A bond ladder has advantages over a bond fund or ETF. The shorter the time span in which you will liquidate your bond holdings, the more valuable it is.
Latest Blog Posts
How to Buy Treasury Bills & Notes On the Secondary Market
Detailed steps and screenshots for how to buy Treasuries on the secondary market without a fee at Fidelity, Vanguard, Charles Schwab, and Merrill Edge.
When to Sell I Bonds or Cash Out and Buy TIPS
I Bonds are great for the short term but TIPS are better for the long term. Calculate whether the time has come to cash out your I Bond and switch to TIPS.
Guide to Money Market Fund & High Yield Savings Account (2024)
The yield on a money market fund adjusts to the current market. You aren’t at the mercy of a bank’s decision to catch up or stay behind.
Calculator: How Much of My Social Security Benefits Is Taxable?
Use this online calculator to see how much of your Social Security benefits is taxable and how much of it is tax-free.
Random Thoughts From a Month-Long Trip to Switzerland
Switzerland has made great achievement in the world as such a small country. What made it so successful and what can we learn from it?
2024 2025 ACA Health Insurance Premium Subsidy Slope
The Inflation Reduction Act extended the ACA premium subsidy cliff to a slope through 2025. The cliff will return in 2026 unless a new law is enacted.
An Unusually High Marginal Tax Rate Means Paying Lower Taxes
An unusually high marginal tax rate isn’t a problem. You’re rewarded with paying lower taxes. You live on after-tax dollars, not rates.
How to Split an Existing I Bond for Multiple Beneficiaries
You can name only one beneficiary on a savings bond. If you’d like to name two or more beneficiaries, you have to split your bond into multiple parts.
A Large Margin of Safety Reduces Stress and Need for Precision
You don’t have to be precise when you have a large margin of safety. It reduces stress and it makes your solution more robust against adverse conditions.