I normally max out my quota of electronic I-bond quota once each year. However, you can also purchase I-bonds monthly through TreasuryDirect's Payroll Savings Plan as well, which would give you more rungs on your I-bond ladder. See: https://www.treasurydirect.gov/indiv/help/TDHelp/howdoi.htm#purchas...

1. Why the choice of 1978 - 1981 time period? I don't think it is very representative of short term interest rates. As I recall, this was the period when Paul Volcker jacked up short term interest rates in his campaign to crush inflation. My Dreyfus money market fund was returning something like a r...

I own 0% ITTs.

I have nothing against ITTs, I just like having a barbell with LTTs all in tax deferred and as much cash as possible in taxable. I like the greater volatility of LTTs and the greater optionality that comes with a nice pile of safe and liquid cash.

We need not worry ourselves that Fidelity will look after its own profits.

What I am suggesting is that they might have practiced a bit more enlightened self-interest.

fidelity is propping up fdlxx or it would be minus now That would be one interpretation, and it would align with Fidelity's abrupt decision to close the fund to new investors. On the other hand, rather than buying short duration TIPS for the fund, Fidelity could also have voluntarily waived some of...

Fidelity has FDLXX, which contains only T-Bills and Treasury coupons. You can keep all your cash in it even though it isn't eligible to be a core account; you just have to buy and sell it when you need money. I've just entered orders to do that at the open. The money markets are going to be in turm...

1. I would NOT cash out 401k's just because my investment options don't immediately allow you to conform the Permanent Portfolio's architecture. The tax hit will be significant, starting with a 10% penalty and ending with higher tax bracket rates at the state and federal level. Think of your transit...

I purchased my full annual allotment of electronic I-bonds the day before yesterday. I have not yet filed my 2019 federal tax return due to the delay of some additional forms. I will still purchase my full allotment of paper I-bonds regardless of whether the order is filled before or after 1 May 202...

This discussion has been very helpful.

My 2010 MacBook Pro should have been turned out to pasture a long time ago.

Any opinions on where to shop? Apple? Best Buy? Some place else?

Fidelity's insurance coverage is detailed here: https://www.fidelity.com/trading/faqs-about-account 1. Fidelity accounts have SIPC coverage up to $500,000. 2. Fidelity carries excess of SIPC with Lloyd's of London. 3. Note the limitations of coverage. SIPC does not insure precious metals, options, a...

Yes I would feel comfortable with four ETFs. If you are serious about safety in the modern world and modern markets then perhaps something like this: VTI SCHQ IAU GBIL This gives you low cost ETFs with four systemically large financial companies. If you like other ETFs for the four components then ...

Tax deferral is one of the appeals of I-bonds to me, but certainly not the only one. I think they are the most versatile form of Deep Cash for retail investors-- a sort of financial Swiss Army knife. I keep some I-bonds in a Treasury Direct account and some in paper I-bonds in my local bank safe dep...

tech, Perhaps we should call this your "Flight to Safety Portfolio." A few observations: 1. Do you hold all your T-bills directly? As FDLXX? As an ETF like BIL? They each have some (minor) differences. 2. Perhaps you might think of your Swiss Franc annuity as a T-bond held as an ETF such a...

See the FAQs. It explains how to convert paper I-bonds to digital I-bonds.

There is no way to directly convert paper I-bonds to digital I-bonds on the federal tax return form. You must do it separately.

Vinny, 1. The authoritative answers to all your questions about buying I-bonds can be found at: https://treasurydirect.gov/indiv/research/indepth/ibonds/res_ibonds_ibuy.htm 2. You can buy $5,000 in paper I-bonds annually with your federal tax refund. You can buy $10,000 in digital I-bonds annually t...

I bought my last EE bonds when I turned 65.

Anything more than that amounts to a well-thought out gift to my heirs.

An article about FDLXX (Fidelity's Treasury Only Money Market Fund) that expands on its closure to new investors, 31 March 2020. I currently keep FDLXX as cash for both taxable and tax-deferred accounts. Apparently, lots of other investors have suddenly awakened to the singular quality of US Treasur...

Fidelity closed fdlxx to new investors on March 30th ..... Because there aren't enough Tbills to go around? :o Probably not. It's because with 0 yields, it costs Fidelity money to maintain those accounts because they won't charge the customers for expenses. Investors who have recently joined the ru...

I am letting the balance of my T-bills mature and not renewing them at negative nominal yields. Proceeds are currently split between my treasury money market fund (FDLXX) and my annual I bond purchase. I think that it helps to remember that while the real yield on Cash is slightly negative, the yiel...

Now would be a great time to start an I-bond ladder.

The yield on the I-bond will be 2.22% until 1 May 2020.

Get 'em while they are red-hot!

I could be wrong, but I believe that a Desert Portfolio generates more taxable interest and dividends than an HBPP. The charts do not account for that real world problem.

I assume that just by virtue of people having joined this forum that it would be overwhelmingly composed of "ants" over "grasshopper"? I am the ultimate ant! Vinny Yes, but I doubt most of us are as hardcore as you. I definitely don't still have any shirts or jeans from 20 years...

Vinny,
Please see my comments regarding your situation over at the bond buying tutorial thread.

Vinny, Given all of the difficulties that you have described in multiple threads on this forum dealing with Vanguard over the telephone, I wonder if you would not be more satisfied establishing your accounts in-person at your nearest Fidelity brick-and-mortar office. -Fidelity's headquarters is in B...

The OP was talking about a 401k loan as an investment, not as a means to survival. As an investment, a 401k loan is always a bad idea. Tax laws are written to ensure that pulling money out of a 401k will cost you money. In the long run, you are always ahead to leave an investment inside of your 401k...