Investing in municipal is easier than you think. Similar to equities, the key is to understand what you are doing first before you purchase. So before we answer the question of “How do I invest in bonds?”, lets answer the question of “What are bonds”.
The main purpose of a savings bond is to lend money to a corporation for a fixed (specific) term and in return, get a fixed rate of return. In real terms, when you purchase a bond, you are lending your money to a corporation (this may be a company or a municipality) for a fixed term, and getting a coupon rate which is based on the original amount invested. Of course, the only tricky part involving bonds is how much of your capital should be investing in bonds. That’s something we’ll take on another day. For now, lets focus on what bonds are and how to invest in them.
The prime advantage to bonds is in their constant income stream. Unlike equities, you know exactly what you are going to get, and when. Take for example, a bond with a 10 year term that pays 3.5% tells you that in 10 years, you will be getting your principal back, and, you’ll be getting 3.5% interest on that principal each and every year for 10 years.
A low risk strategy to use when investing in bonds is to look at your investment timeframe. Are you thinking of investing in years or in terms of decades? Keep in mind, the further out the term, the higher the coupon rate. Smart bond holders spread out their bond investments to cover both a short timeframe (less than 5 years), medium timeframe (5-10 years) and long term (more than 10 years). Remember, the longer the bond, the bigger the coupon rate, but the longer your money is tied up. By spreading the investments around, you can always count on a short term bond maturing right around the time you need the cash.
The best way to answer the question about how to invest in bonds is to look at a strategy of selling your bonds before it matures. When the interest rates go up, the price of an existing bond goes down - who wants your bond that is paying 3.5% when the interest rate is 4.5%? On the flip side, when interest rates go down, the bond price goes up - leaving you with upside trading potential. Its more successful than penny stocks.