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EE Bonds vs Roth IRA

Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2020 7:33 pm
by whatchamacallit
With the current 20 year treasury bond rate of 1.24, I am thinking EE savings bonds paying 3.5% are even more valuable than Roth IRA space.

How crazy would it be to buy EE bonds instead of funding a Roth IRA?

I would be able to re balance as needed using cash positions in retirement accounts.

I am over 20 years from being able to use Roth IRA completely penalty free.

I expect the rules to change on the EE Savings bond if the rates continue to stay this low.

Re: EE Bonds vs Roth IRA

Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2020 6:36 am
by jhogue
Without getting into specifics of your financial goals, why not hold some of each?

The guaranteed return of EE bonds is 3.53%. Good protection against deflation over the next 20 years.
The expected nominal return of an S&P500 index fund in a Roth IRA is about 8%. Good protection against inflation over the next 20 years.

Aside from asset diversification, a mix of the two also provides tax diversification: EE bonds are tax deferred until redeemed. A Roth IRA is after tax free.