A Beginner’s Guide to Investing in Bonds
Bonds can offer a reliable way to earn portfolio income, reduce the risk of losing money and build long-term financial stability.
Bonds can offer a reliable way to earn portfolio income, reduce the risk of losing money and build long-term financial stability. They play an important role in helping investors meet specific goals—whether saving for a house, funding a child’s education or generating steady retirement income.
Bonds are loans you give to companies or governments in exchange for interest.
They typically offer steady income and lower risk than stocks and add diversity to your portfolio.
You can invest in bonds directly or through mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) using a brokerage or retirement account.
Getting started with bonds can feel overwhelming. With unfamiliar terms like “maturity” and “yield,” it’s easy to get confused. But at their core, bonds are simple and accessible. They’re widely used by individual investors to preserve capital (accumulated money), generate income and reduce volatility (market price fluctuation)—especially during major life transitions.