Author Archives: Tipswatch

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About Tipswatch

Author of Tipswatch.com blog, David Enna is a long-time journalist based in Charlotte, N.C. A past winner of two Society of American Business Editors and Writers awards, he has written on real estate and home finance, and was a founding editor of The Charlotte Observer's website.

Welcome to the I Bond ‘buying season’

Posted on April 11, 2025 by Tipswatch

Buy in April to lock in the 1.2% fixed rate? Or buy in May to start with a higher composite rate? April 30 update: I Bond gets a new fixed rate of 1.10%, composite rate of 3.98% By David Enna, Tipswatch.com … Continue reading →

Posted in Cash alternatives, Federal Reserve, I Bond, Inflation, Retirement, Savings Bond, Treasury Bills, TreasuryDirect | Tagged , , , , , | 56 Comments

I Bond’s variable rate will rise to 2.86% on May 1

Posted on April 10, 2025 by Tipswatch

March prices slipped into deflation, a bit of a surprise. By David Enna, Tipswatch.com April 30 update: I Bond gets a new fixed rate of 1.10%, composite rate of 3.98% The just-released March inflation report gives us something we desperately need: … Continue reading →

Posted in Cash alternatives, Federal Reserve, Inflation, Retirement, Savings Bond, TreasuryDirect | 24 Comments

The Treasury market seems to be crumbling. Why?

Posted on April 9, 2025 by Tipswatch

By David Enna, Tipswatch.com Update, 2:15 pm April 9: Just about 12 hours after enforcing crippling tariffs on much of the world, President Trump changed course and announced a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs (above the new baseline 10%) on … Continue reading →

Posted in Cash alternatives, Federal Reserve, Inflation, Investing in TIPS | Tagged , , , , , , | 43 Comments

A 5-year TIPS is maturing April 15. How did it do as an investment?

Posted on April 7, 2025 by Tipswatch

It had a real yield negative to inflation. And it was a winner. By David Enna, Tipswatch.com One of the basic rules of investing in Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities is: Get the highest possible real yield and ignore all the other … Continue reading →

Posted in Cash alternatives, I Bond, Inflation, Investing in TIPS | Tagged , , | 15 Comments

Howard Marks: The world economy has been shaken ‘like a snow globe’

Posted on April 5, 2025 by Tipswatch

By David Enna, Tipswatch.com What a week. I made a point to watch President Trump’s tariff announcement on Wednesday live and yes, it was a shock. Beyond the politics, I felt the United States was pushing the world into a … Continue reading →

Posted in Federal Reserve, Inflation, Investing in TIPS, Tariffs, Treasury Bills | 65 Comments