Savings Bond Wizard replacement is available
Savings Bond Wizard replacement is available
The Savings Bond Wizard no longer is available to be updated. However, the Savings Bond Calculator offers some of the same features and you can export your bond inventory from the Wizard to the Calculator.
Treasury Direct has issued instructions on how to do it at https://www.treasurydirect.gov/indiv/to ... wizard.htm
I have not attempted it yet.
Jim
Treasury Direct has issued instructions on how to do it at https://www.treasurydirect.gov/indiv/to ... wizard.htm
I have not attempted it yet.
Jim
Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered you will never grow. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
Re: Savings Bond Wizard replacement is available
Thanks, I'll have to check it out myself.
Re: Savings Bond Wizard replacement is available
I completed the transfer to the calculator of my 105 bonds. It works, but I preferred the Wizard....maybe it is because I am used to the Wizard more. I am pleased, though, that all my bond values are there and I can look ahead to see the value of them for each of the next 6 months as I could with the Wizard.
Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered you will never grow. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
Re: Savings Bond Wizard replacement is available
In addition, you can save the inventory as a .htm file to your local drive for future update.
Re: Savings Bond Wizard replacement is available
I prefer the calculator and converted to it a few years ago.
Once you save your inventory to an HTML file, you can reconnect to update values and bonds.
The problem is if you miss entering a bond they get out of sequence.
Once you save your inventory to an HTML file, you can reconnect to update values and bonds.
The problem is if you miss entering a bond they get out of sequence.
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Re: Savings Bond Wizard replacement is available
The Wizard gives you the current composite rate and the yield to date. The calculator only appears to give you the composite rate.
Re: Savings Bond Wizard replacement is available
Saved the files as directed, but the calculator did not work for me. Have three sets/files of bonds. The first one came up, once and only once -- but not with a new date, and never again. The other two files never would open even once in the calculator.
WHY, WHY, WHY did Treasury take away a tool that people used, liked, and had the files already built for (hundreds of bonds)? VERY frustrating and disappointing.
WHY, WHY, WHY did Treasury take away a tool that people used, liked, and had the files already built for (hundreds of bonds)? VERY frustrating and disappointing.
Re: Savings Bond Wizard replacement is available
Are you using the serial number of your U.S. Savings Bonds in the Calculator? I have seen some internet discussion concerning security issues, that in listing the Savings Bonds data in the Calculator, it is prudent to exclude the serial numbers.
Treasury Hunt has been replaced by FS Form 1048 which asks for the serial number in locating any lost or destroyed bonds.
https://www.treasurydirect.gov/forms/sav1048.pdf
Treasury Hunt has been replaced by FS Form 1048 which asks for the serial number in locating any lost or destroyed bonds.
https://www.treasurydirect.gov/forms/sav1048.pdf
Re: Savings Bond Wizard replacement is available
Somewhat bemused that no third-party app provider has stepped into the void and offered a replacement for SBW. But that sends a signal: not too many of us old fools still messing around with their quaint savings bonds
Smectym
Smectym
Re: Savings Bond Wizard replacement is available
BMW, maybe I can help your problem. I also have several different bond lists/files, one for me, one for each child and one for parents. Figured out (with tip in the instructions) that you have to delete your browsing history every time you open up a different file/set of bonds. It's a pain but it works. Otherwise I had the same problem you did. So after you view one file, close that tab, delete browsing history, then open the new file. My browser is IE 11.
maywood
maywood
Re: Savings Bond Wizard replacement is available
Have any of you just converted from paper? I'm considering it now that I no longer have easy access. If you have do you know if you can just import the Wizard file to do the conversion rather than hand-entering every bond again?
Personal Finance Blogger at [b]Sunk Costs are Irrelevant[/b] --> currently on hiatus
Re: Savings Bond Wizard replacement is available
The online procedure is still the same. One needs to enter one bond at a time (serial number, amount and purchase month) and there is not an option to upload such information.
Re: Savings Bond Wizard replacement is available
Thanks, I figured it was still dark ages over there, but I was hopeful.
Personal Finance Blogger at [b]Sunk Costs are Irrelevant[/b] --> currently on hiatus
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Re: Savings Bond Wizard replacement is available
My Savings Bond Wizard was not working, so I uninstalled it planning to install again. The I learned that it was no longer available. Is there anywhere I can get SBW so I can export my files?
