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James Chen, CMT is an expert trader, investment adviser, and global market strategist. He has authored books on technical analysis and foreign exchange trading published by John Wiley and Sons and served as a guest expert on CNBC, BloombergTV, Forbes, and Reuters among other financial media.
Fixed income broadly refers to those types of investment security that pay investors fixed interest or dividend payments until their maturity date. At maturity, investors are repaid the principal amount they had invested. Government and corporate bonds are the most common types of fixed-income products.
Unlike equities that may pay out no cash flows to investors, or variable-income securities, where payments can change based on some underlying measure—such as short-term interest rates—the payments of a fixed-income security are known in advance and remain fixed throughout.
In addition to purchasing fixed-income securities directly, there are several fixed-income exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds available to investors.
Investopedia / Mira Norian
Companies and governments issue debt securities to raise money to fund day-to-day operations and finance large projects. For investors, fixed-income instruments pay a set interest rate return in exchange for investors lending their money. At the maturity date, investors are repaid the original amount they had invested—known as the principal.
For example, a company might issue a 5% bond with a $1,000 face or par value that matures in five years. The investor buys the bond for $1,000 and will not be paid back until the end of the five years. Over the course of the five years, the company pays interest payments—called coupon payments—based on a rate of 5% per year. As a result, the investor is paid $50 per year for five years. At the end of the five years, the investor is repaid the $1,000 invested initially on the maturity date. Investors may also find fixed-income investments that pay coupon payments monthly, quarterly, or semiannually.
Fixed-income securities are recommended for conservative investors seeking a diversified portfolio. The percentage of the portfolio dedicated to fixed income depends on the investor's investment style. There is also an opportunity to diversify the portfolio with a mix of fixed-income products and stocks creating a portfolio that might have 50% in fixed-income products and 50% in stocks.
Treasury bonds and bills, municipal bonds, corporate bonds, and certificates of deposit (CDs) are all examples of fixed-income products. Bonds trade over-the-counter (OTC) on the bond market and secondary market.
As stated earlier, the most common example of a fixed-income security is a government or corporate bond. The most common government securities are those issued by the U.S. government and are generally referred to as Treasury securities. Fixed-income securities are offered by non-U.S. governments and corporations as well.
Here are the most common types of fixed income products:
Investors looking to add fixed-income securities to their portfolios have several options. Today, most brokers offer customers direct access to a range of bond markets from Treasuries to corporate bonds to munis. For those who do not want to select individual bonds, Fixed-income mutual funds (bond funds) give exposure to various bonds and debt instruments. These funds allow the investor to have an income stream with the professional management of the portfolio. Fixed income ETFs work much like a mutual fund, but may be more accessible and more cost-effective to individual investors. These ETFs may target specific credit ratings, durations, or other factors. ETFs also carry a professional management expense.
Fixed-income investing is generally a conservative strategy where returns are generated from low-risk securities that pay predictable interest. Since the risk is lower, the interest coupon payments are also, usually, lower as well. Building a fixed income portfolio may include investing in bonds, bond mutual funds, and certificates of deposit (CDs). One such strategy using fixed income products is called the laddering strategy.
A laddering strategy offers steady interest income through the investment in a series of short-term bonds. As bonds mature, the portfolio manager reinvests the returned principal into new short-term bonds extending the ladder. This method allows the investor to have access to ready capital and avoid losing out on rising market interest rates.
For example, a $60,000 investment could be divided into one-year, two-year, and three-year bonds. The investor divides the $60,000 principle into three equal portions, investing $20,000 into each of the three bonds. When the one-year bond matures, the $20,000 principal will be rolled into a bond maturing one year after the original three-year holding. When the second bond matures those funds roll into a bond that extends the ladder for another year. In this way, the investor has a steady return of interest income and can take advantage of any higher interest rates.

Fixed-income investments offer investors a steady stream of income over the life of the bond or debt instrument while simultaneously offering the issuer much-needed access to capital or money. Steady income lets investors plan for spending, a reason these are popular products in retirement portfolios.
The interest payments from fixed-income products can also help investors stabilize the risk-return in their investment portfolio—known as the market risk. For investors holding stocks, prices can fluctuate resulting in large gains or losses. The steady and stable interest payments from fixed-income products can partly offset losses from the decline in stock prices. As a result, these safe investments help to diversify the risk of an investment portfolio.
Also, fixed-income investments in the form of Treasury bonds (T-bonds) have the backing of the U.S. government.
Corporate bonds, while not insured are backed by the financial viability of the underlying company. Should a company declare bankruptcy or liquidation, bondholders have a higher claim on company assets than do common shareholders. Moreover, bond investments held at brokerage firms are backed by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC)  up to $500,000 coverage for cash and securities held by the firm. Fixed income CDs have Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) protection up to $250,000 per individual.

