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So I started to ladder T-Bills for the reasons everyone is stating in this thread. The rate is so volatile (in a good way) that locking into anything even 12 months is too long for me and rates continue to climb. I use fidelity and my suggestion is this.
When they offer the new 4 week and 8 week and 13 week t-bill (they auction on diff days and diff weeks) go in and buy one of each of them with whatever money you can spare. Let's use 5k for each.
I would buy a 4 week t-bill with NO Rollover for 5k
I would buy an 8 week t-bill with NO Rollover for 5k
I would buy a 13 week t-bill WITH Rollover for 5k
Then after 4 weeks when that first on comes up, buy another 13 week t-bill with the 5k WITH Rollover.
Then after 8 weeks when the second comes up, buy another 13 week t-bill with the 5k WITH Rollover.
Now you will have 3 13 week t-bills rolling every 4 weeks or so and rolling into a new one with the proceeds. This way every 4 weeks you are capturing an increasing rate and not locked into anything longer than 13 weeks. You benefit from the rate hikes, can cash out at any time, and you have state tax shelter from the earned interest.
I can almost guarantee that the above will yield you more net income (taking in tax break) at the end of 11months then the 5% locked CD
just my 2cents
You can buy treasuries from just about any brokerage. I use Fidelity, as I like their platform and they don't charge fees/commissions for treasuries. Fidelity Fixed Income Page[fidelity.com]
Follow the above link and scroll down to the row "U.S. Treasury." Choose the duration you want and click on it. You can then click "buy" to start a trade of a specific treasury bill/bond. Fidelity's Intro to Treasuries[fidelity.com]
This is true, but it doesn't make an 11-month CD at 5% a bad idea. Those HYS can change their rates at any time, but here you're guaranteed to get 5%.
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Glad to see my post helped some folks. Except whoever thumbs downed me lol..... T bills are for all intents and purposes risk free. You don't make much on a 4 8 or 23 week bill. But with the ladder you set it and forget it. Then it over time will pay out similarly to holding an annual instrument. Investing in a single 4 week t bill wouldn't really be worth it by itself
Thanks for sharing. I have treasury direct account and as I went on opening 8, 13 and 26 week accounts, it gives a disclaimer of total return at maturity may be less, same or more. Given it's US Govt backed securities, i doubt that it'll loose it's principal value but I started only with few K's to feel the game.
I tried going thru fidelity but could'nt understand the upfront discount/ coupon thing.
Given I never buy a t-bill, Is there a catch22 to be looking out for? in terms of losing any portion of principal capital? or paying for some fee/ charge (beside fed tax) when cashing it out ?
Anyone found something better in High interest savings rather than tying into CD?
Wealthfront is doing 4.05% + .5% for 4.55% for new accounts PM me for info/linky
The seem to be the better with fees etc
Zero account fees
Unlimited fee-free transfers
Up to $2M FDIC insurance through partner banks
No minimum or maximum balance to earn 4.05% APY
Guys this might be a stupid question, I opened my Capital one CD with 1 dollar initial fund. Can I put more money into that CD with the same interest rate? If so how to do that? I don't see any transfer button in the CD account...
Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank ginger_ale
02-09-2023 at 03:57 PM.
Quote
from mblock66
:
So I started to ladder T-Bills for the reasons everyone is stating in this thread. The rate is so volatile (in a good way) that locking into anything even 12 months is too long for me and rates continue to climb. I use fidelity and my suggestion is this.
When they offer the new 4 week and 8 week and 13 week t-bill (they auction on diff days and diff weeks) go in and buy one of each of them with whatever money you can spare. Let's use 5k for each.
I would buy a 4 week t-bill with NO Rollover for 5k
I would buy an 8 week t-bill with NO Rollover for 5k
I would buy a 13 week t-bill WITH Rollover for 5k
Then after 4 weeks when that first on comes up, buy another 13 week t-bill with the 5k WITH Rollover.
Then after 8 weeks when the second comes up, buy another 13 week t-bill with the 5k WITH Rollover.
Now you will have 3 13 week t-bills rolling every 4 weeks or so and rolling into a new one with the proceeds. This way every 4 weeks you are capturing an increasing rate and not locked into anything longer than 13 weeks. You benefit from the rate hikes, can cash out at any time, and you have state tax shelter from the earned interest.
