The definitive new edition of the most trusted book on municipal bonds As of the end of 1998, municipal bonds, issued by state or local governments to finance public works programs, such as the building of schools, streets, and electrical grids, totaled almost $1.5 trillion in outstanding debt, a number that has only increased over time. The market for these bonds is comprised of many types of professionals—investment bankers, underwriters, traders, analysts, attorneys, rating agencies, brokers, and regulators—who are paid interest and principal according to a fixed schedule. Intended for investment professionals interested in how US municipal bonds work, The Fundamentals of Municipal Bonds, Sixth Edition explains the bond contract and recent changes in this market, providing investors with the information and tools they need to make bonds reliable parts of their portfolios. The market is very different from when the fifth edition was published more than ten years ago, and this revision reasserts Fundamentals of Municipal Bonds as the preeminent text in the field Explores the basics of municipal securities, including the issuers, the primary market, and the secondary market Key areas, such as investing in bonds, credit analysis, interest rates, and regulatory and disclosure requirements, are covered in detail This revised edition includes appendixes, a glossary, and a list of financial products related to applying the fundamentals of municipal bonds An official book of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) With today's financial market in recovery and still highly volatile, investors are looking for a safe and steady way to grow their money without having to invest in stocks. The bond market has always been a safe haven, although confusing new bonds and bond funds make it increasingly difficult for unfamiliar investors to decide on the most suitable fixed income investments.

"From adjusted gross income to zoning and property taxes, the second edition of The Encyclopedia of Taxation and Tax Policy offers the best and most complete guide to taxes and tax-related issues. More than 150 tax practitioners and administrators, policymakers, and academics have contributed. The result is a unique and authoritative reference that examines virtually all tax instruments used by governments (individual income, corporate income, sales and value-added, property, estate and gift, franchise, poll, and many variants of these taxes), as well as characteristics of a good tax system, budgetary issues, and many current federal, state, local, and international tax policy issues. The new edition has been completely revised, with 40 new topics and 200 articles reflecting six years of legislative changes. Each essay provides the generalist with a quick and reliable introduction to many topics but also gives tax specialists the benefit of other experts' best thinking, in a manner that makes the complex understandable. Reference lists point the reader to additional sources of information for each topic. The first edition of The Encyclopedia of Taxation and Tax Policy was selected as an Outstanding Academic Book of the Year (1999) by Choice magazine."--Publisher's website.

Cites eight true stories of personal financial disaster, and shows how to avoid mistakes and protect earnings, covering such topics as long-term care, trusts, wills, joint tenancy, Medicare, and life insurance

A proven way to put together a portfolio that enhances performance and reduces risk Professor Craig Israelsen of Brigham Young University is an important voice in the area of asset allocation. The reason? He keeps things simple. Now, in 7Twelve, he shows you how to do the same, and demonstrates how his approach to investing can help you grow your money as well as protect it. 7Twelve outlines a multi-asset balanced portfolio that is a logical starting point when assembling a portfolio-either as the blueprint for the entire portfolio or as a significant building block. Page by page, he will show you how to create a balanced portfolio utilizing multiple asset classes to enhance performance and reduce risk. Discusses how the 7Twelve portfolio includes seven core asset classes and utilizes twelve specific mutual funds or exchange traded funds Details the tax efficiency of this specific investment approach Shows you how to use the 7Twelve portfolio as a pre-retirement accumulation portfolio or a post-retirement distribution portfolio If you want to build a well-balanced, multi-asset portfolio, 7Twelve is the book for you.

Stocks and bonds? Real estate? Hedge funds? Private equity? If you think those are the things to focus on in building an investment portfolio, Andrew Ang has accumulated a body of research that will prove otherwise. In this book, Ang upends the conventional wisdom about asset allocation by showing that what matters aren't asset class labels but the bundles of overlapping risks they represent.

Maximize profits with the perfect balance between risk and reward Municipal bonds have traditionally given investors a reliable investment while providing state and local governments with an essential tool for funding public infrastructure projects. Now, the threat of municipalities defaulting and dramatic changes to the muni market’s fundamental operations have created an attractive hotbed of opportunity for today’s top institutional investors. Investing in Municipal Bonds is the retail investor’s road map to the lucrative market that is fueling the digital and physical highways of the future. Only Dr. Philip Fischer can offer such a brilliantly practical amalgam of big-picture financial theory and nuts-and-bolts bond calculations. His crystal-clear explanation of the muni market covers every aspect, including the various “personalities” and traits of different types of bonds. His hands-on strategies for earning more from your money will keep this book at your fingertips as you customize a profitable municipal bond portfolio to achieve your financial goals. Political and business leaders as well as financial professionals seek Dr. Fischer’s knowledge and firsthand insights into municipal securities, from day-to-day trading to milestone events like the 2008 financial crisis. Investing in Municipal Bonds shows you how it’s done on Wall Street, providing a wealth of pertinent examples from the real world. You can rely on this powerful guidebook for the know-how and skill set you need to confidently: Invest in fixed-rate and variable-rate bonds, including Variable Rate Demand Obligations (VRDOs) Identify different types of bonds and determine how they will be repaid Execute municipal bond-yield calculations Navigate the derivatives market, including LIBOR interest-rate swaps Weigh the benefits of taxable municipal bonds Research municipal securities using the online database of the Municipal Securities Rule Making Board (MSRB) Bond yields will eventually rebound from these historic lows and bring increased risk. Investing in Municipal Bonds will give you the knowledge you need to adjust your risk and balance profi t for continued success toward your financial goals. Praise for Investing in Municiple Bonds: “In addition to an accessible discussion of this unique market’s financial structures, Fischer provides the historical context for why the market evolved the way it did—and how that history may influence municipal bond investments in an era of slow economic growth and rising costs for retirees.” —MICHAEL STANTON, Publisher, The Bond Buyer “If there were a graduate program in Municipal Finance, Dr. Fischer’s treatise would quickly climb to the top of the syllabus.” —JAMES T. COLBY III, Senior Municipal Strategist/Portfolio Manager, Van Eck Global “Dr. Fischer brings a ‘what you need to know’ approach to the novice and the experienced practitioner alike. He poignantly relates how the very nuanced market structure influences and prices this market. Even with my over 25 years in the business, this book earns a trophy spot on my muni reference shelf.” —JOSEPH CAMPAGNA, Senior Vice President, BayernLB, Financial Institutions & Sovereigns “A well-written, thorough, and meticulous primer to the history, the instruments, and the segments that comprise the municipal bond market.” —PROFESSOR JOHN CHALMERS, Abbott Keller Distinguished Research Scholar, Associate Professor of Finance, Charles H. Lundquist College of Business, University of Oregon “If you would like to learn more about municipal bonds so that you know how to check off each item on the checklist, I highly recommend buying Investing in Municipal Bonds.” —DAVID WARING, LearnBonds