Bond Investing For Dummies [Paperback]

Russell Wild (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2007

Bonds and bond funds are among the safest and most reliable investments you can make to ensure an ample and dependable retirement income — if you do it right! Bond Investing For Dummies helps you do just that, with clear explanations of everything you need to know to build a diversified bond portfolio that will be there when you need it no matter what happens in the stock market.

This plain-English guide explains the pros and cons of investing in bonds, how they differ from stocks, and the best (and worst) ways to select and purchase bonds for your needs. You'll get up to speed on all the different types of bonds and discover how to know when it's time to sell and how to get the best prices when you do. Find out what you need to know about:

• Buying and selling bonds and bond funds
• Measuring bond risks and returns
• Taxes on bond interest and tax-free bonds
• Customizing and optimizing your bond portfolio
• Common bond-investing mistakes and how to avoid them
• "Risk-free" U.S. Treasury bonds
• Tax-free municipal bonds
• High yield corporate bonds
• The pros and cons agency bonds
• Convertible bonds, derivatives, and other exotic offerings

Packed with sound advice and dependable formulas for ensuring that your bond investments fulfill your retirement goals, Bond Investing For Dummies is the resource you need to put the gold in your golden years.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Explains how bonds can help you retire comfortably

The fun and easy way® to choose the right bonds or bond funds to meet your financial goals

Looking to add bonds to your portfolio? This plain-English guide clearly explains the pros and cons of investing in bonds, how they differ from stocks, and the best (and worst!) ways to select and purchase bonds for your needs. You'll get up to speed on the different bond varieties and see how to get the best prices when you sell.

• Buy and sell bonds and bond funds

• Measure bond returns and risk

• Understand interest and taxes on interest

• Diversify your holdings

• Avoid common investing mistakes

About the Author

Russell Wild, MBA, an expert on bonds, is a fee-only financial planner and investment advisor and the principal of Global Portfolios. He is the author or coauthor of nearly two dozen nonfiction books.

Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (October 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470134593
• ISBN-13: 978-0470134597
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 0.8 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #242,791 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Russell Wild is the principal of Global Portfolios, an investment advisory firm based in eastern Pennsylvania. He is one of few wealth managers in the nation who is both fee-only (takes no commissions) and welcomes clients of both substantial and modest means. In addition to the fun he has with his financial calculator, Wild is also an accomplished writer who helps readers understand, and make wise choices about their money. His articles have appeared in many national publications, including AARP The Magazine; Consumer Reports, Kiplinger's Personal Finance, The Saturday Evening Post, and Reader's Digest. He also contributes regularly to professional financial journals, such as Wealth Manager and Financial Planning.

The author or co-author of two dozen nonfiction books, Wild's latest works include One Year to An Organized Financial Life (co-authored with Regina Leeds, Perseus, 2010), Index Investing for Dummies (Wiley, December, 2008), Bond Investing for Dummies (2007), and Exchange-Traded Funds for Dummies (2007). Before those, he wrote The Unofficial Guide to Getting a Divorce, along with attorney Susan Ellis Wild, his ex-wife - yeah, you read that right (Wiley, 2005). No stranger to the mass media, Wild has shared his wit and wisdom on such shows as Oprah, The View, CBS Morning News, Good Day New York, and in hundreds of radio interviews.

Wild holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in international management and finance from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Glendale, Arizona (consistently ranked the #1 school for international business by both U.S. News and World Report and the Wall Street Journal); a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in business/economics magna cum laude from American University in Washington, D.C.; and a graduate certificate in personal financial planning from Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (America's sixth oldest college). A member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) since 2002, Wild is also a long-time member and a past president of the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA).

The author grew up on Long Island, and after living in various places both in the United States and abroad (including France and Morocco), settled in Allentown, Pennsylvania where he lives with his two children, Adrienne and Clayton, along with Norman, the killer poodle.

Wild's website is Russellwild.com. His email is [e-mail].

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Book I've Seen on Bond Investing, March 12, 2009

By 

harvey silver - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bond Investing For Dummies (Paperback)

I've seen many books and articles on bond investing- this one is by far the best in many ways, among them, the most comprehensive- 333 pages packed with useful information- I didnt think anyone could write 333 pages about bonds, which before reading the book I thought would require less study than stock investing, but the author did, writing 333 useful pages on the subject, and in easy to understand, conversation-like language. When I research anything I do it in breadth and depth, asking many questions, and there was no question that the author left unanswered, and then some that I had'nt thought to ask. The book also covers other related investing subjects, such as other sources of fixed income, asset allocation etc etc. There is so much information packed into the book, that not only novice bond investors would profit from it, so would experienced bond investors. I have always aggressively invested in stocks only, but given the current state of the stock market, I'm looking for the safety and predictability of bonds- this book sure helped! This may be an unusually enthusiastic review, but the author deserves it.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bond Investing For Dummies, December 17, 2009

By 

recently retired (florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bond Investing For Dummies (Paperback)

I ordered 2 books on bond investing. Luckily, Bond Investing for Dummies arrived first. It was easy to read, and provided a great overview. It is an excellent foundation for understanding different bond types and bond strategies. I'm reading the second bond investing book now. It is written by a professor and reads like a text book. If I had not read Bond Investing for Dummies first, the second book would be difficult to comprehend. I highly recommend this book.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bond Investing for dummies, August 12, 2009

By 

Shawn H. Mcnally - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bond Investing For Dummies (Paperback)

As with all "Dummies", this is a womb to tomb explanation of the Basics of Bond Investing. I recommend it for everyone especially retirees or those who are about to retire.