Dividend investors should definitely look at a company’s credit rating before they invest in the company’s stock. In many cases, the credit rating provides valuable insight into the company’s ability to continue paying a generous dividend in the … [Read more...]
The Amazing Safety Feature of Saving Bonds: Early Redemption
US Savings Bonds are different than other bonds, including Treasury Bonds. They can be redeemed at their full cash value prior to maturity, with only a minimal early redemption penalty. This feature means that holders of savings bonds have … [Read more...]
Dividend Investing For Bond Investors – What You Need to Know
For decades, treasury bonds provided much higher yields than stocks. The yield on the S&P 500 has historically averaged 2.11% (1990 thru Oct 2012). During that same time period, the average yield on the 10 year Treasury has been 5.06% The … [Read more...]
Planwise – Financial Planning & Budgeting Tool
When Does Past Performance Not Equal Future Returns?
Why does every mutual fund and ETF advertisement in big letters advertise their RETURNS and then directly under it put something like the following? Past Performance Cannot Guarantee Future Performance. The short answer is that they are … [Read more...]
Over 1,100 ETFs, Yet Only One That Focuses On Canadian Bonds
How many ETFs and mutual funds are there? According to ICI fact book at the end of 2011, the number of mutual funds stood at 8,644 mutual funds and the number of ETFs was 1,166. With this incredible number of choices, one would expect that there … [Read more...]
With Global Yields Stuck, Look To Profit From Currency Appreciation
Going From An Idea To Making An Investment The idea phase: We all have moments of inspiration where something strikes us as odd or unusual. Recently, I was looking at the yield on 10 year government bonds from around the world and noticed how … [Read more...]
Investing in Peer to Peer Loans – Free 10 Lesson Guide
If you have questions on investing in peer to peer loans, feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of the lesson itself, or in our ask a question forum. Lesson 1: An Introduction to Investing in Peer to Peer Loans - Wondering what exactly a peer … [Read more...]
Why are there so few special CD offers, and why you should jump on the few remaining ones!
Learn Bond’s has noticed a sharp decline in the number of banks advertising their CD and savings account rates. We have also noticed a sharp decline in the number of people interested in purchasing CDs. Why? The FED has driven borrowing rates for … [Read more...]
Learn Bonds Person Of The Year for 2012: Cate Long
Cate Long writes the MuniLand blog for Reuters. As the blog’s name implies, she covers a wide range of topics which touch municipal bonds and municipal finances. This year, she managed to challenge both the former Governor of Puerto Rico and a … [Read more...]
3 Ways 2012 Changed the Investing World Forever
2012 has been a very interesting year for the bond market, with many lessons for investors. Here are the top 3 ways we think the year changed the investing world forever: 1) Guaranteed Positive Returns Disappeared: Retirees and Near Retirees Are … [Read more...]
Iconic Brands With Juicy Yields
What do Ford and Dish Network have in common? They are iconic brands and major players in their respective industries. They all have debt coming due in the next 7 to 9 years which is rated non-investment grade by either Moody’s or … [Read more...]
Municipal Bond Rates – AAA Municipal Bond Yield Curve
Market Data : Treasury Yields, Municipal Bonds, Bond Fund Prices, CD Rates, Savings Accounts Municipal Bonds: Yield Curve, Retail Offering Periods, GO Bonds Yields, State Credit Ratings AAA Municipal Bond Yield Curve (Updated Weekly) What … [Read more...]
Do SandRidge Energy bonds yield 6% or 8%?
One my favorite bond analysts, Rom Badilla of Bondsquawk.com, recently recommended the high yield bonds of Sandridge Energy, a large producer of oil and natural gas. However, a person not very familiar with technical terms of the bond market might … [Read more...]
How to Get a Better Return on Your Peer to Peer Loans
This video assumes that you have an account at Lending Club. If you do not please, click on the link below and open up your account. This is video 6 of a 6 video p2p Lending Series. Click here for the other free videos. Open a Peer 2 Peer Lending … [Read more...]
The Scrooge Takes a Look at Investing in Micro-Loans
You’ll get your money back but will you be doing any good? A micro-loan is a small loan, typically less than $1,000. These loans are generally made to very poor people all over the world, for the purpose of helping them start a business. For … [Read more...]
What the Fed’s New Policy Means For Bond Investors
Last week the Federal Reserve, made a very unusual announcement. It declared that it would could keep interest rates low as long as unemployment was above 6.5% and inflation was below 2.5%. As of the end of November 2012, the unemployment rates … [Read more...]
Why are Bill Gross’s Number 1 Picks not Part of His Total Return Fund?
What are Bill Gross’s Best Investment Ideas? Picks Commodities like Oil and Gold U.S. Inflation-Protected Bonds High-Quality Municipal Bonds Non-Dollar Emerging-Market Stocks Pans Long-Dated Developed-Country Bonds in the U.S., … [Read more...]
Help Your Children Buy a House Without Getting Into Trouble With the Taxman
What the difference between a mortgage and personal loan? A mortgage is a loan for the purpose of purchasing real-estate, collateralized by the real-estate being purchased. A personal loan can be to buy a house or provide a down payment, however, it … [Read more...]