What is fixed income?
Fixed income is one best method for investment or budgeting practice for which an annual percentage return or income is received at regular intervals. Fixed income funds are commonly known as bond funds. They are simply mutual funds that hold fixed income securities such as municipal bonds, corporate bonds, and US treasuries. Fixed income investors are usually retirees who wish to get a stable income with their investments. They have become highly popular because of the reliable returns they offer.

Advantages of fixed income funds

Rationality of the principle: One major advantage of investing in the fixed income funds is to have the peace of mind of getting a stable principle amount that comes from a fixed portfolio of investment and capital conservation.

Over the period of the investment, the fixed income funds are required to repay principal amount or the original amount of investment as a whole at a fixed date. According to the US government bonds, the fixed income funds are high in value, thus leaving the entity unable to repay the whole of the amount when the investment matures. This is the least risk you may face with the repayment of the funds. Similarly, the financial institution is held back by the deposit insurance agencies which secures customer deposits makes a bank or saving institution go bankrupt. This prevents the investors from account instability over time and the chances of not meeting the target of the investment account due to market volatility.

Steady income stream: Along with the benefits of increased capital, fixed income funds provides investors with a steady inflow of income generated from the amount investments. The investors get the regular inflow of cash as a dividend and interest from stock or CDs whichever is sanctioned by the bonds. When the security is issued, the fixed interest and dividend rates are managed, and these payments get to you regularly until the issuing financial institution function. The investors may face such default risks with the corporate bonds with lower credit agency ratings but not mostly with the federal government bonds.

Increased claim to assets: The fixed-income investors are benefited by both equity and debts investments issued by the finical institution. The investors who are in bond with the bank or credit unions may enjoy the priority over the common whereas the preferred shareholders of the same institution may have to face indebtedness or liquidation. The bondholders may then have the highest chance to get their principal investment repaid during the eradication of assets.

Types of safe fixed income investments

Cash and money market: Stacking assets in cash and money market is a safe and clever option for any investor because you can insure up to a $250,000 limit. The principle of savings, checking and money market accounts do not come under the account where total payments are made, and the investors are made aware of the interest rates and their fluctuations each day. These funding do not have to bear market and liquidity risks, but they cannot make themselves free from the risk of not competing with inflation.

Certificate of deposit: A certificate of deposit (CD) is a time deposit, money product sold in the US and many other nations by banks, savings institutions, and credit unions. They are similar to savings accounts in which the money is deposited and secure, thus virtually free from risk. Investing in the certificate of deposit is a safe option for investors who seek primary protection and regular income. The certificate of deposits can be collected at intervals ranging from six months to 10 months. The interest rate received will be based on the term you choose, in spite of the fact that it is a bit higher than the product offered by other banks. No market risks affect this investment option, but inflation and indebtedness might be a problem.

Individual bonds: The fixed income investments take the form of separate bonds, including corporate, revenues and municipal offerings. The individual bond investment gives the opportunity to bestow the assets to the issuer of the bond in return for the announced interest rate paid out over time. The individual bonds have high market risks as the company offering debt securities have the possibility of going bankrupt creating failures in bond issues.

Municipal bond: A municipal bond is a debt security issued by a state government, it is safer than corporate bonds but still, bear few risks. These are issued to take care of the capital expenditures including highway construction, bridges or educational institution. Most people who pay large income taxes are attracted to municipal bonds as they are exempted from federal and local taxes.

Bond funds: The investors may find it more effective to invest in bonds than buying individual securities. The bond mutual fund is similar to stock mutual fund where all your invested money gets in the pool with other investor’s money leaving a specialist to invest that pool of money and plan for the best possibilities out if it. Some bond funds try to incorporate the schemes of the broad market investing in short and long-term bonds from various financial institutions. Other bonds are narrowed down to the bond market such as a corporate high yield fund or treasury fund.