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Series I bonds will pay 3.98% through October, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced Wednesday.
Tied to inflation, the latest I bond rate is up from the 3.11% offered through April, but down from the 4.28% yield paid through October 2024.
Current I bond owners will see rates adjust based on their purchase date.

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How I bond rates work

I bond rates have a variable and fixed rate portion, which the Treasury adjusts every May and November. Together, these are known as the I bond “composite rate” or “earnings rate,” which determines the interest paid to bondholders for a six-month period. 
You can see the history of both parts of the I bond rate here.

The variable rate is based on inflation and stays the same for six months after your purchase date, regardless of the Treasury’s next announcement. 
Meanwhile, the fixed rate doesn’t change after purchase. It’s less predictable and the Treasury doesn’t disclose how it calculates the update. 

How I bond rate changes affect current owners

If you currently own I bonds, there’s a six-month timeline for rate changes, which shifts depending on your original purchase date. 
After the first six months, the variable yield changes to the next announced rate. For example, if you buy I bonds in September of any given year, your rates update every year on March 1 and Sept. 1, according to the Treasury. The Treasury adjusts I bond rates every May and November, reflecting the latest inflation data. 
For example, if you bought I bonds in March, your variable rate would start at 1.90% and change to the new rate of 2.86% in September. But your fixed rate would remain at 1.20%. That would bring your new composite rate to 4.06%. More

Gold hit record highs in April amid fears about tariffs, trade wars and their economic impact.
For some consumers, that makes this a good opportunity to sell high-karat jewelry, which can be melted for cash.
Experts say to proceed with caution and recommend having a rough idea of your gold’s value before trying to sell it.

Gold tends to ‘trade on fear’

The recent surge in gold prices is pushing more people to consider unloading their family heirlooms and other valuables, which can be melted for cash, according to Schmidt.
Spot gold prices hit an all-time high above $3,500 per ounce last week. The record follows a barrage of tariffs announced by President Donald Trump in April, fueling concern that a global trade war will push the U.S. economy into recession. One year ago, prices were about $2,200 to $2,300 an ounce.
As of Wednesday morning, gold futures prices were up about 23% year-to-date and 36% higher compared to the price a year ago. 

“Gold tends to trade on fear, and we have a lot of fear in the markets right now,” said Kathy Kristof, a personal finance expert and founder of SideHusl.com.
“If you can find a moment when people are the most fearful, that’s an ideal time to sell your gold,” she said. “Strike while the iron is hot.”

What to know before selling your gold

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Many consumers who hold physical gold — such as higher-karat jewelry, bars and coins — view it as “financial insurance,” said Jordan Roy-Byrne, founder of The Daily Gold, an online resource for gold, silver and mining stocks.
“Gold is reassuring,” Schmidt explained. “It offers something tangible, dependable, and easily liquidated when times get tough.”
1. ‘Do the math’
One downside of selling physical gold is traditionally high trading costs — and those costs are typically not transparent, Kristof said.
Consumers should check the spot price of gold online before hawking their gold at a pawn shop or online marketplace like Alloy or Express Gold Cash, Kristof said.
Sellers can use the spot price to get a rough sense of what their gold is worth, if they know its weight and purity, to sense if they’re being ripped off, Kristof said. (Keep in mind: 24-karat gold is pure gold; an 18-karat piece is 75% gold and 25% other metals.)
“Do the math before you even go,” she said. “Fools get creamed.”
Price comparisons and deal shopping are “always wise” moves for consumers, Kristof added.
“It is a competitive marketplace,” she said. “You can get a better deal.”

2. ‘Wise or foolish’ to wait?
Some experts say prices may have topped out, but others think there is still room to run.
“My view is that gold hit an interim peak, which should hold up at least into the fall,” Roy-Byrne said.
Ultimately, it’s impossible to know what the future holds. Consumers should assess if they made a good return on investment, and if the risk of holding and hoping for a better profit “is wise or foolish,” Kristof said.
3. Tax bill may be unexpectedly high
One cautionary note: Sellers may pay a higher tax rate on their gold profits than they may otherwise think.
That’s because the Internal Revenue Service would likely consider physical gold like jewelry, coins or bars to be a “collectible,” for tax purposes, explained Troy Lewis, a certified public accountant and professor of accounting and tax at Brigham Young University.
Federal long-term capital gains taxes on collectibles can go as high as 28%, while those on other assets like stocks and real estate can reach 20%.

