My birth date is ten days off! Of course, I have been reminded of that by friends and family over the last few weeks. I am aware now that there are only two cousins older than me who are still living. One cousin is twelve years older than me and the other ten years older. Regrettably I have lost contact with one. Of course, living long has some great advantages but one hardly ever mentioned is the wonderful fact that with age comes the decrease in daily decisions that must be made. Choices that were daily events no longer exist because you cannot participate in many things as you once did and many things no longer hold your interest. My dad would say he had gotten so old he no longer bought green bananas. I now know what he meant – it was his way of saying he was happy for each day! Happily, my dad lived to be 100 years old!
Fortunately, the only decisions of note I must make occur twice a year when the interest rate on I-bonds change. Currently the rate just went up from 3.11% to 3.98%! In the past when it was advantageous to move the Members Money out of I-bonds and get better income elsewhere – we did so. Because of the small difference between CDs and I-bonds and with a current early withdrawal penalty in effect today all Membership Monies will remain in I-bonds until at least November unless there is a totally unexpected change in the money markets. We here at the Mathmatecum are planning to have all our new changes completed by July1, 2025 and promulgated on 12/31/25.
Because of the pour over aspect of the Mathmatecum’s plan the Members Money last month’s rate of return was 4.11%. When the Mathmatecum was started it was done so with the belief that the return would average at least 2% on average! The reality has been much, much better and in fact at present is guaranteed over 1% for the next 30 years. Not my favorite thing to report but I must: 5.6% of our membership has passed away to date. Those passings at this stage of the Mathmatecum are relatively insignificant now but will become more influential once the membership is filled or closes on 12/31/41.
JAI BABA
TTFN
JU