I can almost guarantee that the above will yield you more net income (taking in tax break) at the end of 11months then the 5% locked CD
just my 2cents
This is good advice.. Good for people that want to park their money short term but still more liquid than a CD esp. if you live in a high income-taxed states since T-bills are not subject to state and local taxes
But what I think is better and at least for me, I would do a 17wk T-bill ladder. The 17wk was just added not too long ago. But the upcoming 17 wk high rate yield is approx 4.7% (compared to 4.59% of a 13wk bill).
Just like what mblock66 mentioned above but add another step to a 17wk like (and you're going to divide your capital into 4 as opposed to 3)..
Assuming you have 20k in this scenario..
I would buy a 4 week t-bill with NO Rollover for 5k
I would buy an 8 week t-bill with NO Rollover for 5k
I would buy a 13 week t-bill with NO Rollover for 5k
I would buy a 17 week t-bill WITH Rollover for 5k
Then after 4 weeks when that first one comes up, buy another 17 week t-bill with the 5k WITH Rollover.
Then after 8 weeks when the second comes up, buy another 17 week t-bill with the 5k WITH Rollover.
Then after 13 weeks when the third comes up, buy another 17 week t-bill with the 5k WITH Rollover.
This way, you still have access to your 5k each month just like the 13wk strategy while getting the higher yield of the 17wk bill. But either way works..
In contrast though, if you are going to park little money or live in a state with low to no state income tax, the simplicity and convenience of a CD can't be beat.
Vanguard Treasury Only Money Market Fund VUSXX has a 7 day yield of 4.4%. Since it's comprised of T-Bills, it's free from state or local taxes. If you live in CA and are in the 32% federal and 9.3% state brackets, the tax equivalent yield is 5.1%
In the app - Do you see on the bottom right, where it says "REPort this"? That's not it..
Try clicking on the little square by their rep number count OR look for the +Give Rep tab
So I started to ladder T-Bills for the reasons everyone is stating in this thread. The rate is so volatile (in a good way) that locking into anything even 12 months is too long for me and rates continue to climb. I use fidelity and my suggestion is this.
When they offer the new 4 week and 8 week and 13 week t-bill (they auction on diff days and diff weeks) go in and buy one of each of them with whatever money you can spare. Let's use 5k for each.
I would buy a 4 week t-bill with NO Rollover for 5k
I would buy an 8 week t-bill with NO Rollover for 5k
I would buy a 13 week t-bill WITH Rollover for 5k
Then after 4 weeks when that first on comes up, buy another 13 week t-bill with the 5k WITH Rollover.
Then after 8 weeks when the second comes up, buy another 13 week t-bill with the 5k WITH Rollover.
Now you will have 3 13 week t-bills rolling every 4 weeks or so and rolling into a new one with the proceeds. This way every 4 weeks you are capturing an increasing rate and not locked into anything longer than 13 weeks. You benefit from the rate hikes, can cash out at any time, and you have state tax shelter from the earned interest.
I can almost guarantee that the above will yield you more net income (taking in tax break) at the end of 11months then the 5% locked CD
just my 2cents
A 12 day note was paying 4.6 some percent today. It matures on 2/28, same day they announce another 4 week T Bill.
Anyways, the interest rates may fall into the 3's sometime this year because Fed said that inflation seems to be doing down.
Best to lock rates for longer terms now. The Fed farm credit loan is giving 5.6% on a 7 year bond. It's a great rate with relatively low risk. Not state tax protected but good investment to buy in a Roth.
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When they offer the new 4 week and 8 week and 13 week t-bill (they auction on diff days and diff weeks) go in and buy one of each of them with whatever money you can spare. Let's use 5k for each.
I would buy a 4 week t-bill with NO Rollover for 5k
I would buy an 8 week t-bill with NO Rollover for 5k
I would buy a 13 week t-bill WITH Rollover for 5k
Then after 4 weeks when that first on comes up, buy another 13 week t-bill with the 5k WITH Rollover.
Then after 8 weeks when the second comes up, buy another 13 week t-bill with the 5k WITH Rollover.
Now you will have 3 13 week t-bills rolling every 4 weeks or so and rolling into a new one with the proceeds. This way every 4 weeks you are capturing an increasing rate and not locked into anything longer than 13 weeks. You benefit from the rate hikes, can cash out at any time, and you have state tax shelter from the earned interest.
I can almost guarantee that the above will yield you more net income (taking in tax break) at the end of 11months then the 5% locked CD
just my 2cents
Fidelity Fixed Income Page [fidelity.com]
Follow the above link and scroll down to the row "U.S. Treasury." Choose the duration you want and click on it. You can then click "buy" to start a trade of a specific treasury bill/bond.
