: You lend money to a specific company. This offers predictable income and the return of your full principal if held to maturity, provided the company doesn't default. However, it requires more research and usually a higher minimum investment (often $1,000 to $5,000 per bond).
Most major online brokers provide access to both individual corporate bonds and bond funds. Corporate Bonds: Here Are The Big Risks And Rewards
Buying corporate bonds can be done through a brokerage account, though the process and capital requirements vary significantly depending on whether you buy individual bonds or bond funds. 1. Choose Your Investment Method
There are two primary ways for individual investors to gain exposure to corporate bonds:
: These pool hundreds or thousands of bonds into one security. This is the easiest and most cost-effective way to diversify, especially for smaller accounts. Popular options include the Vanguard Total Corporate Bond ETF (VTC) or the iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (LQD). 2. Open and Fund a Brokerage Account