The Bond Bible [Hardcover]

Marilyn Cohen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 5, 2000

A symbol of security, bonds have long had a place in any well-rounded portfolio. As millions of baby boomers shift their focus from the lure of capital appreciation to the necessity of capital preservation, bonds are moving from a supporting role into the spotlight. Many individual investors, however, know precious little about them.

Marilyn Cohen, one of the nation's best known columnists and commentators on the bond market, demystifies bond investing and offers a shopper's guide to finding great bond buys and a master blueprint for building a winning personal bond portfolio. Packed with facts, real-world examples, and savvy advice, The Bond Bible covers:
-- The right bonds-to-stocks ratio for a sound portfolio
-- How to turn a bond investment from a safety net into a money-maker
-- How to identify a genuine bond bargain
-- How to determine which "store" gives the best value for different kinds of bonds
-- The pitfalls of the bond market and how to avoid them
-- The lowdown on bonds and taxes
-- How to know when to sell a bond and for the best price
-- The scoop on the latest trends, including on-line bond investing

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Fixed-income investments will never be as sexy as the day's hottest stock or a mutual fund focusing on the market sector du jour. But their very stability, combined with the equilibrium they provide when the Dow and the NASDAQ start bouncing around like 6-year-olds on a sugar high, are exactly why savvy investors count on them to round out their portfolios. Marilyn Cohen's The Bond Bible offers an unambiguous look at this once-arcane world, which--like much relating to investing--has become considerably less mysterious and immeasurably more accessible with the advent of the Internet. Cohen, president of a capital management firm, fully explains everything from income streams and the Treasury yield curve to the pluses of federal agency bonds and the negatives of high-yield issues. In simple terms, she also addresses advanced strategies such as leveraging, credit rating agencies, and insurance, bond funds and unit trusts, and nontraditional vehicles such as those tied to rock & roll royalties. Exactly how much of your portfolio should be devoted to bonds is a personal choice based on individual circumstances. Once you determine that, however, this book will help you reach an informed decision on what to buy, where to obtain it, and how to manage what you've got. --Howard Rothman

About the Author

Marilyn Cohen is president of Envision Capital Management Inc. a leading capital management firm, specialising in bond investing. She is a regular columnist for Forbes and writes her on column, Money Wise, which is syndicated, to papers across the USA. She has had a 20-year career on Wall Street dealing exclusively in bonds for the individual investor so is best placed to offer good advice.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall Press (June 5, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0735201382
• ISBN-13: 978-0735201385
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #935,076 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Marilyn Cohen is one of the top bond managers in the United States. Her thirty-two-year career in finance has included securities analysis, bond brokerage, and, for the last sixteen years, founder and CEO of Envision Capital Management,Inc, a Los Angeles - based money management firm specializing in managing bond portfolios for individual investors. She writes the popular bond column for Forbes magazine, The Bond Smart Investor Newsletter and is the coauthor of Bonds Now!

Marilyn and her husband Chris Malburg are puppy raisers for Canine Companions for Independence (CCI.org).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally a clear and accessible book on bonds, June 30, 2000

By 

Peter Deutsch (La Canada, California USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bond Bible (Hardcover)

As a novice to the world of bonds, I really enjoyed reading the Bond Bible. Unlike many other investment books, the Bond Bible is actually fun and easy to read. In plain English, the book details the structure of many different types of bonds from simple Treasuries to more complex instruments like Ginnie Maes. More importantly, the author gives the beginning investor practical advice in locating bond bargains and devolving a portfolio strategy. Best of all, the book is packed with personal anecdotes of the author's own experiences in the bond world.

As both a seasoned bond veteran and Forbes/CNBC columnist, Marilyn Cohen is able to effectively communicate her intricate knowledge of the bond market to the everyday public.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Title Gets it Right., November 22, 2002

By 

C. C. Justice (Easley, SC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Bond Bible (Hardcover)

"The Bond Bible" is a solid primer on bonds and bond trading for those who are not financial services professionals. Interest in fixed income investing has risen dramatically with the recent vicissitudes in the equity markets, but wise investors already had a portion of their portfolio assets in debt securities. Marilyn Cohen cites the rule of thumb that an investor should have a fixed income component equal in percentage to their age -- and while not an advocate of "rules of thumb" in general -- I agree. To steal a phrase from Warren Buffett -- it's often more important what you don't lose than what you make! The last two years in the equity markets have demonstrated the value of proper asset allocation, but before charging off to reallocate your investments into fixed income, read "The Bond Bible." A well managed bond element in your portfolio can reward you with income, capital appreciation, AND a return of principal. You won't see that in equities.

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cohen is the Bond Queen, June 22, 2000

By 

Michael J. Noel - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bond Bible (Hardcover)

Ms. Cohen does a wonderful job of describing the complexities surrounding bonds and the fixed income markets in general. Her down to earth approach, including her real life examples, is refreshing compared to other books on this subject. If you are a do-it-yourselfer that has yet to delve into the world of bonds due to fear of the unknown you need to buy this book.