. Institutions report interest income of $10 or more to their customers and the Internal Revenue Service on Form 1099-INT . For instance, you can be on the hook for an accuracy-related penalty of 20% of the underpayment of the tax. Interest income from these I bonds is subject to federal income tax, but investors don't receive it until they redeem the bond or it matures. "It might be worth it to buy the MLP and pay the tax," Kearns said.

Persons: Elizabeth Buffardi, Buffardi, you'll, Jerrod Pearce, Adam Markowitz, Brian Kearns, Kearns Organizations: Internal Revenue Service, IRS, CPA, Creative Planning, Luminary, CFP, Haddam, Advisors, MLP Locations: Oak Brook , Illinois, Overland Park , Kansas, Windermere , Florida, Evanston , Illinois

☆ Where to lock down high interest rates for your savings
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

High-yield online savings accountsThe average annual percentage yield on bank savings accounts was just 0.57% on January 30, according to a Bankrate survey. But many online FDIC-insured banks are still offering 5% or more on their high-yield savings accounts. As with any bank savings rate, high-yield savings account rates can change overnight, and the bank may not alert you when it lowers it. But don’t confuse money market accounts with money market mutual funds, which invest in short-term, low-risk debt instruments. Unlike money market deposit accounts, money market mutual funds are not insured by the FDIC.

Persons: Doug Ornstein, Schwab, “, ”, Greg McBride, Ken Tumin, you’d, Tumin, Wells Fargo, Andy Smith, Ornstein, doesn’t, ” Smith Organizations: New York CNN, Federal Reserve, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, TIAA Wealth Management, FDIC, Securities Investor Protection Corp, Fidelity, DepositAccounts.com, Treasury, Edelman, AAA Locations: New York, United States

☆ Investors poured cash into these fixed income ETFs in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-09 | by ( Darla Mercado | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The Federal Reserve's monetary policy set the tone for the fixed income world in 2023 – right down to which exchange traded funds investors picked to take advantage of higher interest rates. Bond yields have an inverse relationship to their prices, so that when prices decline, yields rise and vice versa. The Vanguard Long-Term Treasury ETF (VGLT) was another favorite of investors, with about $7.3 billion in net flows in 2023. Indeed, those strategies proved popular with investors in 2023, as the Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND) and iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (AGG) were ETFs with the second and third highest net flows, per Morningstar.

Persons: It's, Paul Olmsted, Matthew Bartolini, Olmsted, Morningstar, –, it's, BND, AGG Organizations: Investors, Bloomberg Finance, State Street Global Advisors, Morningstar, SPDR, SPDR Americas Research, Street Global Advisors, State, Treasury Bond ETF, Bloomberg, SGOV, SEC, Treasury, Fed, Vanguard, Bond Market, Core, Aggregate Bond Locations: SPDR Americas, Central

☆ Consumer prices are cooling, but BlackRock bets on inflation-protected bonds for the long term. Here's why
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-08 | by ( Michelle Fox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Inflation-protected bonds may be the last thing on investors' minds amid cooling prices, but BlackRock is betting on the securities for the longer term. Due to that, BlackRock named inflation-protected securities one of its top 2024 strategic calls for those with a time horizon of five to 10 years. "We see inflation going through a roller coaster over a longer term," Li said. Buying TIPS Investors can buy TIPS in five-year , 10-year and 30-year terms through the TreasuryDirect website . BlackRock, which has a traditional TIPS ETF, also recently launched a suite of defined maturity TIPS ETFs last fall.

Persons: Wei Li, Li, BlackRock, We've Organizations: BlackRock, Bank of America Securities, U.S . Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Locations: redemptions, U.S

☆ Investors will soon be able to buy slices of bonds. How to decide if this is the right move for you
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-05 | by ( Michelle Fox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Investors will be able purchase pieces of corporate bonds, Treasurys and eventually, municipal bonds. The idea is to open up opportunities to investors who don't want to spend upward of $1,000 on single corporate bonds. While retail investors can buy individual corporate bonds through brokerages, they often opt for mutual funds or exchange-traded funds, which offer baskets of diversified bond securities. The iShares Broad USD Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (USIG) , for instance, tracks the ICE BofA U.S. Corporate Index. For corporate bonds, he suggests looking at actively managed funds, particularly for noninvestment grade and municipal bonds.