4. Proceed ‘thoughtfully’
Schmidt recommends proceeding “thoughtfully” before selling or melting down gold jewelry.
“It can be a smart move for those needing immediate funds, but not every piece should be melted down,” he said. “Items with historical or artistic value, like family heirlooms or antique jewelry, may be worth more in their original form than as melted metal.”
Schmidt recommends consulting with a reputable jeweler or appraiser before selling as well as considering the cost of cashing out.
“Gold may be in high demand, but once a unique piece is melted, its original value is lost forever,” he said.
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Roth conversions transfer pretax or nondeductible individual retirement account money to a Roth IRA, which starts future tax-free growth.
It’s a popular strategy when the stock market drops because you can reduce your upfront taxes.
But there are several factors to consider before converting funds, experts say.

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As investors wrestle with tariff-induced stock market volatility, there could be a tax-planning opportunity. But it’s not right for all investors, experts say.
The strategy, known as “Roth conversions,” transfers pretax or nondeductible individual retirement account money to a Roth IRA, which starts future tax-free growth. The tradeoff is paying upfront taxes due on the converted balance.

This planning move has been gaining popularity. As of Dec 31, the volume of Roth conversions increased by 36% year-over-year, according to the latest data from Fidelity Investments.
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Roth conversions are especially attractive when the stock market drops, according to certified financial planner Ashton Lawrence, director at Mariner Wealth Advisors in Greenville, South Carolina.
Here’s why: Amid market volatility, you can convert a smaller balance and pay less upfront taxes. When the market recovers, you’ll secure tax-free growth in the Roth account, Lawrence said.
Still, there are some key factors to consider before converting funds, experts say.

Consider your tax rate

When weighing Roth conversions, “the single biggest factor” should be your current marginal tax rate vs. your expected rate when you withdraw the funds, said George Gagliardi, a CFP and founder of Coromandel Wealth Management in Lexington, Massachusetts. (Your marginal rate is the percent you pay on your last dollar of taxable income.)
Typically, you should aim to time planning moves that incur taxes — including those from Roth conversions or future withdrawals — when rates are lower, experts say.
But boosting your adjusted gross income can lead to other tax consequences, such as higher Medicare Part B and Part D premiums. That’s why it’s important to run tax projections before converting funds.

Cover the upfront taxes

When completing a Roth conversion, you’ll owe regular income taxes on the converted balance, which should also factor into your decision, Lawrence said.
Generally, you should aim to pay those taxes from other sources, such as savings. “The last thing you want” is to use part of the converted balance to cover taxes because then there will be less to transfer to the Roth account, he said.

Discuss your legacy goals

Another factor could be your legacy goals — including whether heirs, such as adult children, could inherit part of your pre-tax retirement balance, experts say.
Since 2020, certain heirs must follow the “10-year rule,” which stipulates that inherited IRAs must be depleted by the 10th year after the original account owner’s death. This applies to beneficiaries who are not a spouse, minor child, disabled, chronically ill or certain trusts.
In some cases, clients pay taxes upfront via a Roth conversion to spare their future heirs from the bill, Lawrence said. Alternatively, some pass along the tax liability when heirs are in a lower tax bracket.
“We know that Uncle Sam is going to get his fair share, but we can be smart about it,” he added. More

Waiting until age 70 to claim retirement benefits provides the biggest monthly Social Security checks
But it can sometimes make sense to claim earlier.
Here are the factors experts say you may want to consider.

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Concerns about the future of the Social Security Administration may tempt some workers to claim retirement benefits early.
Yet experts warn that may not be the best decision.

