A plain-English guide to the whys and hows of the bond market

As the largest generation in history prepares for retirement, how to best fund that retirement has become many peoples’ most pressing question. A large part of the answer resides in the retiree’s traditional best friend: Bonds. But bond investing can be far more complicated than it looks. Bond Investing For Dummies gives readers – both those readying for retirement and those yet years away -- a clear and thorough introduction to bond investing, explaining the reasons for investing in bonds, the differences between stocks and bonds, and the major factors that influence bond performance and risk. It covers bond ratings; long-term, intermediate-term, and short-term bonds; domestic versus foreign bond issues; what percent of a portfolio should be allocated to bonds; understanding interest and taxes on interest; the best and worst ways to purchase and choose bonds; and how to diversify among bond holdings.