U.S. Bond Investing Basics from Coursera

In this fixed income course, you will learn to distinguish between different types of U.S. dollar-denominated corporate and municipal debt issuance, identify corporate and municipal bonds available to purchase and sell on an online trading platform, grasp the market mechanics underlying each type of fixed income instrument, as well as conduct basic analyses, and flag critical investment risks.

At the end of the course, you should be able to describe different types of corporate and municipal bond products available to buy and sell, some of the related risks you, as an investor, are likely to face, certain ways of mitigating them, as well as how to use an online trading platform to identify available securities to invest in, conduct due diligence, and much more

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction to Municipal Bonds

In this module, you will learn to: differentiate different types of municipal debt-Identify different features of municipal bonds available to purchase and sell on an online trading platform; track the trading performance of municipal bonds in the secondary market; grasp the market mechanics underlying municipal bond issuance; conduct fundamental, governance, and default risk analyses and calculate debt service coverage ratios.

Municipal Bond Analysis & Tax Considerations

Determine how taxes are applied to different types of fixed income issuance, including in-state and out- of-state municipal bond purchases, Build America Bonds (BABs), corporate bonds and U.S. Treasuries, as well as examine recent tax law changes, and how taxes apply to capital gains and losses. Learn how to compare the yields of tax-exempt and taxable debt issuance, as well as explore how taxes are applied to different types of municipal bonds. Learn how to access detailed municipal bond reports through an online trading platform, as well as consult resources such as the MSRB's EMMA, which houses critical municipal bond documentation and data, including Official Statements and Continuing Disclosures.

Introduction to U.S. Corporate Bonds

Learn what it means for a company to fail to honor its debt obligations and what this portends for its creditors, define the recourse corporate bondholders have in the wake of a company's default or bankruptcy filing, as well as describe certain default risk mitigation methods.Explore how Investors of corporate bonds may commit a tremendous amount of time to fundamental analysis to inform their investment decisions – conducting analyses on credit, market, liquidity, operational, and political risks, among countless others – when considering the potential for default. Examine how interest rate changes and central bank monetary policies can affect corporate bond prices, as well as influence levels of supply and demand in the market. Identify the steps involved in the creation of a corporate bond issuance, as well as examine some of the regulatory rules that govern this process. Examine the differences between yields and prices of corporate bonds trading in the secondary market, as well as explore the nature of basis point spreads.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Designed for those with a keen interest in investing in bonds, particularly corporate and municipal bonds

Introduces students to a wide range of bond products, providing a comprehensive overview of the fixed income market

Taught by industry experts, ensuring that you learn from those with real-world experience

Utilizes an online trading platform, providing hands-on experience in bond trading

Provides practical guidance on conducting due diligence and mitigating investment risks

Requires students to be comfortable with basic financial concepts and have a high school-level understanding of mathematics

Reviews summary

Bond basics for beginners

Learners say that this course is a great overview about bonds. It is well received and praised for its engaging content. Students say it features interactive online resources and experienced instructors.

Course features experienced instructors.

"thanks interactive brokers and coursera"

Provides good overview of bonds.

"good overview about bonds"

Interactive online resources.

"Really fantastic course!"

"Great course and great learning experience!"

Weeks 2 and 3 content has been flipped.

"noticed that Weeks 2 and 3 were flipped"

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in U.S. Bond Investing Basics with these activities:

Review Corporate Bond Credit Analysis Techniques

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Review fundamental corporate bond credit analysis techniques

Browse courses on Credit Analysis

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Revisit the 5 C's of credit.
Examine historical and projected financial statements.
Read industry reports and news articles.

Follow a Tutorial on Corporate Bond Valuation

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Enhance your understanding of corporate bond valuation through guided tutorials

Browse courses on Bond Valuation

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Find a reputable online tutorial or course on corporate bond valuation.
Follow the tutorial step-by-step, taking notes and practicing the techniques.

