The Complete Guide to Investing in Bonds and Bond Funds: How to Earn High Rates of Returns - Safely [Paperback]

Martha Maeda (Author), James Lyman (Preface), Meri Anne Beck-Woods (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2009

Bonds have long been a stalwart of investment. More than $100 billion was invested in municipal bonds alone in 2006. Now, with the economy a little less certain than it has been in recent decades, the demand for a secure place to invest money has lead to resurgence in interest in the use of bonds for many investors. Because there are many peculiarities in bond investment, you must have a basic understanding of the market, the bond issuer, how to measure rates of return and how to maximize those rates. This book provides anyone who has never invested in bonds before the ideal handbook to start investing in and earning massive returns from bonds. You will learn everything the savvy investor needs to effectively turn a high risk portfolio into a constantly growing, steadily developing source of wealth. You will learn how bonds operate on a very basic level, including the numerous different kinds of bonds and how bond funds can be a highly lucrative option. You will learn the fundamental differences between government, municipal, and corporate bonds and how much of a return you can expect from each. You will learn the basic methods of valuation and yield that bonds are measured by and how you can evaluate bonds with three basic steps. You will be guided through determining the face value, coupon rate, and sale price of a bond, as well as the ratings, insurance, maturity, callability, and taxes that might be associated with it. The importance of interest rates, inflation, and supply and demand in affecting the yield of your bonds will be detailed as well to ensure you make a careful investment. In addition to a comprehensive guide on the many options and methods of investing in bonds, dozens of interviews with financial gurus from around the nation have been conducted to provide critical, real world advice on how to successfully invest your money into bonds. You will be shown the risk free methods by which to invest in bonds, making low interest returns on U.S. government bonds, as well as the higher risk methods that will allow you to make great returns by investing in industrial and corporate bonds. You will learn how to look overseas for even more lucrative options and how to measure the risk of your bonds based on the debt in which you are investing and the callability of any one bond issuer. You will be shown how to effectively balance your portfolio to include bonds without ignoring the necessity and place for other investments. For any investor who has been agonizing over how to safely invest money for a high return, this book is for you, guiding you through the complex, but rewarding, world of bond investments.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Silver Medal Winner - Florida Publishes Association 2010 President's Book Awards in Business Book Category --Book Awards

About the Author

Co-founder of Odyssey Advisors LLC Veteran Fixed-Income Professional

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Atlantic Publishing Company (FL) (January 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1601382936
• ISBN-13: 978-1601382931
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #663,201 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All-Inclusive Guide for New Investors, February 3, 2010

By 

Patricia Maulding (Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Complete Guide to Investing in Bonds and Bond Funds: How to Earn High Rates of Returns - Safely (Paperback)

The idea of investing in bonds can be intimidating, but The Complete Guide to Investing in Bonds and Bond Funds: How to Earn High Rates of Return - Safely, works to assure the reader by providing a simple and easy read. The author, Martha Maeda, breaks down even the most difficult terminology into a free flowing and enjoyable read.

The first section of the book is all about every type of bond, the history of bonds and how to buy and sell bonds. It is full of helpful charts, tips, case studies and advice, which makes the daunting task of investing seem much less threatening for someone with little knowledge of investments. The history chapter at the beginning of the book is the key to understanding what bonds are all about and how they have affected our country's economic status then and now. Section two begins with a questionnaire to help create and determine what strategy is right for you. It also assists in assessing the risks involved with what types of bonds you are going to purchase and what you can expect to get in return. The last part of the book covers useful resources to help you on your financial journey, including how to do research and how to create and maintain a portfolio. Additionally, the author has listed many websites as well as a glossary for all common financial terms. This book is the complete guide, as it covers everything one would need to know about the world of investments.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Complete Guide to Investing in Bonds and Bond Funds: How to Earn High Rates of Return Safely by Martha Maeda, January 1, 2010

By 

Theo - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Guide to Investing in Bonds and Bond Funds: How to Earn High Rates of Returns - Safely (Paperback)

Martha Maeda is an economic historian with special interests in micro-economics and in the effects of globalization on the lives of people and businesses all over the world. . In this 338 page book, she successfully captured the concerns of a novice investor who may be interested in investing in bonds and has no idea where or how to start. The book is written in 2 sections which make it a useful resource tool for the novice and the expert alike. The novice investor may want to start from section 1 which covers the types of bonds that are available, how to calculate yield and how to plan your investment strategy. history of bonds and bonds investing. Section 2 deals with creating your investment strategy.
After reading this book, a new investor will have adequate information on what bonds mean, this information is written in clear and simple language. It is certainly not the type of investment book that puts you to sleep. It is the book you will enjoy reading and making lots of small notes in the margins. You will find yourself nodding in agreement and in understanding.
I particularly enjoyed the "TIP" section of the book which serves as nuggets of information and draws your attention to very important points you may have missed while reading. For instance, the TIP on zero coupon bonds being reported annually to the IRS, even if it is not being received annually. This will save you a lot of trouble with the IRS. I also liked the information on being careful and responsible for your own investments. She provided a TIP to illustrate this point with Enron's bonds that were rated as investment grade by both Standard and Poor's and Moody's until four days before it declared bankruptcy.
I recommend this book because the wealth of information it provides is timely for the economic situation we are currently in. Reading this book will empower would-be investors with the right kind of knowledge they may require before investing. Investors who also choose to employ a bank or financial adviser, will know the right kind of questions to ask.

I rate this book as a 4 star.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Safe investing made simple, December 29, 2009

By 

Caryn E. Shaffer "Caryn" (Carlisle, PA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Complete Guide to Investing in Bonds and Bond Funds: How to Earn High Rates of Returns - Safely (Paperback)

Savings bonds are generally a dependable, safe way to invest your money, especially in today's tough economic climate. Martha Maeda's book, "The Complete Guide to Investing in Bonds and Bond Funds" is just as its title suggests: complete.

Maeda gives a thorough explanation of how to invest your money in a savings bond depending on your current needs. Savings bonds can be versatile, from high-risk "junk bonds" to low-risk bonds from the U.S. Government, Maeda explains how a savings bond can be a useful addition to a stock portfolio or a way for the everyday person to put some money toward their future.

Knowing nothing about bonds or bond investing before reading this book, I was introduced, at first, to a whole lexicon of jargon that I didn't understand. With Maeda's help, I was able to sort through that, learning about "fallen angels" and "sinking funds" and what they mean for investors.

Whether you are an adept stock broker or a first-time investor, Maeda's advice will teach you what type of investor you are and what types of bonds are right for you. The book was user-friendly with a concise table of contents and a glossary at the end for readers to reference any time they come across terminology they do not understand. Maeda's book is to-the-point, giving investors confidence in savings bonds.