Finance
What Are Collateralized Mortgage Obligations?
Collateralized mortgage obligations divide mortgage cash flows into tranches. Learn how CMOs pay, why prepayment matters, and what risks to review first.
Patrick Harwood
Edits sports, consumer-finance and general legal explainers. Regulated or time-sensitive topics link to primary sources and are not professional advice.
Finance
Interest Rate Vs. Yield
Interest rate and yield are not the same. Learn how coupon payments, bond price, maturity, call features, and taxes change the return you actually see.
Finance
How to Purchase Corporate Bonds Without a Broker
You can buy corporate bonds through self-directed platforms, but you still need to check issuer filings, market prices, call terms, liquidity, and credit risk.
Finance
How to Invest in 100% U.S. Treasury Bonds
A 100% Treasury portfolio can reduce credit risk, but it still needs planning. Learn how bills, notes, bonds, TIPS, ladders, taxes, and liquidity work.
Finance
How to Purchase Premium Bonds
Premium Bonds are bought through NS&I and enter a monthly prize draw instead of paying interest. Learn how to buy, compare risks, and avoid common mistakes.
Finance
What Is the Interest Rate on a Bond Called?
A bond's interest rate is often called the coupon rate. Yield, current yield, price, call terms, maturity, and risk tell the return story before buying.
Finance
How to Calculate the Rate of Return on a Bond
Bond return depends on price, coupon, maturity, sale timing, fees, and taxes. Learn current yield, YTM, yield to call, and holding-period return basics.
Finance
How to Calculate the Annual Rate of Return on a Bond
Bond return can mean coupon rate, current yield, holding-period return, CAGR, or yield to maturity. Learn which formula fits the bond and holding plan.
Finance
What Is a Stated Interest Rate?
A stated interest rate is the named rate in a document. Actual return may differ because of price, fees, compounding, timing, taxes, and yield before relying on it.
Finance
How to Calculate Bonds With a Financial Calculator
Bond calculator work starts with cash flows. Learn how to enter N, I/Y, PMT, FV, and PV, handle semiannual coupons, and avoid common bond math errors.
Finance
Municipal Bonds Vs. Savings Bonds
Municipal bonds and savings bonds are both fixed-income tools, but they differ in issuer risk, taxes, liquidity, purchase access, price movement, and records.
Finance
The Tax Consequences of 401(k) in a Divorce Settlement
Splitting a 401(k) in divorce can trigger taxes if handled poorly. Learn QDRO basics, rollover choices, withholding, loans, valuation dates, and plan review.