Fixed Income

What is a corporate bond? Corporate bonds offer yield and potentially (but not always) less risk. Learn the investing basics of these bonds in this overview.

Is it up, flat, or down? Traders track the yield curve as an economic and inflation barometer. Here are 3 ways to track yield curve spreads on the thinkorswim® platform.

Stocks and bonds are both securities. Learn about these investment securities and understand the difference between equity securities and debt securities.

Bonds are typically considered a more conservative investment that can help diversify your portfolio and attempt to ride out stock market volatility.

Market volatility and market inflation can destroy investment value. Here’s how investors can account for both in their long-term portfolio strategy.

Looking for a diversified portfolio that’s also tax efficient? Learn how the one-two punch of tax-free debt securities and tax-loss harvesting can help you pursue your goals.

How might rising interest rates impact long-term investing decisions? Discuss the impact of a rate hike on long-term savings: fixed income, long-term care.

CD investing isn’t limited to walking into your local bank branch and opening an account. Learn the potential benefits and risks of brokered CDs and bank CDs.

Markets are impacted differently by rising interest rates. Make sure you know how rising rates could impact investments and how you can protect your investments.

Compound interest investments can potentially drive returns over a long time period, but there are a few things to consider, such as time, reinvestment, and the importance of risk management.

If you want more diversification in your portfolio, don’t forget about the humble mutual fund, which can help provide exposure to many parts of the market.

In today’s investing climate, having a deeper understanding of bond duration can be vital as interest rates have declined significantly.

Treasury rates can be thought of as the backbone of the global economy. You can use the yield curve, which is a measure of interest rate expectations, to get an idea of economic conditions and trends.

When bonds and dividend yields can’t keep pace with inflation, how should investors plan for retirement? One idea is to take a total return approach.

If a big expense is staring you down, here are some important things to keep in mind when deciding how to invest for that shorter-term goal.

Bonds and other fixed-income investments are typically recommended by financial experts as part of a diversified portfolio. Learn fixed-income basics.

Ultra-low interest rates and a promise by the Fed to keep rates low for a while has many retirees rethinking their bond portfolios. But is that the best course?

Financial Literacy Month is a good time to think about your financial wellness. Have you set goals, and are you on track to get there?

One common barbell strategy for fixed income investing is for investors to focus on short- and long-dated maturities, and less on the intermediate term.

Interest rates have been low for quite some time, and if Federal Reserve projections hold true, they’ll continue to be low for a while. How might you get a yield bump in such an environment? Here are a few ideas—but remember the risks.

Although negative rates aren’t officially here, they’re here in reality due to Treasury yields falling below inflation. That means investors might want to consider how to position their portfolios, no matter what the Fed ultimately decides.

The Federal Reserve has no intention of raising the Fed funds rate until 2023. That doesn't mean you should avoid investing in fixed income. There are some advantages to investing in fixed income when interest rates are low.

Asset allocation is a basic discipline for diversifying your portfolio, especially if you have a long-term investing strategy. Relative valuations are important.

Arbitrage helps keep financial markets efficient, often with the aid of complex algorithms, pricing models, and lots of capital. Here’s a look at three types—index arbitrage, volatility arbitrage, and bond arbitrage.

The 60/40 stocks/bonds portfolio target has its share of critics. But it's still useful, and there are ways to diversify while protecting and building a long-term nest egg.

Markets—and the economy in general—tend to run in cycles, and each phase tends to favor certain sectors. Learn how sector investing can help investors seek specific objectives.

As the coronavirus pandemic sent markets reeling, many investors wonder if there's such a thing as a safe investment. Technically, no investment is risk-free. But some investment practices can be safer than others.

When the economy turns south, sometimes it exposes cracks in certain companies or industries. There are a few lifelines built into the system—bailouts and bankruptcies for instance—but they're not all alike. Here what investors should know.

When bull turns to bear, should you change your asset allocation? It might depend on where you are in your investment journey. If you’re thinking about a strategy pivot, here are a few things to consider.

Mutual funds are one of the most popular investment choices some people make when seeking to build a diversified portfolio. Find out why and learn how to choose mutual funds that align with your savings goals.

How might interest rate increases and cuts impact long-term investing decisions? Learn strategies long-term investors might consider to help weather volatility.

When bonds are wrapped up in an exchange-traded fund (ETF), their values change as yields increase or decrease. Find out what goes on beneath the surface.

