[Dummies 01] • Investing in Bonds For Dummies by Wild, Russell -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover Title Page Table of Contents Introduction

About This Book Foolish Assumptions Icons Used in This Book Beyond the Book Where to Go from Here

Part I: Bond Apetit!

Chapter 1: The Bond Fundamentals

Understanding What Makes a Bond a Bond Why Hold Bonds? (Hint: You’ll Likely Make Money!) 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 Global Bonds and Other Seemingly Exotic Offerings Bond Investing with a Conscience

Part II: Bonds Away! The Bond Marketplace

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 My Picks for Some of the Best Bond Funds

Chapter 6: Fulfilling the Need for Steady, Ready, Heady Cash

Chapter 7: Finding Comfort and Security in Old Age

The Risk of Being Too Conservative Calculating How Much You Can Safely Tap Making the Most Use of Uncle Sam’s Gifts

Part III: Customizing and Optimizing Your Bond Portfolio

Chapter 8: Developing Your Investment Game Plan

Focusing on Your Objectives Making Your Savings and Investment Selections Understanding Five Major Investment Principles

Chapter 9: Risk, Return, and Realistic Expectations

Searching, Searching, Searching for the Elusive Free Lunch Appreciating Bonds’ Risk Characteristics Reckoning on the Return You’ll Most Likely See Finding Your Sweet Spot

Chapter 10: Balancing Your Portfolio and Choosing Bonds

Why the Bond Percentage Question Is Not As Simple As Pie Peering into the Future Noticing the Many Shades of Gray in Your Portfolio Making Sure Your Portfolio Remains in Balance Sizing Up Your Need for Fixed-Income Diversification Weighing Diversification versus Complication Finding the Perfect Bond Portfolio Fit

Chapter 11: Strategizing Your Bond Buys and Sells

Discovering the Brave New World of Bonds Deciding Whether to Go with Bond Funds or Individual Bonds Is Now the Time to Buy Bonds? Taxable and Tax-Advantaged Retirement Accounts

Part IV: The Part of Tens

Chapter 12: The Ten Most Common Misconceptions about Bonds

Chapter 13: Ten Mistakes That Most Bond Investors Make

Allowing the Broker to Churn You Not Taking Advantage of TRACE Choosing a Bond Fund Based on Short-Term Performance Not Looking Closely Enough at a Bond Fund’s Expenses Going Through a Middleman to Buy Treasuries Counting Too Much on High-Yield Bonds Paying Too Much Attention to the Yield Curve Buying Bonds That Are Too Complicated Ignoring Inflation and Taxation Relying Too Heavily on Bonds in Retirement

Chapter 14: Ten Q & A’s with Bond Guru Dan Fuss

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