Author Topic: how to get indepth education about muni bonds?  (Read 1010 times)

the barefoot badger

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how to get indepth education about muni bonds?
« on: March 10, 2019, 01:16:54 PM »
I am a big fan of individual municipal bonds and have been “collecting” them for some time now.  I’d like to start managing them a bit more aggressively for capital appreciation, but I need more education before I start randomly selling bonds.  Does anyone have good resources for a. learning or b. analyzing the potential total ROI of a bond sale, including tax calculations?  I’m really irritated with the endless advice to ‘consult my tax professional’ or my ‘financial advisor’, and googling ‘active muni bond portfolio management’ just yields an endless stream of companies who want their hands on the wheel of my portfolio. My “job”, the way I make an income, is in managing my own money.  I don’t want an expert, I want to BE one, at least about my very individualized finances!

MustacheAndaHalf

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Re: how to get indepth education about muni bonds?
« Reply #1 on: March 11, 2019, 07:57:49 AM »
You might look at "The Bond Bible" or "Investing in Municipal Bonds". 

Unlike stocks, bonds can have restrictions / terms like sinking funds (some bonds mature early).  Each one is more like it's own contract that requires careful reading by someone who understands the terms.  So the ultimate result for me was to prefer bond ETFs / funds.

the barefoot badger

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Re: how to get indepth education about muni bonds?
« Reply #2 on: March 11, 2019, 09:01:54 AM »
Thank you.  I've educated myself very well on the purchase of bonds, but I got in thinking I'd hold them to maturity.  Now it's occurring to me that I might wish to churn them a bit.  I'm amused with the 'ask your tax advisor' advice, I've yet to meet a tax advisor who's really willing to sit down and educate themselves about municipal bonds, let alone educate me.  Guess I'll just proceed with creating my own fill-in and profit analysis ... maybe this will even be fun .. sez the badger, waddling morosely toward the library.