Persons: Sam Nofzinger, Nofzinger, Chuck Failla, I'm, Tom Kaiser, Failla Organizations: Public, Corporate, ICE, Sovereign Financial Group, Brock Investment Advisors, Apple, Microsoft, BlackRock Locations: brokerages, TreasuryDirect

☆ Here’s where to invest your cash to save on taxes in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

"While any additional income earned from higher yields is taxed at a progressively higher rate, IRMAA applies as a surcharge," he said. "This means that even $1 of additional income could trigger higher premiums." With terms ranging from one month to one year, most Treasury bills, known as T-bills, are currently paying well over 5%, as of Dec. 4. However, T-bills offer a tax benefit over products like high-yield savings, certificates of deposit or money market funds: no state or local taxes on earnings. T-bill interest is still subject to federal income taxes.

Persons: Eric Audras, Mullikin, Catherine Valega Organizations: PhotoAlto, Getty, Medicare, Green Bee Locations: Boston, TreasuryDirect

☆ How to make an ultra-low-risk 5% return buying bonds
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Returns from the Treasury market are growing more attractive with yields hovering near 5%, the highest since 2007. When the government has more trouble finding buyers for new Treasurys, yields will rise to attract interest. For instance, holders can't sell their bonds directly from a TreasuryDirect account. For greater access to the Treasury market, investors can turn to brokerages and some commercial banks, which act as the primary intermediaries of US debt. By using a broker to buy bonds in the secondary market, investors can also add Treasury assets into tax-free accounts, such as a Roth IRA.

Persons: —, Matthew Liebman, Roth Organizations: Treasury, Service, Federal Reserve, Investing.com, Amplius Wealth Advisors, Bloomberg Locations: Brokerages, TreasuryDirect

☆ BlackRock bond chief Rick Rieder manages $2.4 trillion. He shares 5 trades he's most bullish on right now — and 3 criteria that need to be met for him to start buying 10-year Treasurys.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( William Edwards | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Exchange-traded funds like the Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF (VGSH) and the SPDR Portfolio Short Term Treasury ETF (SPTS) also offer exposure. One way to gain exposure to the assets is through funds like the Schwab 5-10 Year Corporate Bond ETF (SCHI) or the iShares Euro Investment Grade Corporate Bond Index Fund (IE). Finally, Rieder said he likes corporate paper, which are essentially short-term bonds issued by corporations. I know what my return is going to be a year ahead — it's going to be 6.5% for single-A issuers. The BlackRock Ultra Short-Term Bond ETF (ICSH) and the Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund (VCSH) offer exposure to corporate paper.

Persons: Rick Rieder isn't, Rieder, — it's Organizations: CNBC's, Alpha, Bureau of Labor Statistics, of Labor, Exchange, Treasury, Corporate, Index, BlackRock, Bond Locations: BlackRock, New York, Europe, United States

☆ Yields on inflation-protected bonds spiked after the Fed’s tough outlook. What’s next for investors
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Darla Mercado | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The yield on the 5-year TIPS was 2.48% on Wednesday afternoon, while the rate on the 10-year TIPS was 2.29%. The par value of the bonds adjusts with inflation, based on the consumer price index for all urban consumers. Duration is a measure of a bond's price sensitivity to changes in interest rates, and as bond prices swooned in 2022, TIPS also suffered. "They're not always the perfect inflation hedge in the short term, and they are very sensitive to changes in market interest rates." Be aware that while there are no state or local taxes on interest, federal taxes apply.

Persons: Brett Wander, Morningstar, US5YTIPS, Bill Ahmuty, Amy Arnott, They're, Arnott Organizations: Federal Reserve, Schwab Asset Management, Fed, State Street Global Advisors, Morningstar Research Services Locations: TreasuryDirect

☆ Best places to park your cash in a high-rate environment
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

High-yield online savings accountsThe average annual percentage yield on bank savings accounts was just 0.56%, according to a September 11 survey from Bankrate. But many online, FDIC-insured banks are offering well north of 5% on their high-yield savings accounts. But don’t confuse money market accounts with money market mutual funds. And while money market funds are typically very safe investments, they may have fees and withdrawal restrictions. As of September 19, CDs listed on Schwab.com with durations of three months, six months, nine months, one year and 18 months were all yielding 5.5% or more.

Persons: —, they’ve, Lazetta Rainey Braxton, Braxton, you’ve, ”, Doug Ornstein, Ken Tumin, Schwab, you’ll, Tumin, “, Andy Smith, Ornstein, Don’t, doesn’t, ” Smith Organizations: New, New York CNN, Federal, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wealth Partners, TIAA Wealth Management, Fidelity, Treasury, Edelman, AAA Locations: New York, United States

☆ 'We are becoming more convinced that the cracks are emerging': JPMorgan warns a host of recession risks are starting to pile up — and shares 2 trades to keep your portfolio safe
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( William Edwards | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Another is the still-inverted Treasury yield curve, meaning yields on shorter-duration government bonds are higher than those with longer durations. Inversions of the 3-month and 10-year yields have preceded every recession since the 1960s without producing a false signal. The Vanguard Energy ETF (VDE) and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) offer exposure to energy stocks. The Consumer Price Index, a main measure of inflation, rose to 3.7% year-over-year in August compared to 3.2% in July. Investors can gain exposure to short-term government bonds through TreasuryDirect, their brokerage, or through ETFs like the Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF (VGSH).