Re: Savings Bond Wizard replacement is available
Hmm, worst case you could email your savings bond wizard files to someone who still has the wizard, and they could export and email you the exported file back. I think I still have my wizard installed.
maywood
maywood
- CountryBoy
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Re: Savings Bond Wizard replacement is available
Wow! That is one big change!One needs to enter one bond at a time (serial number, amount and purchase month) and there is not an option to upload such information.
Re: Savings Bond Wizard replacement is available
I am attempting to download the Dec 2018-May 2019 Savings 'Bond Value Files. All I get is numbers gibberish. The earlier one in May worked fine. Is anyone successfully downloading it?
Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered you will never grow. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
Re: Savings Bond Wizard replacement is available
Are you using Windows 10?
Re: Savings Bond Wizard replacement is available (UPDATE NOV. 2018 PROBLEM)
No...Windows 7 as I used earlier. Have you tried downloading the new files ?
Last edited by Sheepdog on Thu Nov 01, 2018 4:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered you will never grow. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
Re: Savings Bond Wizard replacement is available
No. Since I no longer own any paper bonds, it is easier for me to just log in and get the values.
Re: Savings Bond Wizard replacement is available (UPDATE NOV 2018 PROBLEM)
Maybe someone else will see this to advise. UPDATE NOVEMBER 2018 PROBLEM
Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered you will never grow. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
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Re: Savings Bond Wizard replacement is available
The Savings Bond Value Files are "numbers gibberish" except to software that understands the file format. Are you using the same software on the Dec 2018-May 2019 file as you used with the May file (presumably the one with the URL https://www.treasurydirect.gov/indiv/tools/sb201806.asc)? If using the same software, are you sure that you used it on a Savings Bond Value File, as opposed to some other file with a different format that software was written to use?
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Re: Savings Bond Wizard replacement is available
The IRS discontinued support for the Savings Bond Wizard on 6/1/18. The 5/1/18 update of the data files was the last one there will be.
You have to export your data and use the Savings Bond Calculator. It is not nearly as useful.
Re: Savings Bond Wizard replacement is available
Thanks. Yes,I am using everything the same. Are YOU downloading? I have sent an email to the Treas to see what they say.FactualFran wrote: ↑Thu Nov 01, 2018 4:42 pmThe Savings Bond Value Files are "numbers gibberish" except to software that understands the file format. Are you using the same software on the Dec 2018-May 2019 file as you used with the May file (presumably the one with the URL https://www.treasurydirect.gov/indiv/tools/sb201806.asc)? If using the same software, are you sure that you used it on a Savings Bond Value File, as opposed to some other file with a different format that software was written to use?
Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered you will never grow. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
Re: Savings Bond Wizard replacement is available
I am no longer using the Wizard and I didn't last May either. Since then I used the Savings Bond Calculator which is what I am referring to.. It worked perfectly 6 months ago.Spirit Rider wrote: ↑Thu Nov 01, 2018 4:48 pmThe IRS discontinued support for the Savings Bond Wizard on 6/1/18. The 5/1/18 update of the data files was the last one there will be.
You have to export your data and use the Savings Bond Calculator. It is not nearly as useful.
Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered you will never grow. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
Re: Savings Bond Wizard replacement is available
I turned on my old windows 7 machine and the file upload (into the calculator) and download (saved file out of the calculator) worked smoothly. I used FireFox.
Re: Savings Bond Wizard replacement is available
tracking, thanks
Don't it always seem to go * That you don't know what you've got * Till it's gone
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Re: Savings Bond Wizard replacement is available
I have downloaded Savings Bond Value Files in the past and used them with software that understands the format of those files.
I doubt if the, no longer supported, Savings Bond Wizard used a Savings Bond Values file. An older version of Savings Bond Wizard - Updating the Database web page indicates that its database could be manually updated by downloading a file named sbwcrv.exe, running the Savings Bond Wizard, and using its Tools menu bar to have the Savings Bond Wizard use the downloaded file to update its database of redemption values.
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Re: Savings Bond Wizard replacement is available
The Savings Bond Calculator worked correctly for me when I tried it a few minutes ago on a saved inventory. It reported the redemption values for 05/2019, after changing the "Value as of:" and pressing the "UPDATE" button on the "Calculate the Value of Your Paper Savings Bond(s)" page.
The Savings Bond Calculator does not depend on a Savings Bond Value File stored on a user's computer.