Oct 22, 2015

Wondering why interest rates on treasury bills and notes are staying so close to zero? It's all about the insatiable demand for U.S. demoninated debt from the nations of the world whose own currency is so unreliable, they need more of ours. For those borrowing money, low rates are a blessing. For savers, it is pure punishment. Worse yet, there's even a chance that interest rates on safe, liquid, short term money could go negative soon, like in Switzerland and Germany.

Demand is also coming from major brokerages. Behind the sudden epic hunger for government debt is a rule change that has Fidelity Investments and other money-fund managers hustling to snap up short-term Treasurys. Listen in as Steve and Sinclair review an article in the Wall Street Journal, with facts and figures. In segment 3, Steve does an analysis of the new Nationwide Index Annuity, which he finds most people misunderstand. It is a 3 year index not a one year index, and is based on managed futures inde--not a simple annual reset of the S & P. The income rider comes without a competitive guaranteed increase. Steve brings up five points you should understand before signing on the dotted line.