It’s no secret that Social Security is running low on funding. Fears that the program might not be able to pay benefits in the future — or that benefits might be cut — have prompted people to take their money earlier, even if it means receiving a smaller monthly payment for the rest of their lives.
In 2024, the trustees projected the trust fund used to help pay retirement benefits may be depleted in 2033, when 79% of benefits will be payable. Social Security’s trustees have not yet released new trust fund depletion projections in 2025.
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Changes at the Social Security Administration — including staff cuts and long wait times for service — do not encourage more confidence in the program, noted Kelly LaVigne vice president of consumer insights at Allianz Life Insurance Company.
A recent survey from Allianz found that 64% of Americans are more worried about running out money than they are about dying. Meanwhile, Social Security not providing enough money was the second reason cited for those worries behind inflation, the survey found.

On average, Social Security benefits replace about 40% of a worker’s pre-retirement income, according to the SSA. As Congress eventually seeks a fix to the program’s funding woes, that may require Americans to pay more taxes and/or receive less benefits.
“If you cut that, or there’s a threat of cutting that, that does make the fear of running out of money even greater,” LaVigne said of Social Security benefits.

Why it’s generally best to wait to claim

Many people may be tempted to claim Social Security benefits now to get the money while they can.
“There are people who make the comment, ‘I want to start taking from it now, before it’s taken away from me,'” said Andrew Herzog, a certified financial planner and associate wealth manager at The Watchman Group in Plano, Texas.
In those cases, Herzog said he typically reassures clients that scenario is “very unlikely,” particularly for older generations who are already in or near retirement. Lawmakers including President Donald Trump have promised not to cut the Social Security benefits retirees are already receiving. For future retirees, it is possible benefits may be reduced, though it is unlikely the program will entirely run out of money.
Individuals who want to take their retirement benefits at age 62 — otherwise known as the early eligibility age — need to understand their benefits will be reduced, Herzog said. By waiting until full retirement age — generally age 66 to 67, depending on date of birth — beneficiaries may receive 100% of the benefits they earned.
For workers whose full retirement age is 66, claiming early at 62 will result in a 25% reduction in monthly benefits. For workers whose full retirement age is 67, claiming at 62 prompts a 30% cut to monthly benefits. Yet most people claim before full retirement age, according to the Congressional Research Service.

Workers who wait even longer to claim retirement benefits — up to age 70 — stand to receive the biggest monthly checks. For every year individuals wait past full retirement age, they stand to receive an 8% increase to their benefits. For workers whose full retirement age is 66, that represents a 32% boost to monthly benefits. For workers with a full retirement age of 67, that’s a 24% boost.
“For those who expect to have a normal life expectancy of 80 years plus, then it can make sense to wait to age 70 to get the maximum benefit,” Herzog said.
To be sure, the decision comes down to many factors, including how long someone is able to work, whether they can draw from other investment income and the choice that will help them best sleep at night, Herzog said.
Notably, delaying even just one month can help increase monthly benefit checks.

When to claim Social Security benefits early

Most workers who expect to live long lives will want to prioritize the risk they could outlive their money, and therefore delay claiming benefits, according to Vanguard research.
But for those who do not expect to live as long, the prospect of break-even risk — or the risk of receiving a smaller total sum by delaying — should be prioritized instead, according to Vanguard.
Claiming early can provide other perks, such as making it possible to spread the tax burden of that income over more years, Vanguard’s research notes. Plus, with lower monthly checks, less of that Social Security income may be taxed and it may be possible to keep Medicare income-related monthly adjusted amounts, or IRMAA, low, according to the research.
Yet for many individuals, there are other reasons to wait to claim that are compelling, particularly if their spouses may need to live on their benefits once they die. Moreover, having higher monthly benefits means they may be better prepared to withstand unexpected financial shocks, according to Vanguard. More

House Education and Workforce Committee Republicans have released their plan to overhaul the country’s student loan and financial aid system.
Pell Grant eligibility would come with new requirements, and student loan borrowers could see their repayment plan options dwindle.

