Bond

A bond, or fixed income investment, is a debt instrument created when investors loan capital to a corporate or government entity. These entities issue bonds to generate funds that are sufficient to finance projects or specified activities. Terms such as interest rate and investment time frame are established at the point of investment.

Not All Target Date Funds are Created Equal

Conservative is in the eye of the beholder when it comes to target date funds. Very generally, target date funds are mutual fund offerings that automatically shift asset allocations to a more conservative profile as the fund owner approaches retirement age. In other words, a "2015" fund may be purchased by someone intending to retire on or around 2015. This 2015 fund will likely move towards a higher bond and lower equity allocation as 2015 approaches. It turns out that target date funds can be...

What are the differences between variable, fixed and immediate annuities?

There are many, many different types of annuities. 

Key Phrases: 

Are the companies that provide annuity products safe in the current upheaval of the banking and financial services industry?

There has been a ton of recent discussion in the press about the financial health of life and

High expenses or fees are one criticism I have heard regarding annuities. Can you explain the fee structure around annuities?

Annuities are products that combine insurance and, in the case of variable annuities,

Companies: 

What are some rules of thumb for fixed income ppl choosing between bonds and annuities with their lump sum retirement payouts?

This is a great question but it is difficult to answer briefly. 

Key Phrases: 

Pages