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

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

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.

Larry Swedroe, the author of The Only Guide to a Winning Investment Strategy You'll Ever Need, has collaborated with Joe H. Hempen to create an up-to-date book on how to invest in today's bond market that covers a range of issues pertinent to any bond investor today including: bond-speak, the risks of fixed income investing, mortgage-backed securities, and municipal bonds. The Only Guide to a Winning Bond Strategy You'll Ever Need is a no-nonsense handbook with all the information necessary to design and construct your fixed income portfolio. In this day and age of shaky stocks and economic unpredictability, The Only Guide to a Winning Bond Strategy You'll Ever Need is a crucial tool for any investor looking to safeguard their money.

It is an oft-repeated mantra that "munis are different" and that standard analytical tools are irrelevant to managing them. Andrew Kalotay certainly agrees that munis are different. In fact, they are more complex than just about any other bond category. Munis are rich in options, their pricing is tax-dependent, the benchmark curves are comprised of callable bond yields ... and the list goes on. Dr. Kalotay argues that the complexities of munis actually mandate the use of modern fixed income analytics. He demonstrates the necessity for option-adjusted spread (OAS) technology, and exposes the potential pitfalls of risk management by "yield-to-worst." And he offers an in-depth discussion of the de minimis tax effect, which depresses the prices of discount munis. The breakthrough concept of tax-neutral OAS analysis accurately captures this effect. Without tax-neutral OAS, discount munis look deceptively cheap, and their durations are grossly underestimated. Risk managers should sit up and take notice.

This guidance note was prepared by International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Group staff under a project undertaken with the support of grants from the Financial Sector Reform and Strengthening Initiative, (FIRST).The aim of the project was to deliver a report that provides emerging market and developing economies with guidance and a roadmap in developing their local currency bond markets (LCBMs). This note will also inform technical assistance missions in advising authorities on the formulation of policies to deepen LCBMs.

Introduction to Business covers the scope and sequence of most introductory business courses. The book provides detailed explanations in the context of core themes such as customer satisfaction, ethics, entrepreneurship, global business, and managing change. Introduction to Business includes hundreds of current business examples from a range of industries and geographic locations, which feature a variety of individuals. The outcome is a balanced approach to the theory and application of business concepts, with attention to the knowledge and skills necessary for student success in this course and beyond. This is an adaptation of Introduction to Business by OpenStax. You can access the textbook as pdf for free at openstax.org. Minor editorial changes were made to ensure a better ebook reading experience. Textbook content produced by OpenStax is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.