Safe-yield guides

Plain-English guides to parking cash safely — how I-Bonds, T-bills, Treasuries, and CDs actually work, when each one wins, and how to ladder them. New pieces are added as rates and questions warrant.

T-Bill Rates in July 2026: What This Month's Auctions Mean for Your Ladder — As of the July 17, 2026 close, T-bills pay 3.65% at 4 weeks out to 3.83% at 52 weeks. The bill curve has gone from flat to upward-sloping — here's what that shift means for how you build a ladder right now.
How T-bills work: bought at a discount, paid back at par — T-bills don't pay a coupon — you buy them below face value and collect the full face at maturity. Here's how that discount becomes your yield, in plain numbers.
I-Bond vs. CD vs. T-Bill — which wins right now — The three go-to homes for safe cash pay differently depending on the moment. Here's how to decide between an I-Bond, a CD, and a T-bill given today's rates.
Where to buy Treasuries: TreasuryDirect vs. a brokerage — You can buy Treasuries straight from the government or through a brokerage account. Each has trade-offs around fees, liquidity, and convenience. Here's how to choose.
How to build a CD/Treasury ladder (and why) — A ladder spreads your cash across staggered maturities so you capture higher long-term yields without locking everything up. Here's the mechanics and the trade-offs.
How much of your emergency fund belongs in safe yield? — Cash you might need tomorrow shouldn't be locked up — but parking all of it in a checking account wastes yield. A simple tiered approach splits the difference.
What the I-Bond reset on May 1 / Nov 1 means — I-Bond rates change exactly twice a year. Understanding the reset — and the six-month timing of your own bond — is the key to buying at the right moment.
Are Treasuries state-tax-free? (Yes — the edge over CDs) — Interest on Treasury bills, notes, bonds, and I-Bonds is exempt from state and local income tax. That quietly tilts the math against CDs, especially in high-tax states.

Updated July 2026