To buy investment-grade bonds, you can purchase individual securities or bond funds through a brokerage account or buy government issues directly from the U.S. Treasury. Bonds are considered "investment grade" if they have a relatively low risk of default, typically rated (Standard & Poor's/Fitch) or Baa3 (Moody's) and higher. 1. Choose Your Investment Method

: Best for predictable income and principal preservation if held to maturity.

: Requires higher initial capital ($1,000+ face value per bond) and manual management.

: No ongoing management fees; returns par value at maturity.