Nov 2, 2015

Wondering why interest rates on treasury bills and notes are staying so close to zero? For those borrowing money, low rates are a blessing. For savers, it is pure punishment. It's all about the insatiable demand for dollar denominated debt from the nations of the world whose own currency is so unstable , they need more of ours. 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. Steve and Sinclair review important keys you need to know. 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 more than 30 managed futures indexes--not a simple annual reset of the S & P. While the company is strong, the income rider comes without a competitive guaranteed increase, nor does it have a long term care benefit. Steve brings up five points you should understand before signing on the dotted line with this or any annuity.