Book 4
Looking at Bond Investing
Contents at a Glance
Chapter 1: Bond Fundamentals
Understanding What Makes a Bond a Bond
Why Hold Bonds?
Introducing the Major Players in the Bond Market
Buying Solo or Buying in Bulk
The Triumphs and Failures of Fixed-Income Investing
Realizing How Crucial Bonds Are Today
Viewing Recent Developments, Largely for the Better
Chapter 2: All about the Interest
The Tricky Business That Is Calculating Rates of Return
Measuring the Desirability of a Bond
Understanding Yield
Recognizing Total Return (This Is What Matters Most!)
Measuring the Volatility of Your Bond Holdings
Returning to the Bonds of Babylonia
Chapter 3: Types of Bonds
Exploring the Many Ways of Investing with Uncle Sam
Industrial Returns: Corporate Bonds
Lots of Protection, a Touch of Confusion: Agency Bonds
Banking Your Money on Other People’s Mortgages
(Almost) Tax-Free Havens: Municipal Bonds
Chapter 4: Investing (Carefully!) in Individual Bonds
Navigating Today’s Individual Bond Market
Dealing with Brokers and Other Financial Professionals
Doing It Yourself Online
Perfecting the Art of Laddering
Chapter 5: Picking a Bond Fund That Will Serve You for Life
Defining the Basic Kinds of Funds
What Matters Most in Choosing a Bond Fund of Any Sort