Good morning Reader!

The 10-year Treasury is creeping up to levels we haven't seen since 2025 and the 30-year is around 5.27%. Rates are going up. Interest rate traders now see a 66.2% chance the Fed increases the target federal funds rate.

If that wasn't enough, Japan's 10-year just hit 4% for the first time since 1996. That's important because with higher interest rates in Japan, the yen carry trade becomes less attractive.

But, I'm not changing anything I'm doing. I'm decades from "retirement," so my stock portfolio isn't changing significantly. And I'm going to keep money I need in the next few years in short-term funds that offer yield without much interest-rate exposure (because they're short term).

I don't have any variable-rate debt, but if I did, I'd consider whether it makes sense to lock in a fixed rate. With upward pressure on interest rates, a fixed rate could remove the risk of my borrowing costs continuing to rise.

• For student loans, try this list of refinance options.
• For personal loans, Credible can help find the best rates.

💲 Best Bank Rates (as of 9/2):

💰 High Yield Savings - 3.80% APY + $400 Bonus from SoFi​

🏛️ Short Term Treasury - VBIL 3.63%, SGOV 3.61%

📀 Certificates of Deposit (see all 40k+ rates)

🔍 Below are nationwide rates, CD Valet has local rates which can be higher so click through to double check for your state.

• 6 months: 4.30% from Quorum FCU​
• 12 months: 4.35% from Quorum FCU​
• 60 Months: 4.40% from Sallie Mae​
• 120 Months: 4.40% from First National Bank of America​

💵 Bank Bonuses - $400 from E*Trade, $450 US Bank, $200 Barclays, $400 SoFi, $500 Bank of America & more​

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🛬 Airport guest passes...

Nearly thirty airports have guest pass programs that allow you to go through security without a ticket.

It's great for when you want to meet up with someone at the gate or if you just want to enjoy the amenities and watch planes take off and land.

It's also free.

​👉 Airport Guest Passes: Programs For Non-Ticketed Visitors Past Security​

📋 How I think about life insurance

When it comes to life insurance, I would only consider term life insurance. It's simple. You pay monthly premiums and if you die, your family is paid out.

And that insurance is meant to replace your income. If you die, your family loses your income stream but still has all the liabilities.

So, how much you get will depend on your situation.

I don't want insurance policies that masquerade as investments. I don't care about cash value, borrowing from them, or all the obfuscation that comes with it and their high fees.

If you have liabilities and dependents but no life insurance, it's something to consider today:

​👉 Learn more about term life insurance​

🗞️ Money Stuff I Found Interesting

Here are some interesting articles you may have missed:

• ⭐ A Billion Dollars [Kevin Kelly] - "The bottleneck for most dreams is not financial. It’s a lack of confidence, willingness to take a risk, and face failure, or a lack of imagination of what is possible with current resources."
• ​Building Our Pre-Retirement Manifesto [The Retirement Manifesto]
• ​Poor Dad Author Goes Bust: How Robert Kiyosaki Went Into Debt, to the Tune of $1.2 Billion [Vanity Fair]
• ​How Wealth Is Created in America [The Big Picture]
• ​1 in 3 parents plan to divide the inheritance unequally among their kids — and, frankly, that could be a smart way to do it, pros say [MarketWatch]

💵 Good Deals If You Need Them

• ​Cardpointers is 50% off - I love it because I can activate bonus cashback offers on my credit cards with one button press.
• ​E*Trade will give you $400 if you deposit $20,000.
• ​TradeUP offers up to 50 NVDA shares - It's a brokerage transfer bonus, with a bonus starting at $2k in deposits.
• ​AARP for $11/yr - It's their Labor Day Sale! Anyone can join and enjoy the benefits and discounts. (join by 9/9)
• AI-powered budgeting app Origin is only $1 for the first year
• ​Check if you're overpaying for car insurance (it's free)

What did you think of today's email?​
✅ I Loved It! 🟨 It Was Okay ❌ Not My Favorite​

Talk to you soon!

Jim

PS. 🚩 Want to get weekly emails about scams? Click here!​

​(see archive of previous emails)​