Practice Pricing Municipal Bonds

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Sharpen your ability to price municipal bonds through practice exercises

Browse courses on Bond Pricing

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Use an online bond pricing calculator.
Work through practice problems from a textbook or online resource.

One other activity

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Join a Study Group for Fixed Income Analysis

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Find a study group or start your own with classmates or colleagues.
Meet regularly to discuss course material, share insights, and practice problem-solving.

Career center

Learners who complete U.S. Bond Investing Basics will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Investment Banker

Investment Bankers help organizations raise money by issuing bonds. This course can help you understand the different types of bonds available, the risks associated with them, and how to analyze them. This knowledge can be helpful in advising clients on which bonds to invest in.

See salaries and explore the career path for Investment Banker

Portfolio Manager

Portfolio Managers are responsible for managing the investments of their clients. This course can help you understand the different types of bonds available, the risks associated with them, and how to analyze them. This knowledge can be helpful in making investment decisions for your clients.

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Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts provide research and analysis on companies and their securities. This course can help you understand the different types of bonds available, the risks associated with them, and how to analyze them. This knowledge can be helpful in providing recommendations to clients on which bonds to invest in.

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Credit Analyst

Credit Analysts assess the creditworthiness of companies and their debt. This course can help you understand the different types of bonds available, the risks associated with them, and how to analyze them. This knowledge can be helpful in making recommendations to clients on which bonds to invest in.

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Bond Trader

Bond Traders buy and sell bonds for their clients. This course can help you understand the different types of bonds available, the risks associated with them, and how to analyze them. This knowledge can be helpful in making decisions about which bonds to trade.

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Municipal Bond Analyst

Municipal Bond Analysts provide research and analysis on municipal bonds. This course can help you understand the different types of municipal bonds available, the risks associated with them, and how to analyze them. This knowledge can be helpful in providing recommendations to clients on which municipal bonds to invest in.

See salaries and explore the career path for Municipal Bond Analyst

Financial Advisor

Financial Advisors help individuals and families manage their finances. This course can help you understand the different types of bonds available, the risks associated with them, and how to analyze them. This knowledge can be helpful in providing advice to clients on which bonds to invest in.

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Insurance Agent

Insurance Agents help individuals and businesses purchase insurance. This course can help you understand the different types of bonds available, the risks associated with them, and how to analyze them. This knowledge can be helpful in providing advice to clients on which bonds to invest in as part of their overall financial plan.

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Real Estate Agent

Real Estate Agents help individuals and businesses buy and sell real estate. This course can help you understand the different types of bonds available, the risks associated with them, and how to analyze them. This knowledge can be helpful in providing advice to clients on how to finance their real estate purchases.

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Loan Officer

Loan Officers help individuals and businesses obtain loans. This course can help you understand the different types of bonds available, the risks associated with them, and how to analyze them. This knowledge can be helpful in providing advice to clients on which bonds to invest in as part of their overall financial plan.

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Tax Accountant

Tax Accountants help individuals and businesses with their taxes. This course can help you understand the different types of bonds available, the risks associated with them, and how to analyze them. This knowledge can be helpful in providing advice to clients on how to minimize their tax liability.

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Auditor

Auditors examine and evaluate the financial records of organizations. This course can help you understand the different types of bonds available, the risks associated with them, and how to analyze them. This knowledge can be helpful in assessing the financial health of organizations.

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Economist

Economists study the economy and economic trends. This course can help you understand the different types of bonds available, the risks associated with them, and how to analyze them. This knowledge can be helpful in understanding the impact of economic conditions on bond markets.

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Market Researcher

Market Researchers study the market for goods and services. This course can help you understand the different types of bonds available, the risks associated with them, and how to analyze them. This knowledge can be helpful in understanding the demand for bonds and how it affects bond prices.

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Business Consultant

Business Consultants help businesses improve their performance. This course can help you understand the different types of bonds available, the risks associated with them, and how to analyze them. This knowledge can be helpful in providing advice to businesses on how to finance their operations.

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