Published : 5 years ago, on 25/06/2019

Investing the right way at the right time is crucial to secure the future, including a financially sound retirement. The financial market features numerous options to invest your money in. Which investment tool you choose depends on your income, risk appetite, your financial goals and several other factors. Let’s dive into the pool of bonds; a potent investment vehicle and, understand its underlying facts.

What is a Bond?

A bond is a loan made by an investor to the Government or business for a specific period with the condition to receive the amount with interest. Bonds are asset class that help balance investment portfolios and reduce the risk of market fall.

How do Bonds Work?

Bonds are paid out regularly over a fixed period can, are called coupon rate. They are fixed-income securities that pay a fixed interest for a specified period and, in the end, the principal amount is paid back to the investor.

A bond’s coupon rate is determined by the creditworthiness of the issuer and maturity period.

How are Bonds Different from Stocks?

Stocks signify a specific share of ownership in a company where the stockholder receives the proportionate amount of that company’s earnings. Whereas, bonds are the debt obligation of a business or a Government entity on an investor.

Bonds are safer than stocks that earn lower interest in comparison since stock markets are usually volatile.

It’s great to invest in stocks during the formative years of the portfolio. However, as the retirement phase starts setting in, bonds are the safer option.

A glaring drawback of bonds is the possibility of the borrower going bankrupt before paying off the debt.

Before investing in bonds, its critical to understand the key things.

Important things about Bonds

Government bonds are usually considered the safest investment option

Bonds coming from state and local Government called treasury are the safest since they are backed by complete faith. Standardised rating agencies rate the bonds. The higher the rating, the lower the possibility of default by the borrower.

A bond’s interest rate is directly proportionate to the creditworthiness of the issuer

The Federal Government is less risky and hence, Treasurys offer low-interest rate. Other companies may offer higher returns due to the increased risk of default.

The period of the bonds matters in the long run

Bonds, though sold for a fixed term, can be sold in the secondary market before maturity. However, the principal amount is affected. Hence, in simple terms, bonds that are held for longer periods guarantee higher interest rates plus the face value of the bond.

The market value decreases when interest rates rise

Higher interest rates higher coupon rates of new bonds. This reduces the resale value of older bonds with lower interest rates.

If you have decided to invest in bonds, there are some prerequisites to consider before going all out.

Know where to buy Bonds

Approach a broker

An online broker is one of the most common places to buy bonds. Its where you can find investors looking to sell bonds. You also stand a chance of enjoying a discount while buying from an underlying investment bank.

Check out the exchange-traded fund

The exchange-traded company purchases bonds from several organizations including short, medium and long-term bonds. Buying through a fund is great since you don’t have to buy in large sums of money.

Directly from the Federal Government

Purchasing from the Federal Government doesn’t include any fee since there is no broker or middleman involved.

Tips for Investing in Bonds

Here are some important tips to consider before investing in bonds:

Don’t go for yields blindly

Higher yields are often offered by bonds with poor credit qualities that only focus only on gains. Be patient when interest rates are low and never forget that higher yields come with higher risks.

Be clear about your objectives

Your objectives can range from children’s education to planning for holidays to luxurious retirement. Prioritize your objectives and plan your investments accordingly.

Know your risk appetite

You should never invest in a bond just because it looks lucrative. Various bonds have different risk profiles. Know the risks involved completely before investing.

Keep a track of your investment and progress

You should constantly update yourself with the latest trends in investing and apply them in your investment portfolio. Reading articles on bond investment and watching financial news serves the purpose.

Read the prospectus and terms & conditions thoroughly

Note that all Government bond funds are not Government bonds. There are individual bonds that have a prospectus, discussing fee and other important details.

Know the previous trade price of the bond

You will clearly know the bond’s liquidity and its competitiveness. Remember, that a bond that is not liquid is usually not traded for some time.

Talk to and know your brokers

Consider multiple brokers and discuss your objectives, including your risk tolerance with them. Also, know their credentials before deciding on one.

Clearly understand all the costs involved

Know the compensation involved, the commissions, any mark-ups and mark-downs and other costs associated with a bond before finalising one.

Consider reinvesting your coupons

Choose a coupon account to save money received from coupons and enjoy the benefits of compounding. However, in case of a bond fund, the fund takes care of this.

Don’t time the market

Don’t assume interest rates without firm evidence. Refer the past data but, never make assumptions based on the same. Follow a specific investment strategy to achieve your financial goals.

Check if the borrower can pay the bonds

Study a company’s history, past financials and other records thoroughly before investing. You can make a detailed estimate of whether the company can successfully meet its debt obligations.

What is the right time to buy bonds?

A bond’s interest rate is set and is made available to investors in the debt market. The fluctuating interest rates decide how the bond performs in the market. And, bond prices move countercyclically with interest rates. You need to take these factors into account and time your investment professionally.

Which bonds are right to invest in?

You should take several factors like your risk tolerance, income, tax situations and others into account before buying a bond. Major bonds include Federal Government bonds, municipal bonds, corporate bonds and high-yield bonds.

Let’s discuss these types of bonds in detail.

Types of Bonds

Federal Government Bonds

These are the safest bonds issued by the Federal Government. Their interest rate is very low, and they don’t pay cash interest. However, you can purchase them for a discount on the face value and sell for the actual face value.

Municipal Bonds

These bonds, issued by the state and local Government, are the lowest-yielding bonds. However, these bonds are non-taxable and, the after-tax yield varies from state to state.

Corporate Bonds

Rating agencies rate companies and, those with good to excellent credit rating issue these bonds. Hence, they are considered a safe investment and, pay low-interest rates compared to poorly rated bonds.

High-Yield Bonds

They are also known as junk bonds and, they pay higher interests due to the high risk they carry.

Variety of Bonds

Zero-coupon Bonds

They don’t pay coupon payments and, they offer discount on face value and can be sold at the full-face value.

Convertible Bonds

The bondholders can convert the debt into stock based on some conditions. In case of conversion, the company need not pay any interest of the principal amount of the bond.

Callable Bond

This bond can be called off by the issuing company before maturity. This usually happens when the company’s credit rating improves or in case the interest rates decline. For this reason, callable bond is riskier for a bond buyer.

Puttable Bond

This is the reverse of callable bond. Here the bondholder can sell or put back bonds in the company before maturity. This happens when the interest rates rise and hold more value to the bondholders.

Bonds in Relation to the Economy

We already know that bonds offer a fixed payment in the form of interest for the specified period. Bonds are particularly an attractive investment vehicle when the economy and the stock markets are low.

Stock markets, when doing well and paying higher interests, cause a drop in the value of bonds. In this scenario, it becomes a challenge for borrowers to attract purchasers by offering higher interest payments. This means bonds are inversely proportional to the performance of the economy.

It’s worth mentioning that a wise investor should never time the market. This means all bonds should not be sold even during peak market times. In fact, it’s the perfect time to invest more in bonds to counter a possible market fall.

You should always diversify your portfolio with bonds, stocks and other assets like gold and real estate to enjoy the highest returns with the least risk. Investors will accept low yields during the low phase of the economy to safeguard their money. They can issue bonds with low-interest rates and, still, sell all the bonds.

In fact, by diversifying your portfolio, your loss from one entity is negligible and virtually risk-free.

Bonds influence the position of the economy with their fluctuating interest rates. Lower interest rates on bonds lower the cost of living. It enables low mortgage rates where you can buy your dream property for a low price.