Investing Online For Dummies, 8th Edition

Chapter 16

Researching and Buying Bonds Online

In This Chapter

Figuring out whether bonds are for you

Finding out how bonds differ from other investments

Locating information about bond prices and performance

Determining the best way for you to buy bonds online

Bonds don’t make very good cocktail party chatter. Just try to brag about your 5-percent-a-year bond return at a party. The only heads you’ll turn will be the ones running away from you yawning. Bonds just aren’t as exciting or glamorous as stocks, which can often gain more value in an hour than you’ll collect from bonds all year.

But don’t let the fact that bonds are, well, often boring discourage you from owning them. Bonds, often called fixed-income securities, are essentially IOUs issued by companies, cities, governments, and government agencies. These IOUs come with a promise to repay the lender by a specific time at a specific interest rate. These stable streams of cash flow can be very valuable if you choose bonds wisely. Bonds can help smooth out the ups and downs in your portfolio and help you reach your financial ...