Chairman Tim Walberg, R-Mich., attends the House Education and Workforce Committee hearing on “The State of American Education” in the Ryaburn House Office Building on Wednesday, February 5, 2025.
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House Education and Workforce Committee Republicans have released their plan to overhaul the country’s student loan and financial aid system, calling for limits on student borrowing and a reduction to the repayment options for borrowers.
The GOP measure, known as the Student Success and Taxpayer Savings Plan, is aimed at helping Republicans pass President Donald Trump’s tax cuts.

“For decades Congress has responded to the student loan crisis by throwing more and more taxpayer dollars at the problem — never addressing the root causes of skyrocketing college costs,” committee Chairman Tim Walberg, R-Mich., said in a statement.
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The proposal immediately triggered warnings from consumer advocates, who said the measures would deepen the affordability crisis families already face in paying for college.
“The committee’s current proposal would severely restrict college access by slashing financial aid programs, eliminating basic consumer protections and making it harder to repay student loan debt,” said Sameer Gadkaree, president and CEO of The Institute for College Access & Success.
Here are some of the proposals in the Republicans’ legislation.

Caps on federal student loans

Under the proposal, undergraduate students would face a borrowing cap of $50,000 in federal student loans starting July 1, 2026, while graduate students couldn’t take out more than $100,000.
Current limits vary by factors including student status and year of schooling, but for many people, the caps will mean they can borrow less.
Those limits “will shift some borrowing to private student loans,” said higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz.
That’s a concern for Kantrowitz and other consumer advocates, who point out that private student loans come with far fewer borrower protections than federal student loans.

Fewer repayment plans, hardship protections

The GOP proposal would reduce the number of existing income-driven repayment plans for new federal student loan borrowers to just one. IDR plans aim to make monthly payments affordable for borrowers by capping the bills at a portion of their discretionary income.
More than 12 million people were enrolled in IDR plans as of September 2024, according to Kantrowitz.
It would also eliminate the unemployment deferment and economic hardship deferment for federal student loan borrowers, on debt taken out during or after July 2025.

More requirements to receive a Pell Grant

Full eligibility for Pell Grants would also require students to be enrolled at a minimum of 30 hours each academic year, up from the current requirement of 12 hours per semester.
The federal Pell Grant program, signed into law in 1965, is one of the largest sources of financial aid available to college students. More than 6 million undergraduate students received the grants in 2020. The maximum Pell Grant award is $7,395 for the 2025-26 award year.
Meanwhile, the grants would be expanded for short-term workforce training programs.

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This year, National College Decision Day is May 1.
When weighing the options, families should tap online tools, strategically maximize aid offers and carefully consider loan choices to come up with a plan that covers all four years of college, experts say.

Picking a college is a major decision, but figuring out how to pay for it is an even bigger commitment.
And with just a few days before National College Decision Day on May 1, many families are struggling to come to terms with both finding the “right-fit” school as well as wrestling with the sky-high cost and looming student debt balances. And all this while opportunities for federal loan forgiveness are dwindling.

“Choosing a school is a personal and individual decision,” said Chris Ebeling, head of student lending at Citizens Financial Group.
Academics, extracurriculars, campus culture and career services are key considerations, he said, but “it’s not just about the dream school and the academics and setting you up for the right career trajectory, it’s also about the cost — that is a real issue.”
To that end, experts share their best advice on how to frame your decision before choosing a school, including coming up with a plan for how to pay for it and factoring in financial aid.

Determine the net price of college

For starters, “no one should be committing to a school until they know that net price,” Ebeling said.
The net price is the total cost of attendance, including tuition and fees, minus grants, scholarships and education tax benefits, according to the College Board.

Even though the price tag for a college education has never been higher, nearly 75% of all undergraduates receive some type of financial aid, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, which can bring the cost significantly down. 
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Most colleges have a net price calculator on their websites to help students determine their out-of-pocket expenses. However, “some are better than others,” Ebeling said.
He recommends other online resources to get an even more accurate picture, such as MyinTuition or the College Board’s net price calculator.
“A good net price calculator would be within a few thousand dollars,” Ebeling said.
The net price can also vary greatly between schools.
“At Harvard, for example, the sticker price is very high, but the net price is very low,” Ebeling said.
Or, Ebeling added that “you could look at a state school where the sticker price is lower but they provide less assistance and the net price is higher.”
In fact, when it comes to offering financial assistance, private schools typically have more money to spend, other experts also say, and some are increasingly boosting their financial aid awards.

