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Why pay a management fee when you can buy 1-3 month treasury bills so easily through any brokerage? Simply a convenience fee/ease of use question?
Convenience. I can build my own ladder, or I can pay a very small premium to SGOV to do it for me. With the amount of money I've got in it ($XX,000), the amount I lose to fees is less than my time is worth.
Brio Direct Savings, a division of Webster Bank, is providing 5.35% APY which comes to 5.22% on their savings account. A good deal on a savings account without getting your money tied down to any sort of terms. FYI
Not a deal! Treasuries are paying more than this for any duration between 1 month and 1 year. Treasuries also aren't subject to state and local tax. Treasuries also can be traded on the secondary market.
Answering three inevitable questions:
Buy treasuries at any brokerage (e.g. Fidelity, Schwab, etc.).
Don't use TreasuryDirect. It's a clumsy platform and offers no advantages over a broker like Fidelity that charges nothing for buying/selling treasuries.
Besdies being a clumsy platform so what? Been using it for years I am used to clumsy. My Schwab investments are overly complex (not bonds)
That's the "default" investment at Vanguard if you don't put your money anywhere else (their "cash sweep"), and for that purpose, it's actually pretty good compared to other brokers, especially Schwab. Still, you'd be better off putting the money in T-bills.
I would go with VUSXX. 94% treasury bills. Many of the funds have names that make you think they are treasuries but are repurchase agreements and other fairly safe instruments but taxed at the state and local level and not t-bills that are the safest. Paying 5.27% at the moment. I do a t-bill ladder and use this fund for liquidity.
Think the 5.7% one year is callable. Often the difference between callable and noncallable is negligible. Brokered CDs are good if you don't need to cash in early and they don't automatically renew. You can also get ones that are longer than a year that pay interest every month. T-bills better for local and state tax free if you live in a high tax state and much easier to sell on the secondary market.
Besdies being a clumsy platform so what? Been using it for years I am used to clumsy. My Schwab investments are overly complex (not bonds)
I can't speak to Schwab. My experience is with Fidelity and TreasuryDirect.
With TreasuryDirect:
I can't buy/sell on the secondary market.
My funds aren't paid interest unless they're invested in treasuries.
Customer service is terrible and phone service will drive you mad.
The website and interface seem like something from 15 years ago.
With Fidelity:
I can buy/sell on the secondary market.
My funds are paid ~5% interest if they're just sitting in cash.
Customer service over the phone and web chat is great. There are physical locations I could go to if desired.
The website is modern as is the mobile app. I can easily compare various investments including treasuries.
I have no idea why someone would use TreasuryDirect other than ignorance. There's no advantage to it and all kinds of downsides.
Ok how to buy with no fees? I'm trying to understand and really don't.
The treasury thread is very helpful and detailed. You can buy at auction directly from treasury direct or from a brokerage house. Buy and or sell on the secondary market from a brokerage house. Buying you should not have fees. Some charge a fee to sell. Good luck!
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We're talking $12/year for each $10,000 invested.
* 6 month 5.52%
* 9 month 5.68%
* 12 month 5.70%
You get to be a millionaire by saving -- not wasting -- money. And slickdeals has saved me a bunch over the years.
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Rates are published daily. You can find them here:
https://home.treasury.g
Ok how to buy with no fees? I'm trying to understand and really don't.
Answering three inevitable questions:
Buy treasuries at any brokerage (e.g. Fidelity, Schwab, etc.).
Don't use TreasuryDirect. It's a clumsy platform and offers no advantages over a broker like Fidelity that charges nothing for buying/selling treasuries.
VMFXX currently 26% t-bills and 5.29%
* 6 month 5.52%
* 9 month 5.68%
* 12 month 5.70%
With TreasuryDirect:
I can't buy/sell on the secondary market.
My funds aren't paid interest unless they're invested in treasuries.
Customer service is terrible and phone service will drive you mad.
The website and interface seem like something from 15 years ago.
With Fidelity:
I can buy/sell on the secondary market.
My funds are paid ~5% interest if they're just sitting in cash.
Customer service over the phone and web chat is great. There are physical locations I could go to if desired.
The website is modern as is the mobile app. I can easily compare various investments including treasuries.
I have no idea why someone would use TreasuryDirect other than ignorance. There's no advantage to it and all kinds of downsides.
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