A short box spread trade effectively gets you a loan at a low fixed rate for a fixed term. Don’t do it if there’s any chance you’ll make a mistake.
Latest Blog Posts
TurboTax 2021 CARES Act 2.0 $600 Charity Donation Deduction
You need some patience to find the right place in TurboTax for the $300/$600 charity donation deduction for 2021 when you take the standard deduction.
How To Use Password Manager with TreasuryDirect for I Bonds
Do this trick when you buy I Bonds and use a secure password stored in a password manager instead of the virtual keyboard on the TreasuryDirect website.
The Forgotten Deductible Traditional IRA
This article was inspired by a post made by Kevin M on the Bogleheads forum. You may have heard of this rule of thumb about retirement savings priorities: Contribute to 401k (or 403b) to get the full employer match Maximize Roth IRA Maximize 401k (or 403b) Invest in taxable account Kevin asked why a Roth […]
The Case Against Roth 401(k): Still True After All These Years
Most people are better off contributing to a traditional 401k, not a Roth 401k. Here’s why.
I Bonds Tax Treatment During Your Lifetime and After You Die
You can report accrued interest from your I Bonds every year but it gets complicated in real life. Keep it simple and go with the default.
Overpay Your Taxes to Buy $5,000 in I Bonds
I Bonds offer a better yield than all other safe investments. After you max out your annual limit, you can buy another $5,000 by overpaying your taxes.
Where to Get a Signature Guarantee for I Bonds at TreasuryDirect
When you open a TreasuryDirect account to buy I Bonds, sometimes you need a signature guarantee. Ask nicely at a bank, a credit union, or a broker.
Tax Software: Buy the Download, Not the Online Service
Although it sounds like more old school, the software you install on your own computer is actually both less expensive and more powerful.
How to Add a Joint Owner or Change Beneficiary on I Bonds
You set a secondary owner or beneficiary when you buy I Bonds in TreasuryDirect. You can still add a joint owner or change the beneficiary at any time.