Here is the story of how Leo navigated the U.S. bond market. Phase 1: Choosing the Flavor
Meet Leo, a cautious but curious investor who wanted to move beyond his standard savings account. He’d heard bonds were a "safe haven" but didn't know where to start. how to buy bonds in usa
Leo first learned that buying a bond is essentially to a borrower in exchange for interest payments (coupons) and the eventual return of his principal at "maturity". He discovered three main paths: Here is the story of how Leo navigated the U
Leo realized he didn't need to visit a bank in person. He found two main digital gateways: Buying savings bonds - TreasuryDirect He’d heard bonds were a "safe haven" but
Issued by companies to expand. These offered Leo higher yields than government bonds but came with a higher risk of the company "defaulting". Phase 2: Finding the Gateway
Issued by cities or states to fund projects like schools. Leo liked these because their interest is often exempt from federal taxes .
Backed by the "full faith and credit" of the government, these are considered the safest. They include short-term T-bills (under 1 year), medium T-notes (2–10 years), and long-term T-bonds (20–30 years).