Description
Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND)*
Provides a broadly diversified exposure to investment-grade U.S. bond market including government, corporate and international dollar-denominated bonds, as well as mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities – all with maturities longer than one year. The average maturity is 5-10 years.
SPDR Barclays Capital High-Yield Bond ETF (JNK)*
Exposure to publicly issued, U.S. dollar-denominated high-yield corporate bonds with above-average liquidity.
iShares S&P U.S. Preferred Stock Index Fund (PFF)
Selected group of preferred stocks listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, and the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. Included are preferred stocks with a market capitalization over $100 million that meet minimum price, trading volume, and other requirements determined by the index provider. Preferred stock pays dividends before any can be paid to common stock holders and takes precedence over common stock in the event of the company's liquidation.
Fixed Income - International
SPDR Barclays Capital International Treasury Bond ETF (BWX)*
Tracks fixed-rate local currency sovereign debt of investment-grade countries outside the U.S.
PowerShares Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt (PCY)*
Tracks liquid emerging markets U.S. dollar-denominated government bonds issued by approximately 22 emerging-market countries.
PowerShares International Corporate Bond Portfolio (PICB)
Measurers the performance of investment-grade corporate bonds issued by non-U.S. issuers in 10 foreign currencies.
Fixed Income - Municipal
iShares S&P National AMT-Free Muni Bond Fund (MUB)*
Includes municipal bonds from issuers that are primarily state or local governments or agencies such that the interest on the bond is exempt from U.S. federal income taxes and the federal alternative minimum tax (AMT).
ORTYX – Tax-Free Trust of Oregon
Seeks to provide as high a level of current income exempt from Oregon personal and regular federal income taxes as is consistent with preservation of capital by investing in municipal obligations that pay interest exempt from Oregon state and federal income taxes.
Fixed Income – Misc.
CWB – SPDR Barclays Capital Convertible Securities ETF
Tracks U.S. convertible bonds with outstanding issue sizes greater than $500 million. Convertible bonds might be exchanged for a specific number of issuer’s preferred stock.
Structured CDs
FDIC-Insured CD that derives its value based on the investment performance of some underlying asset like a stock index. Many have a call feature allowing them to be called, paid off early, by the issuer. The attraction is the ability to manage portfolio risk while maintaining appropriate exposure to the market. In exchange for FDIC-insured principal protection and market participation, the investor typically forfeits regular interest payment and instead receives their principal plus a payment based on the gains in the underlying index or basket at maturity.
Bond/CD Ladders
A technique for obtaining the highest interest rates while also keeping cash accessible and staggering CD maturities. This strategy is similar to dollar-cost averaging when you buy stocks.
* = TD Ameritrade Commission-Free ETF |
