Considering Savings Bonds for Our Children’s Futures
Dec0
How savings bonds work
U.S. Savings Bonds have several types, and values of $ 25 up to $ 10,000. Bonds heretofore were bought at half the face value, and accrued interest until a maturity date, when they’d be worth face value or better. For example, a $ 50 bond could be purchased for $ 25 and would attain a redeemable value of $ 50 somewhere in the future. It used to be a nice gift for infants, because the bond could be cashed for face value after the child had graduated high school, when the bond had matured. Bonds, given as gifts, are a nice sentiment an are nifty gifts kids can hold onto. In fact, bonds are one of the only securities which can be held in a minor’s name.
How savings bonds gain value
The way in which and the rate at which bonds gain value has changed in recent years. Typically, the most common bond series is the Series EE Bond, also called the Patriot Bond since 2001. There was no real change to the bond’s value only a name change printed on the front denoting a more patriotic meaning. Before May 2005, bonds accrued interest at variable rates based on treasury yields over a 5 year time span. So, bonds could accumulate value faster or slower depending on when they were purchased and how the economy did over time. After May 1, 2005, bonds are assigned a fixed rate at the time of purchase. If you have bonds, and want to see what they’re worth, you can look them up at TreasuryDirect.gov website which has a calculator program. All you do is type in the type of bond, face value, and the month/year purchase date and the calculator will show you the current value of that bond.
How to redeem bonds
Bonds are easy to redeem at almost any financial institution. Just have proper ID and you simply sign them and cash them in. That all said, there are tax issues to contemplate. Interest earned on the bond is taxable in the year it’s redeemed. Parents can cash in bonds for their children with a little more paperwork, as they do have to verify they are the parents and have legal custody. It’s beyond easy.
Are bonds the best gift for the children?
It’s true that bonds can be issued in a child’s name, they have a patriotic look, and are safe investments. However, if you look at the interest that bonds are earning there might be better things to do with your contribution to the child’s future. Typically, bonds purchased after 2001 with variable interest rates earn an average annual yield of between 1.6% and 2.5%. Fixed rate bonds bought after May 2005 aren’t much better. If you took that $ 50 to $ 100 and put it in a mutual fund, the return could triple in the short run, and out perform the bond when the child is growing up. Granted, a mutual fund has to be in an adult’s name, isn’t as patriotic, and carries risks. However, you have to ask what is best for the child: a nifty piece of paper or more money for college?
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Currency Market Influences on Bonds
Nov0
As a bond matures over time, it undergoes the evolution of change from a long term instrument into a shorter term one. This carries with it the fact that the number of coupon receipts available, are reducing with time, but also that face value is able to be redeemed in a shorter period of time from when it was first issued.
Bond trading is a very dynamic market in many ways. .
When receiving a large amount of money in a number of years, the effects of high inflation can dramatically reduce the return expected of the investment and so this is one area that bond trading is extremely sensitive to.
Often currencies impact on bond markets. Foreign investors exchange currency for that of the issuer’s currency, and factor currency risks into their projected return on the investment.
Certainly there is a currency risk, but this may be offset by the nature of the debt instrument invested in.
By purchasing securities in a foreign market, it is often worth your time to test the strength of that market with a smaller investment first.
Until recently the US currency and bond market represented this type of secure investment, with ample liquidity. However, since the collapse of major financial institutions precipitated a string of unforeseen major insolvency, and the US economy sliding into recession, the confidence enjoyed by the United States in terms of currency and economic strength, may be short lived. This information was written by Jeff Todd, of IVA.net: your free IVA information helpers.
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Why Invest In American Buffalo Gold Coins?
Oct0
American Buffalo gold coins are also known as gold buffalo. These are 24-karat gold bullion coins that were introduced to the United States Mint back in 2006. It was made available for shipment in the same year.
American Buffalo gold coins are known for its designs. The most popular is the Indian Head nickel, therefore earning the nickname from the American Bison.
This was the first time that the US government has minted pure 24-karat gold coins for the public to collect. The coin has a face value of $50 dollars. The initial price of the collector´s item back in 2006 was $800. The price for the proof coin a year after its distribution was $899.95.
It was in 2007 when American Buffalo gold coins were really popular. This particular coin was redesigned in 2009 and it has also mandated the production of the one ounce 24-karat gold bullion coin that has the tender value of $50. The mintage limit reaches up to 300,000 coins.
The designs of American Buffalo gold coins are modified versions of James Earle Fraser´s take on the Indian Head nickel. This was the design back in 1913 but was specifically updated for the American Buffalo.
The type 2 version was minted from 1913 to 1996 for the Indian Head models. Generally, this design was said to be the best among all the US coins.
