MoneyINC Logo
25+
Years of
Trust
13,000+
Articles
Written 
10M+
Annual 
Readers
300+
Global
Mentions

10 Reasons to Invest in I-Bonds

I Bonds

Investors looking toward the future for their retirement are wise to build a diversified portfolio that includes a variety of investment strategies to enhance their earnings overall. Combining moderate and low-risk items helps to build the value of a portfolio through the years. Among the safest bets against inflation are I Bonds. If you're not familiar with I Bonds, you're in the right place to discover why they're a safe investment and worthy of your consideration. We offer ten reasons you should invest in I Bonds.

1. I Bonds are affordable

Series I Savings Bonds, also known as I Bonds can be purchased in increments as low as $25 for electric bonds or $50 for paper bonds. If you're building your portfolio but you don't have large sums of cash to invest, it's a strategy that allows you to affordably build your investment portfolio over months and years by purchasing them in smaller amounts to build a larger investment over time. Most of us can afford to take $25 to $50 or even $100 per paycheck to build for the future. There is a limit of $10,000 per year per person for electric bonds and $5,000 per year for paper bonds. Over ten years, you can build a solid portfolio by buying as your budget allows.

2. I Bonds combine a fixed rate and an inflation rate

The Balance explains that I Bonds are inflation-proof. They come with a guarantee for tax-deferred inflation-adjusted interest. They combine a fixed rate with an inflation rate. Bonds purchased between November 2021 and April 2022 have an interest rate of 7.12%. There's security in knowing your investment is safeguarded with an automatic adjustment for inflation. You can depend on the fixed-rate remaining the same for the term of the bond. the inflation rate is adjusted twice annually.

3. I Bonds are liquid after 12 months

You cannot access investments in I Bonds for the first 12 months, but after one year, they become liquid. It's an investment that you can't touch until a year has passed, protecting them from access. When combined with other liquid investments, you can build an emergency fund. Purchasing I Bonds every year will give you a resource for emergencies on an annual basis if it becomes necessary because you can sell them after 12 months. You could feasibly have a lineup of assets that are liquid from adding I Bonds either monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually.

4. You can buy them securely directly from the US Treasury department

You don't need to go through a broker to buy I Bonds. You can set up an account on the US Treasury Department website and purchase them online. You have the option of purchasing up to $10,000 in electronic I Bonds or $5,000 in paper bonds. The benefit of purchasing electronic bonds is that the information is digitally stored in a database. You won't need to worry about misplacing tangible paper bonds because it's all recorded and accessible digitally.

5. I Bonds have a 30-year maturity

AARP advises that an I-Bond matures at 30 years from the time of its purchase. They're investments that continue to pay you interest for thirty years at a fixed interest rate. The fixed-rate may be zero, but inflation rates guarantee they pay at a commensurate yield. For example, some investors enjoy the adjusted inflation rate that can run between 7 to 9%. The higher the inflation runs, the higher the yield on the bonds.

6. I Bonds may be redeemed at five years with no penalties

You can allow your I Bonds to mature for their 30-year life cycle and then redeem them for cash, but you can also access emergency funds after one year. If you redeem them before the fifth anniversary of their purchase, you will pay the penalty of three months' interest. If you wait until the I Bonds are five years old, there are no penalties for redemption.

7. I Bonds are a good bet during inflation

Your I Bonds may be set at zero percent interest rates, but even if inflation is zero during the first six-month period, They earn an annualized rate of 4.81 percent. I Bonds pay more than other government savings investments. It's not likely that inflation will be zero at any point. If inflation hits the double digits, your return is also double-digit. The potential for higher yields with I Bonds is greater than with any other government bond investment.

8. Financial Advisors recommend I Bonds as safe investments

Time and Next Advisor experts recommend I Bonds as safe investments that provide consistently good returns. The most advantageous aspect of I Bonds is its safety as an investment that will never lose money put into the bonds. You're guaranteed to receive a return on your investment with inflation bringing higher returns.

9. I Bonds are the safest type of government bonds

I Bonds are safer investments than other types of government bonds. Many other bonds are negatively impacted by inflation, causing them to have a lower future value at maturity. I Bonds are protected from lowered values because the interest rates are based on the consumer price index. The bonds consistently adjust the rate to pay a little above the amount of inflation as an enticement to investors.

10. I Bonds are excellent options for diversification

When the stock market is sluggish, but you're ready to add to your portfolio with diversifications, I Bonds are excellent options for guaranteeing a safe long-term investment. The returns are reliable and they're a no-worry option. Series I Bonds are comparable to the returns of traditional stock market investments averaging an annual return of approximately ten percent for long-term investors with retirement in mind. It's a stable investment option for long-term portfolios.

Allen Lee

Written by Allen Lee

Allen Lee is a Toronto-based freelance writer who studied business in school but has since turned to other pursuits. He spends more time than is perhaps wise with his eyes fixed on a screen either reading history books, keeping up with international news, or playing the latest releases on the Steam platform, which serve as the subject matter for much of his writing output. Currently, Lee is practicing the smidgen of Chinese that he picked up while visiting the Chinese mainland in hopes of someday being able to read certain historical texts in their original language.

Read more posts by Allen Lee

Related Articles

Stay ahead of the curve with our most recent guides and articles on , freshly curated by our diligent editorial team for your immediate perusal.
As featured on:

Wealth Insight!
Subscribe to our Exclusive Newsletter

Dive into the world of wealth and extravagance with Money Inc! Discover stock tips, businesses, luxury items, and travel experiences curated for the affluent observer.
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram