What will I bonds do in May 2023?
The composite rate for Series I Savings Bonds is a combination of a fixed rate, which applies for the 30-year life of the bond, and the semiannual inflation rate. 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.
I Bond Issue Date | Fixed-Rate Assigned for the Life of the Bond | Today's Composite Rate* |
---|---|---|
Nov 2023 - May 2024 | 1.30% | 5.27% |
May 2023 - Oct 2023 | 0.90% | 4.86% |
Nov 2022 - Apr 2023 | 0.40% | 4.35% |
May 2022 - Oct 2022 | 0.00% | 3.94% |
I bonds issued from Nov. 1, 2023, to April 30, 2024, have a composite rate of 5.27%. That includes a 1.30% fixed rate and a 1.97% inflation rate. Because I bonds are fully backed by the U.S. government, they are considered a relatively safe investment.
If you want to hold on to your I Bond as just a short term investment then you should consider cashing out at the 12-month mark, or perhaps the 15-month mark. Your November 2022 – April 2023 I Bond purchase will earn 6.89% over the first 6 months.
Buying I-bonds can still a good option for people seeking a safe place to grow their money or if they have a major expense approaching in the next several years, such as a wedding or funding a child's college education, said Elizabeth Ayoola, a personal finance expert at NerdWallet.
I-Bonds issued November 1, 2023 through April 30, 2024 will have a rate of 5.27%.
Bond yields aren't likely to revert to the low levels of recent history, and we expect they will remain higher for longer. Remember that higher rates mean better long-term bond returns. We believe we are near the end of the hiking cycle, which has historically corresponded with a peak in rates.
Cons: Rates are variable, there's a lockup period and early withdrawal penalty, and there's a limit to how much you can invest. Only taxable accounts are allowed to invest in I bonds (i.e., no IRAs or 401(k) plans).
The combined rate changes every 6 months. It can go up or down. I bonds protect you from inflation because when inflation increases, the combined rate increases.
The Treasury Department says that you will still get a full month's worth of interest no matter if you purchase your I bond on the first or last business day of the month. However, there are a few big caveats. For one thing, I bonds can't be cashed out within the first year.
Where can I get 7% interest on my money?
As of January 2024, no banks are offering 7% interest rates on savings accounts. Two credit unions have high-interest checking accounts. Eligibility for these credit unions is limited according to geographic location and other narrow criteria.
Face Value | Purchase Amount | 30-Year Value (Purchased May 1990) |
---|---|---|
$50 Bond | $100 | $207.36 |
$100 Bond | $200 | $414.72 |
$500 Bond | $400 | $1,036.80 |
$1,000 Bond | $800 | $2,073.60 |
![What will I bonds do in May 2023? (2024)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7ooIgdycrfw/hq720.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEcCNAFEJQDSFXyq4qpAw4IARUAAIhCGAFwAcABBg==&rs=AOn4CLB4JPgszQYRkAolypg5BT8kMg9Rlg)
If sold prior to maturity, market price may be higher or lower than what you paid for the bond, leading to a capital gain or loss. If bought and held to maturity investor is not affected by market risk.
In fact, the firm is expecting U.S. aggregate bonds to outperform stocks over the next decade, and its expected volatility for bonds is also substantially lower. The firm accords a return edge to small-cap stocks: a 7.2% 10-year annualized return.
The biggest advantage to putting some of your money into I bonds is rather obvious -- it will help your savings keep up with inflation over time. CD interest rates are simply based on prevailing market interest rates, are set by the banks, and may or may not keep up with inflation over time.
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.
§ 359.16 When does interest accrue on Series I savings bonds? (a) Interest, if any, accrues on the first day of each month; that is, we add the interest earned on a bond during any given month to its value at the beginning of the following month.
Likewise, you may want to hold on to I bonds issued between May and October 2023. Those I bonds have a fixed rate of 0.9%, which is the highest fixed rate in 16 years. No matter what happens to inflation in the future, you'll lock in that rate for as long as you own the bonds.
There is generally a $10,000 limit per year for purchasing I Bonds, but there are a few ways to get around this limit. For more help working I bonds into your financial strategy, consider working with a financial advisor.
Unless you are set on holding your bonds until maturity despite the upcoming availability of more lucrative options, a looming interest rate hike should be a clear sell signal.
Is it time to get back into bonds?
Probably the top fixed income question we've received in 2023 is when it's appropriate to begin moving bond allocations from ultra-short-maturity bonds and money market funds back into core bonds. Gauging by 2024 rate hike expectations, the answer is probably sometime around now.
We expect generally good performance during the second half of the year, although volatility may increase, especially for high-yield bonds. Corporate bond investments generally performed well during the first half of the year.
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.
The cons of investing in I-bonds
There's actually a limit on how much you can invest in I-bonds per year. The annual maximum in purchases is $10,000 worth of electronic I-bonds, although in some cases, you may be able to purchase an additional $5,000 worth of paper I-bonds using your tax refund.
Holding bond funds for shorter periods than that opens you to the risk of further, short-term gyrations in your fund's value, without sufficient time for recovery. And if you buy longer-term individual bonds and have to sell them, you risk the kinds of losses that investors have been experiencing lately.
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