Savings Bonds Pros and Cons
Full Answer
According to the Securities and Exchange Commission, savings bonds are one of the safest investments because they are backed by the full faith and credit of the government. If you invest in stocks or bonds, the company issuing them may do poorly and the investment could lose money.
If you hold money in a deposit account, you pay taxes on the interest each year, which reduces the amount of money you have to earn interest on the next year. With a savings bond, you can pay taxes on the interest it earns each year, or you can put off paying the taxman until you cash the bond. That way, you don't have to worry about finding the money to pay the taxes yearly. You don't have to shell out any state or local income taxes on your savings bond income.
U.S. savings bonds are debt securities issued by Uncle Sam to help finance the federal government. Unlike other securities, they can be held in a minor's name. Depending on your purpose for buying savings bonds and your time frame for holding them, they may have a place in your investment portfolio.
After you buy a savings bond, you can't cash it out for a least 12 months. Even if you really need the money, you're out of luck. Also, if you cash the bond in after one year but before five years pass, you lose three month's worth of interest as a penalty for the early withdrawal.