I-Bonds Are the Best Deal in Fixed-Income Right Now

Nov 23, 2021
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Bond investors haven’t had much to smile about this year. Depending on which maturity one observes (10-year, 30-year, etc.), 2021 has been either the 3rd-, 4th-, or 5th-worst year to own Treasury Bonds in the past 50 years, according to market researcher Jim Bianco.

Meanwhile, October’s Consumer Price Index surged to 6.2% over the prior 12 months. Historically, interest rates have tended to rise in tandem with higher inflation. But in the current cycle, the “transitory inflation” narrative (along with the constant buying by central banks) has kept bond yields subdued thus far. On the same day the latest 6.2% annual inflation rate was announced, the 10-year Treasury bond yielded only 1.5%. That’s an enormous gap — and a significant problem for fixed-income investors.

Against this backdrop, the appeal of U.S. Government I-Bonds is easy to see: their annualized interest rate is currently 7.12%, exceeding any other type of bond yield available. Plus I-Bonds offer favorable tax treatment and significant protection against loss. How is this possible?

I-Bond basics

I-Bonds are savings bonds issued directly by the government to investors. The interest rate on I-Bonds consists of a fixed rate plus an inflation rate that adjusts every six months (the “I” in I-Bonds). Currently, the fixed rate is 0% and the semiannual inflation rate is 3.56%, so the composite (total) semiannual rate is 3.56%. The inflation rate, based on the federal government’s CPI-U rate, adjusts twice a year — on the first business day of May and the first business day of November. Compounding on I-Bonds is semiannual, so if this rate remains unchanged next May, the full-year return would be 7.12%. (Interest is credited monthly and automatically reinvested. The total will result in the semi-annual yield of 3.56%.) Of course, this rate could go up or down every six months.

The disparity between the I-Bond yield and other bonds comes from the fact that I-Bonds are guaranteed to match the rate of inflation. In contrast, other bond yields currently lag inflation by record margins. In other words, I-Bonds have already had their rates adjusted based on the recent surge in inflation, while other bonds have not.

More good news: the composite rate can never fall below 0%. So the only way the yield will decrease is if inflation does. That’s different than the federal government’s other inflation-based bond offering, TIPS (Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities), which can generate negative returns in a deflationary environment.

Another benefit of I-Bonds is their tax treatment. I-Bond interest is exempt from state and local income taxes. And, because you won’t receive any income from your I-Bonds until you redeem them, federal income taxes are not due until maturity (30 years) or redemption, whichever comes first.

I-Bond drawbacks

All of this sounds rather amazing in a world in which 10-year Treasury bonds yield 1.5% and inflation is running 6.2% — but note these three restrictions.

  1. Holding Period
    I-Bonds must be held at least 12 months, making them less liquid than other fixed-income investments. If they are redeemed between one and five years, you will lose the last three months of interest. Still, if the inflation rate doesn’t decline before next May, you could buy an I-bond today, redeem it 366 days from now, and earn 5.3% (after forfeiting three months’ interest).

  2. Purchase Maximums
    In most cases, you can purchase only $10,000 of I-Bonds per calendar year per account holder. If you are due an income tax refund, that refund can be directed to purchase up to an additional $5,000 of I-Bonds.

    While these restrictions are significant, a couple who act promptly could potentially buy $20,000 of I-Bonds between now and year-end, then turn right around and buy another $20,000 in early 2022. If you have a tax refund, that could be added on top, up to an additional $5,000 (per return, not per person).

  3. Direct Purchase Only
    This is a biggie because it means you can’t buy I-Bonds within your retirement or brokerage account. Instead, you must open an account at Treasury Direct. The process isn’t too painful, however, and the purchase money simply transfers from your bank account. So as long as you can get “buy bonds” money into your bank account, you’re all set. (Go here for a helpful purchasing walkthrough.) Trusts and businesses are also eligible to purchase I-Bonds.

Conclusion

Attractive bond opportunities are few and far between right now, but I-Bonds certainly fit that description. If they were easier to own and transact in, they’d already be in every bond investor’s portfolio. This is a rare deal that favors individuals over institutional investors. For once, the little guy comes out on top!

Unfortunately, you won’t find I-Bonds in the SMI strategies because of their purchase restrictions. To be clear: We think I-Bonds are probably the best bond investment available right now — better than the funds currently recommended in SMI’s Bond Upgrading portfolio. We can’t recommend I-Bonds there because of the direct-purchase requirements. But if your portfolio calls for bond exposure and you can work with the TreasuryDirect restrictions, I-Bonds are a great option right now.

Written by

Mark Biller

Mark Biller

Mark Biller is Sound Mind Investing's Executive Editor. His writings on a broad range of financial topics have been featured in a variety of national print and electronic media, and he has appeared as a financial commentator for various national and local radio programs. Mark also serves as Senior Portfolio Manager to SMI Advisory Service’s Private Client managed-account program and the SMI Funds.

Matt Bell

Matt Bell

Matt Bell is Sound Mind Investing's Managing Editor. He is the author of five biblical money management books and the teacher or co-teacher on three video-based small group resources. His latest book, Trusted: Preparing Your Kids for a Lifetime of God-Honoring Money Management, was published by Focus on the Family in 2023. Matt has spoken at churches, universities, and conferences throughout the country and has been quoted in USA TODAY, U.S. News & World Report, and many other media outlets.

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