Nov 8, 2026 · 49 min
Suze Orman rethinks I bonds as rates and markets shift
Stock Update, Understanding Interest Rates and I-Bonds: Buy or Sell?
The episode connects market volatility with a detailed decision framework for buying, holding, or redeeming Series I bonds in 2026.
- 1Long-term investors should avoid panic selling and consider dollar-cost averaging during market declines.
- 2I bonds combine fixed and inflation-adjusted rates, with purchase limits, tax rules, and redemption penalties shaping their value.
- 3Suze Orman generally favors redeeming some older zero-fixed-rate bonds over buying new I bonds, depending on personal circumstances.
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Suze Orman explains why she generally would not buy new I bonds and plans to redeem some older zero-fixed-rate bonds.
The brief
Suze Orman opens by putting a recent stock-market decline in perspective, urging long-term investors to avoid panic selling and use dollar-cost averaging instead.
The episode then turns to I bonds, explaining their fixed and inflation-adjusted components, purchase limits, tax treatment, redemption rules, and three-month interest penalty before five years.
A key complication is timing: each bond’s issue month controls its adjustment schedule, so older holdings can earn different rates from newly issued bonds.
Orman’s current conclusion is notably cautious: despite an attractive fixed rate, she generally would not buy new I bonds, citing taxes, TreasuryDirect difficulties, and estate-planning drawbacks.
For existing bonds, the answer depends on fixed rate, holding period, tax bracket, and alternatives; Orman says she plans to redeem some older zero-fixed-rate bonds.
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