Persons: Marko Kolanovic, Kolanovic, Michael Feroli, Cash Organizations: for Supply Management, Bank of America, Federal Reserve, Treasury, Federal, Energy, Vanguard Energy Locations: China, TreasuryDirect

☆ Investors are betting that rate cuts are coming early next year. Here's what market experts are urging you do right now to cash in when rates do fall.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( William Edwards | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

10-year Treasury yields are surging as the economy stays hot. For the first time since 2007, 10-year yields rose above 4.3% on Thursday after seeing a 31% surge since April. If or when that eventually happens, Treasury yields are likely to follow, presenting those who hold the assets with an opportunity. Bond yields fall when demand for the assets rise, pushing up their price. David Kelly, the chief global strategist at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, sees 10-year rates averaging 3.7% in the years ahead.

Persons: Gautam Khanna, Jason Draho, Lawrence Gillium, Craig Brothers, Brothers, Leslie Falconio, David Kelly, Kelly Organizations: Wall, Insight Investment, UBS Global Wealth, LPL, Bel Air Investment Advisors, Morgan Asset Management, Monopoly, Treasury Locations: Treasurys

High-yield savings accounts, with easy access to your funds, are worth considering, said Ken Tumin, founder and editor at DepositAccounts.com. While investors expect the Federal Reserve to start cutting interest rates next year, online savings account rates won't fall significantly until the policy shifts, he added. Treasury billsAmid rising interest rates, Treasury bills have also become a competitive option for cash, with yields well above 5%, as of Aug. 18. Money market fundsAnother option to consider is short-term money market funds, said certified financial planner Chris Mellone, partner at VLP Financial Advisors in Vienna, Virginia. Money market mutual funds — which are different from money market deposit accounts — typically invest in shorter-term, lower-credit-risk debt, such as Treasury bills.

Persons: Ken Tumin, They're, Chris Mellone Organizations: Istock, Getty, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Federal Reserve, U.S ., Treasury, U.S . Department of, VLP Financial Locations: TreasuryDirect, Vienna , Virginia

☆ A former BlackRock stock chief shares 5 stocks and one area of the bond market he likes right now as growing recessionary pressures threaten to spoil the S&P 500's rally
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( William Edwards | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Bob Doll thinks a mild recession will hit the US economy sometime in the near-to-mid future. Outside of the stock market, Doll also thinks bonds are relatively attractive compared to last year. Within the bond market, he likes Treasurys most, with 10-year yields offering more than a 4% coupon. A 1.5% 10-year Treasury is a bad deal, and of course bonds have sold off hard," he said. Treasury bonds can be bought via a brokerage or through TreasuryDirect.

Persons: Bob Doll, Bob Doll isn't, Doll, Phillips, refiners Organizations: Conference, BlackRock, Valero, Aaa, Treasury Locations: HMOs, TreasuryDirect

☆ Bonds offer risk-free returns of over 5% for the first time in two decades. Here's how capitalize on the easy money without tying up your cash for years at a time.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( William Edwards | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Short-term interest rates are the highest they've been since the early 2000s. You can plug $1,000 into each of the six Treasury bill durations of one year or under, or whatever combination you prefer. A 5.36% annualized interest rate on a $1,000 bond equals $53.60. Since it's a 1-month bill, you then divide then that by 12 to get the annualized rate. It's unclear where interest rates go from here.

Persons: Andrew Crowell, Davidson, Crowell, Charles Schwab Organizations: Treasury, D.A, Fed, Vanguard

☆ Treasury bills are still paying above 5%. Here's what to know before buying
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

"You don't really know truly what the rate is going to be until the auction hits," Keil said. How to buy T-bills through TreasuryDirect 1. Log in to your TreasuryDirect account. The benefit of brokerage accountsOne way to avoid liquidity issues is by purchasing T-bills through your brokerage account, rather than using TreasuryDirect. Keil said the "biggest benefit" of using a brokerage account is instant access to T-bills and immediately knowing your yield to maturity.