Fidelity's Intro to Treasuries [fidelity.com]
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I am not doing CDs myself --- not when the most recent 13-week T-bill is 4.76%
I tried going thru fidelity but could'nt understand the upfront discount/ coupon thing.
Given I never buy a t-bill, Is there a catch22 to be looking out for? in terms of losing any portion of principal capital? or paying for some fee/ charge (beside fed tax) when cashing it out ?
Wealthfront is doing 4.05% + .5% for 4.55% for new accounts PM me for info/linky
The seem to be the better with fees etc
Zero account fees
Unlimited fee-free transfers
Up to $2M FDIC insurance through partner banks
No minimum or maximum balance to earn 4.05% APY
I paid $993.11 and will get $1000 on March 28.
That's what it means by buying at a "discount".
Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank ginger_ale
When they offer the new 4 week and 8 week and 13 week t-bill (they auction on diff days and diff weeks) go in and buy one of each of them with whatever money you can spare. Let's use 5k for each.
I would buy a 4 week t-bill with NO Rollover for 5k
I would buy an 8 week t-bill with NO Rollover for 5k
I would buy a 13 week t-bill WITH Rollover for 5k
Then after 4 weeks when that first on comes up, buy another 13 week t-bill with the 5k WITH Rollover.
Then after 8 weeks when the second comes up, buy another 13 week t-bill with the 5k WITH Rollover.
Now you will have 3 13 week t-bills rolling every 4 weeks or so and rolling into a new one with the proceeds. This way every 4 weeks you are capturing an increasing rate and not locked into anything longer than 13 weeks. You benefit from the rate hikes, can cash out at any time, and you have state tax shelter from the earned interest.
I can almost guarantee that the above will yield you more net income (taking in tax break) at the end of 11months then the 5% locked CD
just my 2cents
But what I think is better and at least for me, I would do a 17wk T-bill ladder. The 17wk was just added not too long ago. But the upcoming 17 wk high rate yield is approx 4.7% (compared to 4.59% of a 13wk bill).
https://treasurydirect.
Just like what mblock66 mentioned above but add another step to a 17wk like (and you're going to divide your capital into 4 as opposed to 3)..
Assuming you have 20k in this scenario..
I would buy a 4 week t-bill with NO Rollover for 5k
I would buy an 8 week t-bill with NO Rollover for 5k
I would buy a 13 week t-bill with NO Rollover for 5k
I would buy a 17 week t-bill WITH Rollover for 5k
Then after 4 weeks when that first one comes up, buy another 17 week t-bill with the 5k WITH Rollover.
Then after 8 weeks when the second comes up, buy another 17 week t-bill with the 5k WITH Rollover.
Then after 13 weeks when the third comes up, buy another 17 week t-bill with the 5k WITH Rollover.
This way, you still have access to your 5k each month just like the 13wk strategy while getting the higher yield of the 17wk bill. But either way works..
In contrast though, if you are going to park little money or live in a state with low to no state income tax, the simplicity and convenience of a CD can't be beat.
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
Try clicking on the little square by their rep number count OR look for the +Give Rep tab
When they offer the new 4 week and 8 week and 13 week t-bill (they auction on diff days and diff weeks) go in and buy one of each of them with whatever money you can spare. Let's use 5k for each.
I would buy a 4 week t-bill with NO Rollover for 5k
I would buy an 8 week t-bill with NO Rollover for 5k
I would buy a 13 week t-bill WITH Rollover for 5k
Then after 4 weeks when that first on comes up, buy another 13 week t-bill with the 5k WITH Rollover.
Then after 8 weeks when the second comes up, buy another 13 week t-bill with the 5k WITH Rollover.
Now you will have 3 13 week t-bills rolling every 4 weeks or so and rolling into a new one with the proceeds. This way every 4 weeks you are capturing an increasing rate and not locked into anything longer than 13 weeks. You benefit from the rate hikes, can cash out at any time, and you have state tax shelter from the earned interest.
I can almost guarantee that the above will yield you more net income (taking in tax break) at the end of 11months then the 5% locked CD
just my 2cents
A 12 day note was paying 4.6 some percent today. It matures on 2/28, same day they announce another 4 week T Bill.
Anyways, the interest rates may fall into the 3's sometime this year because Fed said that inflation seems to be doing down.
Best to lock rates for longer terms now. The Fed farm credit loan is giving 5.6% on a 7 year bond. It's a great rate with relatively low risk. Not state tax protected but good investment to buy in a Roth.
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.