What and When are the time constraints for bonds?

Investing in Single Bonds as a Small Time Investor?

• Is there anyplace where a small investor can buy bonds? And I don't mean I-Bonds or any of those direct Government treasuries. But I mean Corporate Bonds that might be yielding 8% or 12%?? Can you buy just (1) Corporate Bond?

• Answer:

  Of course. Many brokerages support this. However, it used to be that it was quite difficult for an individual investor to get a good deal on buying a bond (and difficult to even find out much about availability and prices). Recently this has gotten easier with the new MarketAxess system -- Fidelity was one of the big adopters of this system. So if you're interested in buying individual bonds in particular, before you select a broker first check out the extent of their bond tools and access to individual bonds. However, it's hard to diversify your risk as a individual investor in bonds, unless you have substantial funds, so bond mutual funds is still a better choice for most people. Plus it's still just plain easier. http://www.bondsonline.com/News_Releases/news11260601.php