With the American Buffalo gold coin also having this design, it is then declared to be a commemorative coin for the Indian head just as it is a collectible in itself.
The obverse of the coin shows the Native American design by Fraser. The varieties of these designs are the three chiefs from American Indian tribes. These are Iron Tail, Two Moon, and Big Tree.
Apparently, Fraser had the honor to have these three chiefs pose for him when he was in need of models for the coin. This is the very reason why the coins are commemorative.
On the reverse side of American Buffalo gold coins is the American Bison. This is commonly referred to as the buffalo. It is said to be the Black Diamond.
This is a bison that lived in New York City Central Park Zoo during the 1910s. Fraser said that someone distracted the buffalo in order for him to sketch this.
He needed a specific profile of the buffalo and he achieved this as reflected in the finished product of the coins.
There are different patterns and designs to choose from in the American Buffalo gold coins. It is all up to the collector which design he prefers.
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Investing in treasury bills and non-savings accounts
Oct0
Money Market Account Interest
Putting money into savings account is synonymous to investing money into money market savings accounts. It starts by investing money in the bank. Then an interest will be imposed by the bank based on the amount of money the investor has deposited. The bank lends the money to other people at a higher interest rate than what they are paying to the initial investor. The more money invested in the money market account, the higher the interest rate will be. Interest is compounded daily yet accrued monthly, and each bank has its own interest rates depending on the amount of the investment. Before investing, one should first research how the money market rates can change and fluctuate. It’s never a bad idea to shop around and choose the best deal.
Banker’s Acceptance A banker’s acceptance is a short-term credit investment created by non-financial firms. These are traded in a secondary market. Discounts are given to the face value, and the banks are responsible for the payments. For corporations where there is a foreign partner involved, banker’s acceptance is ideal. The investment acts as a negotiable time draft for financing various transactions. This acceptance form can be sold in the secondary market where the acceptance was made, and it does not need to be held until maturity.
Treasury Bills When talking about a popular money market security that is very marketable because of its simplicity, we are talking about a treasury bill. These short-term securities have a one year maturity from the date of issue. The interest is the difference between the purchase price and the money that will be received upon maturity.
Treasury bills can be purchased through bidding. This is done in two ways. One way is non-competitive, where the bidder receives the full amount. The other way is competitive, where the bidder has to specify the desired return. In non-competitive bidding, the bidder will not receive any or all of the desired securities if the return is too high.
Aside from their simplicity, treasury bills are popular because they are risk free and cheap. They are also state and local tax free. However, compared to corporate bonds, certificates of deposits and money market funds, treasury bills do not produce a high return. Penalties are also imposed if the bill is cashed out prior to its maturity date.
Through a commercial book entry, large investors and institutions can purchase bills and distribute them to individual investors. Treasury Direct, a website where one can purchase treasury bills, can act as a non-competitive holding system for small investors who hold their securities until maturity. Treasury bills can be sold before their maturity as long as an investor follows this rule: He or she must transfer all securities to the commercial book entry system; this can only be accomplished with a depository institution. This institution will hold an account at the Federal Reserve Bank.
Article provided by CDRates.org. Find the best CD Rates and CD investing advice quickly and easily at CDRates.org.
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Gold bullion Coins Should Be Traded In Austria
Sep0
One of the best countries for gold bullion trading is Austria, which boasts of a very long tradition of dealing with gold and it is in fact a country that is known for minting many different gold coins. In Austria you can actually use their gold coins for purchases, fetching whatever their face value happens to be. A popular coin minted and traded in Austria is the .9999 Vienna Philharmonic coin which comes in the usual denominations of one, half, quarter and one tenth, and is a coin worth knowing about. It is easy to trade in gold coins in Austria.
If you want to do gold bullion trading in these and other Austrian gold bullion coins you need only go to an Austrian bank and buy some. Another reason why it is a good idea to trade gold bullion in Austria is that it has some of the most secure storage facilities in the world.
One such safe is called Das Safe and was replicated in the Bourne Identity films and it has everything you need to be able to store your gold. This storage facility is one of the oldest in Austria and is virtually synonymous with safety of storage of gold, having more than a thousand safe deposit boxes in its premises.
There is an annual fee of between 500 Euros and 3500 Euros depending on how much gold you will be storing and its value. Each individual customer can store up to 4000 coins.
A famous Austrian bar is the Pamp Suisse which is a good idea if you are looking to invest in Gold Bullion Bars. Bars are less commonly traded in Austria but their value is no less because of this.
Gold bullion coins and bars both offer great investment opportunities so you are sure to be happy that you decided to trade in the Austrian gold market.
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