Factor in financial aid

For a majority of students and their families, financial aid is the most important factor in their decisions about choosing where to attend and how to pay the tab. But not all financial aid is equal either.
The amount of aid offered matters, as does the breakdown between grants, scholarships, work-study and student loans.

Once students fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which serves as the gateway to all federal money, they will receive their award letters.
In most packages, there are several financial aid options. The goal is to maximize gift aid — money that doesn’t need to be paid back, such as scholarships, fellowships and grants — and minimize loans that will need to be repaid with interest.
“There is a hierarchy of sources of funding,” Ebeling said. “The first, and most obvious, is the free money.”
But even with gift aid, it’s important to read the fine print, such as whether a grant is renewable for all four years or whether a minimum grade point average must be maintained. It’s worth noting that if a student fails to meet the terms, such as a grade point average requirement, they may have to repay some or all of a grant or scholarship.

Look for additional scholarship dollars

Beyond the college aid offer, there are still alternative sources for merit-based aid out there, according to Matt Lattman, a senior vice president at Discover.
“There are many different scholarships that can be based on talents and interests, membership in professional or social organizations, or even luck of the draw,” Lattman said. Some scholarships are annual, others per semester, and some even provide a monthly opportunity to earn money towards your education, he added.
Students can ask their high school counselor about opportunities or search websites such as Scholarships.com or the College Board.

Make a financial plan for all four years

Ebeling recommends coming up with a proactive plan to cover the entire four years of college from the outset. “You have to think about this in aggregate,” he said.

Considering that tuition adjustments average roughly 5% a year, if you know you are going to need to borrow, start with federal direct subsidized and unsubsidized loans, he said. “Generally those are the best loans out there.”
Still, it’s also never too late to fund a 529 college savings plan, which comes with added tax benefits and increased flexibility.
Plus, anyone can contribute — and for grandparents, there is also a new “loophole,” which allows them to pad a grandchild’s college fund without impacting their financial aid eligibility.
Most importantly, “every dollar saved is a dollar less you have to borrow later,” said Smitha Walling, head of Vanguard’s education savings group.
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The Trump administration dismissed the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s lawsuit against National Collegiate Student Loan Trusts.
The $2.25 million settlement between the government and trusts was expected to go to impacted private student loan borrowers.

U.S. President Donald Trump looks on, as he signs executive orders in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 23, 2025.
Leah Millis | Reuters

The Trump administration has dismissed the federal government’s lawsuit against National Collegiate Student Loan Trusts, abandoning a $2.25 million proposed settlement that could have gone to harmed borrowers.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau filed a lawsuit in 2017 against the trusts, which it described as a group of 15 “securitization trusts organized under Delaware law that acquire, pool, and securitize student loans, which they then service.”

The CFPB accused the trusts of bringing improper debt collection lawsuits against private student loan borrowers, suing consumers for debts the trusts couldn’t prove were owed and attempting to collect on debts after when they were legally allowed to do so.
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The $2.25 million settlement between the government and the trusts was expected to go to impacted borrowers.
But the CFPB under President Donald Trump filed the voluntary dismissal last Friday.
The Trump administration has also moved to gut the CFPB, most recently attempting to terminate as many as 1,500 of the bureau’s 1,700 employees. A judge has stopped those cuts.

In February, the CFPB also dismissed its lawsuit against the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency. The bureau sued the student loan servicer in 2024, accusing it of illegally collecting on student debts that borrowers had discharged in bankruptcy and sending false information to credit reporting companies.
The CFPB and White House did not respond to a request for comment. Neither did the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency or counsel for the National Collegiate Student Loan Trusts.

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