Amidst the growing skepticism in our banking sector, we thought it would be helpful to introduce an alternative way to both protect and diversify one’s assets. The information below discusses a method the I/O Fund uses to hold its cash, which is safer than banks, and yields 4.5% or higher.

The I/O Fund is an actively managed portfolio. We are not financial advisors, rather we discuss openly and in great detail what we are doing with our money through weekly webinars and real-time trade alerts. This has led to 174% better returns compared to Ark and results that are double the Nasdaq in the same time period.

Banks failing presents a new problem for investors, which is where to hold cash. We shared our thoughts on Treasury Direct accounts with our premium members last month, where we explained that opening a TreasuryDirect account allows anyone to directly purchase savings bonds and Treasuries (Notes, Bonds, Bills, TIPS, and FRNs) directly from the U.S. government.

This offers an option that is outside of the banking system, offers a decent yield, and is very liquid. This article is offered as a guide that will walk you through the process of opening a TreasuryDirect account and how it can potentially help secure your cash in these uncertain times.

Below is a brief video clip from our premium webinar. For more detailed information, please reference the article below.

More Concern in the Financial Sector & Why Having a Plan for Cash is Important

The current news cycle and media narrative suggests that it’s just regional banks that are facing challenges due to interest rate risk and depositors withdrawing funds to go to larger "too big to fail" banks. However, taking a closer look at the charts reveals that the situation may be more complex and not limited to just U.S. regional banks.

This is what appears to going on in Financial Sector in the US (XLF), which is comprised of the largest and most recognizable financial institutions in the US.

After breaking down from a bear pennant, we have a clean 5 wave drop from the February high. Until XLF can reclaim the $36 region, which is about 8.5% from current prices, then risk remains high.

International banks like the Royal Bank of Canada ($RY) also are exhibiting similar ugly trends. In fact, warnings are present in most major banks around the world. Here are some quick bullet points:

• Japanese banks Mitsubishi UFJ Sumitomo and Mitsui Financial are down 15%-17% since March 9th.
• The Commonwealth Bank of Australia is down ~12% since March 14th, and HSBC in England is down ~14% since late February.
• Itaú Unibanco, Brazil's top bank, is down ~18% since last November.
• Deutsche Bank is down another 21% from it January high, while the largest bank in France, BNP Paribas, is down 14% from its February high.

It appears that the risk doesn’t stop at the regional bank level but is international as well. Global banks are facing significant challenges, and it is unlikely the banking problems are over.

The Royal Bank of Canada ($RY) looks a lot like some of the bigger banks in the US.

An Alternative Solution to Uncertainty: A TreasuryDirect Account for an Extra Layer of Security

To tackle potential issues in the banking sector, we are taking a proactive approach with some of our cash. We are purchasing T-Bills directly from the U.S. government through a TreasuryDirect account, eliminating counter-party risks with banks. If the banking situation deteriorates or becomes systemic, funds in these accounts remain safe and secure.

The Appeal for T-bills vs. Bonds

Investing in four-week T-bills might be the prudent choice in this situation, as they carry no default risk compared to bonds and do not tie up your cash for a long period of time. As an example of what to expect, the four-week Treasury bill rate is around 4.5%, compared to 0.15% last year. This is much higher than the long-term average of 1.22%.

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It is true that the U.S. government has never defaulted on its federal debt, which includes the umbrella of Treasury bonds, bills, and notes. However, it is also true that countries around the world default on their debt obligations, either partially or entirely, all of the time. We saw Iceland default on their external debt in 2008, and even recently Argentina defaulted on their sovereign debt in 2020 smack dab in the middle of the pandemic. In the event that the U.S. defaults on its debt, it’s speculated that T-bills are safer then bonds because of their shorter-maturity periods, lower interest rate risk, higher liquidity, and general overall market perception.

Opening a TreasuryDirect Account: A Step-by-Step Guide

Here is a link to a video that we gave to our premium subscribers, where I go throguh step-by-step on how to open a TresuryDirect Account.

1. Visit the TreasuryDirect website: Navigate to the official TreasuryDirect website (www.treasurydirect.gov) and click on "Open An Account."

2. Choose account type: Select the appropriate account type (individual, entity, or minor) and fill out the online application form: this essentially like a brokerage account with the government, so you will need your Social Security Number (SSN), email address, and bank account details.

3. Create a password and security questions: Choose a strong password and security questions to ensure the security of your account… this account will hold your cash and security should be prioritized just like your bank account ect.

4. Simply review and submit: Double-check the information you filled-out and submit the account application.

5. Check your email for a confirmation message from TreasuryDirect and follow the instructions to verify your account and email address.

6. Access your account: Use your account number, password, and the one-time passcode sent to your email to log in to your TreasuryDirect account.

7. Purchase bonds and T-bills: Once logged in, navigate to the "BuyDirect" tab and select the desired security type (T-bills, notes, bonds, etc.). Follow the on-screen instructions to complete your purchase. 

Lessons from the 2008 Crisis: “History never repeats itself, but it does often rhyme.”

The 2008 financial crisis exposed the banking system's fragile backend to the public in a fast and violent sweep, catching many people unprepared. Most people had no idea what fractional banking was, nor how complex their banks had become. These banks have only grown in size and complexity since.

We rely on banks to store money, but it does come with some risks. When a bank fails, individuals can depend on government-backed insurance (FDIC) to recover their deposits and restore stability in our banking system. However, this process can be lengthy and challenging. As we saw in 2008, no one wants to wait on a Gov’t backed insurance timeline to get money back that they thought was being safely stored in a bank account.

Conclusion:

Considering the current risks within the banking sector, going through the process of opening a TreasuryDirect account offers a safe alternative for people to store their cash in. This guide was written to help you navigate the process of buying Treasury marketable securities and really to show just how simple it is to get started securing your cash with bonds and T-bills. It is important to stay informed and protect what you have worked hard for, we wanted to shine light on something we felt hasn’t gotten enough spotlight in the investment world.

What’s Next:

This Thursday at 4:30 pm Eastern, I will be holding a webinar for premium Tech Insider Network members to discuss how I plan to navigate the broad market, as well as various tech entries including Tesla. We offer trade alerts plus an automated hedging signal. In addition, we are an audited portfolio with 174% better returns than Ark and are results are double the Nasdaq in the same time period.

We identified a strong buy signal in Bitcoin in December, and we also identified Nvidia's (NVDA) bottom in October. Bitcoin is a leading asset YTD in the market, and Nvidia is the leading stock in the S&P 500. We take gains often and we discuss this in our weekly webinars and on our premium site, one of which is scheduled for next Thursday, April 27th.

Recommended Reading:

Bitcoin Vs Banks: Here's Where the Price Goes Next
Banks, Inflation, and One More Low
The Importance of Verified Returns and Risk Management for Retail Investors
Bitcoin is up 40% in 2023, Here’s Where it Goes Next