Although there are many benefits to fixed income products, as with all investments, there are several risks investors should be aware of before purchasing them.
As mentioned earlier, Treasuries and CDs have protection through the government and FDIC. Corporate debt, while less secure still ranks higher for repayment than do shareholders. When choosing an investment take care to look at the credit rating of the bond and the underlying company. Bonds with ratings below BBB are of low quality and consider junk bonds.
The credit risk linked to a corporation can have varying effects on the valuations of the fixed-income instrument leading up to its maturity. If a company is struggling, the prices of its bonds on the secondary market might decline in value. If an investor tries to sell a bond of a struggling company, the bond might sell for less than the face or par value. Also, the bond may become difficult for investors to sell in the open market at a fair price or at all because there's no demand for it.
The prices of bonds can increase and decrease over the life of the bond. If the investor holds the bond until its maturity, the price movements are immaterial since the investor will be paid the face value of the bond upon maturity. However, if the bondholder sells the bond before its maturity through a broker or financial institution, the investor will receive the current market price at the time of the sale. The selling price could result in a gain or loss on the investment depending on the underlying corporation, the coupon interest rate, and the current market interest rate.
Fixed-income investors might face interest rate risk. This risk happens in an environment where market interest rates are rising, and the rate paid by the bond falls behind. In this case, the bond would lose value in the secondary bond market. Also, the investor’s capital is tied up in the investment, and they cannot put it to work earning higher income without taking an initial loss.
For example, if an investor purchased a 2-year bond paying 2.5% per year and interest rates for 2-year bonds jumped to 5%, the investor is locked in at 2.5%. For better or worse, investors holding fixed-income products receive their fixed rate regardless of where interest rates move in the market.
Inflationary risk is also a danger to fixed-income investors. The pace at which prices rise in the economy is called inflation. If prices rise or inflation increases, it eats into the gains of fixed-income securities. For example, if fixed-rate debt security pays a 2% return and inflation rises by 1.5%, the investor loses out, earning only a 0.5% return in real terms.
Steady income stream
More stable returns than stocks
Higher claim to the assets in bankruptcies
Government and FDIC backing on some
Returns are lower than other investments
Credit and default risk exposure
Susceptible to interest rate risk
Sensitive to Inflationary risk

Some government bonds like Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) are indexed to changes in the inflation rate and protect investors accordingly.
To illustrate, let’s say PepsiCo (PEP) issues fixed-rate bonds for a new bottling plant in Argentina. The issued 5% bond is available at face value of $1,000 each and is due to mature in five years. The company plans to use proceeds from the new plant to repay the debt.
You purchase 10 bonds costing a total of $10,000 and will receive $500 in interest payments each year for five years (0.05 x $10,000 = $500). The interest amount is fixed and gives you a steady income. The company receives the $10,000 and uses the funds to build the overseas plant. Upon maturity in five years, the company pays back the principal amount of $10,000 to the investor who earned a total of $2,500 in interest over the five years ($500 x five years).
Fixed-income securities are debt instruments that pay a fixed rate of interest. These can include bonds issued by governments or corporations, CDs, money market funds, and commercial paper. Preferred stock is sometimes considered fixed-income as well since it is a hybrid security combining features of debt and equity.
Fixed-income securities are debt instruments that pay interest to investors along with the return of the principal amount when the bond matures. Equity, on the other hand, is issued in the form of company stock and represents a residual ownership stake in the firm, and not a debt. Equity does not have a maturation date, and while it may pay a dividend makes no guaranteed payments to investors. In general, equity is a higher-risk/higher-return security than a company's bonds.
Inflation will often have a negative effect on the value of fixed-income securities when it leads to higher interest rates. This is because the prices of bonds and other fixed-income securities are negatively correlated with interest rate changes.
Fixed-rate bonds pay the same interest rate over their entire maturity. These can be contrasted with floating or variable rate bonds, which periodically reset the interest rate paid based on prevailing rates in the market.
Fixed income refers to debt investments that pay a fixed rate of interest, along with the return of the principal loaned upon maturity. These include different types of bonds and certificates of deposit. Fixed income as an asset class is generally less volatile than equity (stocks), and is considered to be more conservative. A well-diversified portfolio should have some allocation to fixed income that becomes increasingly larger as one's time horizon shortens (e.g. as retirement approaches).
U.S. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of the Fiscal Service. "Treasury Bills."
U.S. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of the Fiscal Service. "Treasury Notes."
U.S. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of the Fiscal Service. "Treasury Bonds."
U.S. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of the Fiscal Service. "Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS)."
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. "Investor Bulletin: Municipal Bonds – An Overview."
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. "Deposit Insurance FAQs."
National Credit Union Administration. "Share Insurance Fund Overview."
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. "U.S. Treasury Securities."
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Investor Education and Advocacy. "What Are Corporate Bonds?," Page 1.
Fidelity. "Bond ratings."
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