Explore TIPS

I wrote the book Explore TIPS to help other retail investors understand a unique and important investment vehicle – the inflation indexed bonds called TIPS. Starting from the very basics, what TIPS are and how they work, the book guides you through

• How to invest in TIPS through mutual funds and ETFs
• How to buy individual TIPS directly from the U.S. Treasury
• How to buy TIPS on the secondary market
• TIPS strategies

See detailed Table of Contents on the right hand side.

The book is available at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble. It qualifies for free shipping over $25 if you combine it with other items.

Buy PDF

You can also buy the book in PDF format for only $4.95 directly from me.

It's just a regular PDF file, with no DRM in it. You can read the PDF on your computer, print selected pages to paper, or upload to a ebook reader. Not sure how it looks on your device? Try this free preview. Kindle users told me it displays well on Kindle.

• Praises

  "It demystifies the world of TIPS and provides what you need to know to make good investment decisions. Whether you're going to invest in individual TIPS or buy them through a fund, you should read this book before investing."
  - Larry Swedroe
  
  "It is the ideal book for anyone interested in the subject, and everyone should be interested in this subject."
  - Zvi Bodie
  
  "Consider it, if you will, a shop manual that you can use to be a successful TIPS investor."
  - Rich
  
  "Highly recommended for any do-it-yourself investor."
  - Mike Piper
  
  "By buying this book you open for yourself the door into the world of truly safe investments."
  - P. Rank
  
  "The book is well written and a good value for those who are new to TIPS."
  - Paul
  
  

• Questions, Comments?

  Click Here

• Table of Contents

  1 Bonds Refresher

  • CDs Are Bonds Too
  • Bonds Trade
  • Present Value and Yield to Maturity
  • Price, Interest Rate, and Duration
  • Bond Ladder and Bond Funds
  • Bonds and Taxes
  • More on Bonds

  2 TIPS Basics

  • What Are TIPS
  • Real vs. Nominal
  • Why Buy TIPS?
  • TIPS vs. Nominal Bonds
  • TIPS vs. I Bonds
  • Interest Rate Changes
  • TIPS and Taxes
  • Risks in Investing in TIPS
  • How to Buy TIPS

  3 TIPS Mutual Funds and ETFs

  • Fund vs. Individual Bonds
  • Understand Yield Numbers
  • Distributions
  • Open-End TIPS Mutual Funds
  • TIPS ETFs

  4 Individual TIPS - Auctions

  • Bond Lingo
  • How TIPS Are Issued
  • Why Auctions?
  • Which Account
  • Know the Schedule
  • Read the Announcement
  • Place Order
  • Read the Auction Result

  5 Individual TIPS - Secondary Market

  • What Is the Secondary Market?
  • Why Buy on the Secondary Market?
  • Understand TIPS Quotes
  • When to Buy
  • Which TIPS?
  • Where to Buy
  • Selling

  6 Holding TIPS

  • How TIPS Are Adjusted for Inflation
  • TIPS During Deflation
  • Original Issue Discount (OID)
  • Bond Premium Amortization
  • Market Discount

  7 TIPS Strategies

  • How Much In TIPS
  • TIPS Fund or Individual TIPS

  Appendix: TIPS Data and Resources

  • Government Data
  • News Media
  • My Spreadsheets