My Dream Annuity
A CPI-adjusted life annuity with a cash value…the stuff dreams are made of!
A Bond Bear?
Bond markets are down a record amount in 2022. What happened, and is there any good news?
I-Bonds: Get Your “Free Lunch” While It’s Hot!
October is the final month to take advantage of a 9.62% annualized rate for six months by purchasing “Series I Savings Bonds” (or “I-Bonds”) from the U.S. Treasury.
Revisiting the Monthly Bear Market and Yield Curve Inversion
We published earlier articles noting (1) the current bear market didn’t exist in monthly data and (2) the current yield curve inversion didn’t exist in TIPS data. Neither of those observations is still true.
I-Bonds vs. TIPS: Compare and Contrast
This article presents an in-depth compare/contrast between I-Bonds and TIPS, with basic facts and color commentary—including several surprising discoveries!
How Round Table Uses TIPS to Target Inflation-Protected Income
Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) can be used to build inflation-protected income to cover annual spending needs in retirement. Find out how Round Table builds TIPS portfolios for retirement income in this article.
Whence the Yield Curve Inversion?
The current, much-ballyhooed yield curve inversion is driven entirely by the term structure of inflation expectations!
Zoom Out, It’s a Bull. Zoom In, It’s a Bear.
Measured with daily data, the S&P 500 Index (the usual stand-in for “the stock market” in the U.S.) is in its second bear market in just over two years. Measured with monthly data, the S&P 500 is still in a historic bull market that stretches back to 2009.
Inflation is Up, but the Cost of Inflation-Protected Income is Down
In the past 18 months, the inflation rate has jumped more than 6X, but the cost to purchase inflation-protected income with TIPS has declined ~20%! Find out how, why, and what you can potentially do to take advantage.
Are I-Bonds the Fabled “Free Lunch”?
I-Bonds are paying a government-guaranteed rate that is higher than what is available in other types of bonds. Is this a “free lunch”? If so, how can that be?