A plain-English guide to the whys and hows of the bond market
The vast majority of individual investors hold their money in mutual funds, and approximately 27 percent of all funds are pure bond funds. An estimated 10 percent of all funds include at least some bonds in their asset mix. Bond Investing For Dummies gives readers a clear and thorough introduction to bond investing, explaining the reasons for investing in bonds, the differences between stocks and bonds, and the major factors that influence bond performance and risk. It covers bond ratings; long-term, intermediate-term, and short-term bonds; domestic versus foreign bond issues; what percent of a portfolio should be allocated to bonds; understanding interest and taxes on interest; the best and worst ways to purchase and choose bonds; and how to diversify among bond holdings.
Russell Wild, MBA (Allentown, PA) is a NAPFA-registered financial advisor registered with the Pennsylvania Securities Commission. He is the author or coauthor of nearly two dozen nonfiction books, including Exchange-Traded Funds For Dummies (0-470-04580-9).
