how long does it take for a series i bond to mature 
these bonds are issued at face value with a 30 year final maturity a 20 year original maturity period immediately followed by a 10 year extended maturity period 1the bottom lineseries i bonds offer a unique investment opportunity for those seeking a low risk inflation protected investment backed by the u s government with a combination of a fixed rate and a variable inflation rate i bonds can help preserve purchasing power over time making them an attractive option for risk averse investors however investors should be aware of the limitations such as the annual purchase limit the one year minimum holding period and the three month interest penalty if redeemed within the first five years additionally while i bonds offer the potential for competitive returns during periods of high inflation they may not provide the same long term growth prospects as other investment vehicles such as stocks corporate bonds or real estate ultimately the decision to invest in i bonds should be based on an individual s financial goals risk tolerance and overall investment strategy 