Series EE bonds are viewed as a stable investment with a long and storied history, although today’s savings bonds pay paltry interest rates. Here are a few facts about this perennially popular gift for the grandkids.

When seeking portfolio balance and diversification, many investors choose bonds and other fixed-income securities. But just like all investments, bonds carry risk. Learn about bonds and bond risk, and when you should consider fixed-income investing.

An emergency fund isn’t just a repository of cash to dip into when the tires wear out. Emergency dollars can actually be critical to your investment strategy.

Looking for a way to save with lower risk and higher yield? A CD account might be an investment instrument to consider.

All investments experience market volatility, which is why retirement portfolio strategies should focus on allocating assets across investments of different risk levels.

Are you making the shift from accumulation to decumulation in retirement? Learn about the difference between these stages.

Fixed index annuities help balance growth and capital preservation in your portfolio. You receive a fixed interest payment from the annuity but also limit your upside and downside potential. You could consider investing in a fixed index annuity when you're close to retirement.

In these times of stock market volatility, many investors are looking for yield in fixed income and dividend stocks. However, there’s risk in these investments, too, so know what you’re getting into.

If you’re considering fixed-income investments as a way to diversify your portfolio and target a steady stream of income, you might want to give fixed-income mutual funds a look. Here’s what you need to know.

Redesigned annuities are less expensive and easier to understand and buy, yet still customizable. They can be a vital hedge against outliving your assets.

New to income investing? Learn about three approaches: dividends from equity holdings, interest from bonds and fixed-income securities, and income from a multi-asset portfolio. Each comes with its own potential benefits and risks.

Baby boomers will soon start to enter retirement, and with life expectancy extending, there will be many volatile factors to consider for your own retirement.

Learn about convertible bonds, what appeal they might have for investors, and how they differ from corporate bonds.

Treasury bonds are boring, right? Wrong. For traders, they represent a market that can be bigger than stocks.

Lifespans are increasing, potentially making fixed-income investments essential for retirees and near-retirees who need to generate reliable income.

Learn how the TD Ameritrade I-Portfolio tool can help you monitor and analyze your fixed-income investments.

As investors, it’s important to understand the relationship between bonds and interest rates. Find out what happens to bonds when interest rates rise.

ETFs may be used to produce a stream of income, and offer potential benefits of portfolio diversification.

How might rising interest rates impact your retirement portfolio planning? Learn how rising rates can affect fixed income investments.

Years of rising interest rates appear to be raising demand for the venerable certificate of deposit (CDs). As rates tick higher, it may be time to learn about these fixed income products.

What are the different assets you can use to help build your investment portfolio? Explore the major asset classes: stock, fixed income, cash, and alternatives.

So, what’s the story with U.S. savings bonds? Here’s a brief primer explaining these historically solid investment instruments.

Socially responsible investing, which lets you align your portfolio with your values, has grown in popularity in recent years, bolstered by product innovation. Learn more here.

Learn about fixed and variable annuities and how you might use them to help turn your retirement savings into income for life.

As the economy continues its march forward after the financial crisis of the last decade, are we finally seeing higher interest rates for CDs and other savings rates?

Learn the nuances for calculating and reporting your adjusted cost basis for fixed income bonds on your tax return from TD Ameritrade.

Learn how a charitable remainder trust may help you receive income in retirement and direct the remainder to your favorite charity.

Life has a way of happening, and investors should consider life changes as a time to assess retirement portfolios and long-term goals.

Fixed income can be a vital part of a young investor’s portfolio, helping provide risk management through diversification.

Annuities are a retirement vehicle that can ride side-saddle with Social Security income and pensions. But they’re not for everyone.

Even though the rate of inflation has been low, it still impacts interest rates, bonds, and your portfolio. Find out more before the Fed’s next meeting.

Learn how you can sign up to receive an email alert whenever an IPO that TD Ameritrade is participating in becomes available.

TD Ameritrade reveals five new features in relation to their IPO and fixed-income new-issue offerings.

Learn about the “bucket approach,” a drawdown strategy that involves holding three different buckets of money, or separate asset accounts, for retirement.

Interest rates may begin to rise for the first time in a while, which may be the first time some younger borrowers and savers have seen a hike in rates.

Investors should diversify bond portfolios like they do their stock portfolios. However, bonds portfolios have a few layers of diversification to consider.

Cash alone won’t cut it as a lingering low-rate environment challenges income investing.