Persons: Treasurys, you'll, Keil, you've, Goldman Sachs Organizations: Getty, U.S . Department of, Treasury Locations: TreasuryDirect

☆ Get a risk-free 5% return as the 2-year Treasury yield hits a 16-year high. Here’s how to buy one
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Darla Mercado | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Income-seeking investors are primed to pick up a risk-free return exceeding 5% now that the yield on the 2-year Treasury has spiked to highs last seen in 2007. Indeed, the yield on the 2-year Treasury – which is especially sensitive to Fed policy – leapt to 5.12%, its highest level since June 15, 2007. The rate on the 10-year Treasury also jumped over 4% at its highest point of the day. How to buy in To purchase Treasurys directly from the U.S. government, you can set up an account on TreasuryDirect.gov . If inflation outpaces the yield you're earning, it could erode the real rate of return earned on these notes.

Persons: Dow Jones, –, Luis Alvarado, — CNBC's Michelle Fox, Nick Wells Organizations: Treasury, Traders, Private, Federal Reserve, U.S ., . Locations: Wells Fargo, Treasurys

☆ How to get better returns on your cash now
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Chris Taylor | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

NEW YORK, June 21 (Reuters) - You might assume that with U.S. interest rates at new highs, Americans are getting terrific returns on savings. MONEY MARKET FUNDSIn brokerage accounts there is a default or "sweep" account, where cash is kept before you make other investments. The two highest yields at the moment for government money market funds, according to data trackers iMoneyNet: UBS Liquid Assets Government Fund at 5.07%, and Vanguard Treasury Money Market Fund at 5.06%. An important note about terminology: Money market funds are distinct from money market accounts. “All of these are very appealing, and we are recommending people reassess their cash and emergency fund savings.

Persons: ”, Greg McBride, ” McBride, James Gambaccini, Gambaccini, –, Sallie Mae, Brandon Opre, Chris Taylor, Lauren Young, Matthew Lewis Organizations: YORK, Federal Reserve, BMO, TIAA Bank, Treasury Bills, U.S ., Barclays, UBS Liquid Assets Government, Vanguard Treasury Money Market, Thomson Locations: www.TreasuryDirect.gov, Reston , Virginia, Huntersville , North Carolina, New York

☆ Series I bonds still 'attractive for longer-term investors' as annual rate falls to 4.3%, expert says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Series I bonds will pay 4.3% annual interest through October, a drop from 6.89% in November amid falling inflation, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced on Friday. There are two parts to I bond interest rates: a fixed rate that stays the same after purchase, and a variable rate, which changes every six months based on inflation. Starting May 1, the new variable rate is 3.38% and the fixed rate is 0.9%. While experts predicted the 3.38% variable rate, the fixed rate, which jumped to 0.9% from 0.4% in November, "definitely makes it attractive for long-term investors," said Ken Tumin, founder and editor of DepositAccounts.com. The 0.9% fixed rate is the highest since November 2007, when I bonds offered 1.2%, Tumin said, noting the new rate was a "pleasant surprise."

☆ Series I bond rate expected to fall to below 4% in May, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

But rates have been falling and the yield will decline again in May, experts say. Annual inflation rose by 5% in March, down from 6% in February, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The annual rate may drop below 4%Based on inflation data from the past six months, Tumin says the variable portion of the I bond rate could drop to 3.38% in May. If the fixed rate remains at 0.4%, the new annual rate may drop to 3.79%, Tumin said. Of course, the combined annual yield is only an estimate until TreasuryDirect announces new rates in May.

☆ Is your money safe? A financial planner explains whether you should be concerned about your deposits, and how to take advantage of risk-free returns on your cash
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-25 | by ( Laila Maidan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The recent lineup of bank failures has depositors suddenly asking the simple question: is my money safe? Jason J. Howell, a certified financial planner and the president of Jason Howell Company, says yes, your money is safe. This way, if you need cash quickly, you could get it. "You're going to have to go to the US TreasuryDirect to buy those bonds," Howell said. "Money markets nearly went bust in the 2008 financial crisis, so there's no need to put a wrapper around it," Howell said.

☆ Accounts to buy bonds from the government jumped fivefold as yields boomed
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Darla Mercado | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

In 2022, savers created 3.6 million accounts at TreasuryDirect.gov, a website where investors can buy a range of savings bonds and Treasury securities from the U.S. government. That's up about fivefold from 2021, when investors opened 689,369 accounts on the site. I bondsFirst, savers turned toward Series I savings bonds, an inflation-protected and largely risk-free asset that's issued by the federal government. The rate on these bonds has two components: a fixed rate of interest and a rate that varies based on inflation. You can buy up to $5,000 in paper I bonds using your tax refund.

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