Category Archives: Cash alternatives

Forecast: I Bond’s fixed rate is likely to fall to 0.90%

Posted on September 2, 2025 by Tipswatch

By David Enna, Tipswatch.com In two months, probably on Halloween morning, the Treasury will announce a new fixed rate, inflation-adjusted variable rate and composite rate for U.S. Series I Savings Bonds purchased from November 2025 to April 2026. And I … Continue reading →

Posted in Cash alternatives, Federal Reserve, I Bond, Inflation, Savings Bond | Tagged , , | 34 Comments

Vanguard backs off on raising its bond-trading minimum to $10,000

Posted on August 24, 2025 by Tipswatch

IMPORTANT NOTE: I wrote this article on Wednesday to be published Sunday while I am visiting family out of town. It appears that Vanguard has backed off on raising the bond minimum to $10,000, based on Boglehead discussions posted Saturday … Continue reading →

Posted in Cash alternatives, Investing in TIPS, TreasuryDirect | Tagged , , | 26 Comments

Let’s offer praise for high interest rates

Posted on July 27, 2025 by Tipswatch

Do you agree? Probably not. But high interest rates benefit savers. By David Enna, Tipswatch.com Let’s step back in time, to 1965: I was 12 years old and folks from a nearby Savings and Loan came into my classroom to … Continue reading →

Posted in Bank CDs, Cash alternatives, Federal Reserve, Inflation, Retirement, Treasury Bills | 36 Comments

The TIP ETF just hit a meaningless milestone

Posted on July 1, 2025 by Tipswatch

For some reason, the $110 net asset value is a marker for me. By David Enna, Tipswatch.com I have been writing about Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities for more than 14 years, and that is plenty of time to dream up “significant … Continue reading →

Posted in Bank CDs, Cash alternatives, Federal Reserve, Inflation, Investing in TIPS | Tagged , , , , , , | 14 Comments

The U.S. T-bill market is feeling the debt pinch

Posted on June 28, 2025 by Tipswatch

A looming debt-limit crisis is causing yield anomalies. By David Enna, Tipswatch.com In looking over this week’s auctions of Treasury bills, I noticed something unusual, but also predictable: The looming debt-limit crisis is beginning to send tremors through the short-term … Continue reading →

Posted in Cash alternatives, Federal Reserve, Treasury Bills, TreasuryDirect | Tagged , , , , , , | 16 Comments