DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Here's the best time to redeem Series I bonds to maximize your interest
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Meanwhile, annual inflation rose to 4.9% in April, the smallest jump in two years, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics announced Wednesday. But after a series of interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve, alternatives like Treasury bills, certificates of deposit or money market accounts have emerged as competitive options for cash. "You lose that last three months of interest," said Ken Tumin, founder and editor of DepositAccounts.com. watch nowIf you're selling I bonds within five years, it's easy to get confused by how much interest you're giving up. (You can find the rate by purchase date here and rate change by purchase month here.)

☆ 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."

☆ The Federal Reserve is expected to hike rates one more time. What that means for you
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"Yet another rate hike from the Fed means today's sky-high credit card interest rates will rise even further in the very near future," said Matt Schulz, chief credit analyst at LendingTree. Cardholders should expect their current cards' interest rates to rise in the next billing cycle or two, he said. Auto loan rates rose to more than 6.5%Even though auto loans are fixed, payments are getting bigger because the price for all cars is rising along with the interest rates on new loans. Federal student loans are already near 5%Wavebreakmedia | Istock | Getty ImagesFederal student loan rates are also fixed, so most borrowers aren't immediately affected by rate hikes. Interest rates for the upcoming school year will be based on an auction of 10-Year Treasury notes later this month.

☆ 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.

☆ Most Americans are using tax refunds to boost savings or pay off debt, CNBC survey finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

mediaphotos | E+ | Getty ImagesMost Americans will use their tax refund to bolster their finances amid economic uncertainty, stock market volatility and lingering inflation. More than one-third of Americans are saving their tax refund this season and 44% have earmarked the funds to pay off debt or bills, according to the CNBC Your Money Financial Confidence Survey, conducted in partnership with Momentive. A recent Bankrate survey also found that tax refunds are important to most Americans' financial situation, and that paying off debt and boosting savings are top priorities this year, which is similar to past findings. Some 45% of Americans expect to receive or have already received a tax refund this season, according to the CNBC survey. "So if you have credit card debt, putting some of this refund money towards that debt is a really good choice."

☆ Finally! Savings Rates Could Soon Beat Inflation
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +6 min

Why savings rates could rise in 2023Fortunately, many experts predict the situation will reverse, with inflation on a downward trend even as the Fed continues nudging up interest rates. Since the most generous banks have increased their rates in tandem with the Fed, they would likely increase savings rates as well. Bottenfield doesn’t see savings account interest rates surpassing the rate of inflation before 2024. “The difference between an online savings account and the average brick and mortar account is huge right now,” says Tumin. If you think interest rates will fall, you can lock in mid-4% rates long-term with a five-year CD.

☆ When it makes sense to buy extra paper Series I bonds with your tax refund, according to experts
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Jetcityimage | Istock | Getty ImagesIf you're trying to max out the yearly purchase limit for Series I bonds, your tax refund offers an opportunity to buy even more. While the annual purchase limit is generally $10,000 per person for electronic I bonds, you can buy another $5,000 in paper I bonds with your tax refund. Buying paper I bonds with your tax refund may make sense if you're eager to purchase as much as possible, said Ken Tumin, senior industry analyst at LendingTree and founder of DepositAccounts.com, a website that tracks I bonds, among other assets. Downsides of paper I bondsKeil said it's also important to consider the downsides of purchasing paper I bonds tied to your tax return. What's more, paper I bonds must be converted to electronic form before redemption.

☆ Savers poised for 'biggest win' in 2023 as inflation falls. Where to put your cash now
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Xavier Lorenzo | Moment | Getty ImagesAs interest rates go up, 2023 is shaping up to be a good time for savers who stand to earn more money on their cash. As the unemployment rate hit a 53-year low in the latest jobs report, the interest rate increases are expected to keep coming. Online savings accounts tend to pay the highest rates, with rates like 4% or 4.5% becoming more common. Series I bonds have 'become a better deal'Series I bonds are accrual type savings bonds tied to inflation that are issued by the government. If you cash in the I bond in the first five years, you will lose three months' interest, McBride said.

☆ Where to keep your cash amid high inflation and rising interest rates
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Investors have many options when saving for short-term goals, and those choices have become more complicated amid high inflation and rising interest rates. While there have been signs of slowing inflation, the Federal Reserve is expecting higher interest rates to continue. More from Personal Finance:Strategies that can help you dig out of holiday debtWhy your savings account interest may be behind the FedExperts say it's time to boost 401(k) contributions for 2023Although the Fed's federal funds rate has reached the highest level in 15 years, savings account interest rates haven't matched these hikes, Tumin explained. As of Jan. 4, online high-yield savings accounts were paying an average of 3.48%, according to DepositAccounts, with some smaller banks reaching 4%. Still, if you're keeping money in a savings account, Tumin said it's better to stick with established banks.

☆ Demand for Series I bonds crashes TreasuryDirect site ahead of key deadline as investors try to secure 9.62% rate
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Shapecharge | E+ | Getty ImagesInvestors crashed the Treasury Department website for Series I bonds on Friday as they clamored to lock in a record-high interest rate before a key deadline. Investors must buy I bonds and receive a confirmation email by Oct. 28 to lock in the 9.62% rate, according to TreasuryDirect. What a TreasuryDirect outage means for investorsAn outage on TreasuryDirect.gov — where investors purchase I bonds — may mean they're unable to complete an I bond purchase by Friday's deadline to secure the 9.62% rate. The Treasury Department is not planning to extend the deadline, a Treasury Department spokesperson said Friday. The site continues to "see customers successfully create accounts and purchase bonds at record levels," the spokesperson added.

☆ How to get the 'best of both worlds' for Series I bond interest rates before November
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

RyanJLane | E+ | Getty ImagesAfter a difficult year for the stock market, investors have poured money into Series I bonds, a nearly risk-free and inflation-protected asset that's paying a record 9.62% annual interest rate through October. While I bond rates shift twice yearly based on inflation, you can still lock in 9.62% annual interest for six months — as long as you complete the purchase by Oct. 28. You can estimate I bond rates for one yearThere are two parts to I bond rates: a fixed rate, which stays the same after purchase, and a variable rate, which shifts twice per year based on inflation. It's nice to know what interest rates you will get when you're committing to a 12-month lockup. "The biggest downside is you are locked in for 12 months," Keil said.

☆ Savings rates climb to levels not seen since 2009. Here's how to get the best return on your money
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

NBC | Getty ImagesOnline savings accountsThe September rate hike is already sending some online savings accounts higher. Notably, that interest rate growth is concentrated in online accounts, while savings at brick-and-mortar banks have not moved much at all. Credit unions, which also offer savings accounts, have also been more aggressive in keeping pace with the central bank's rate hikes. Series I bonds currently offer a 9.62% interest rate, which experts acknowledge is hard to beat elsewhere. The money cannot be cashed out in the first year, and if you withdraw before five years you lose three months' interest.

☆ How Much Money Can You Make Chasing High-Yield Savings Rates?
▼ + stars: | 2022-06-07 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +6 min

Given how much sleep consumers are losing these days with record inflation and gas prices, chasing after a better deal by moving your money to a high-yield savings account seems like one easy solution. Additionally, savings interest rates can rise if the Federal Reserve holds off on purchasing U.S. Treasuries, and rising Fed interest rates can impact savings interest rates. Experts expect the rate environment for high-yield savings accounts to improve in the near future, or at least not worsen. And let’s take what the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. listed as the average savings account interest rate in mid-May: 0.07%. If you do open a high-yield savings account, you may find yourself enjoying the better rate and saving more than in the past.

Search resuls for: "Ken Tumin"

13 mentions found