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Are individual bonds better than bond funds? What’s the actual difference between the two—and why does it matter for your investment strategy?

In this episode, Evon Mendrin, CFP®, CSLP®, dives into the key distinctions between individual bonds and bond funds, and what private practice optometrists need to consider when deciding between them. Whether you're aiming for stability, income, or long-term growth in your portfolio, understanding how these investment tools work can guide better financial decisions.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What a bond actually is and how it functions
• The key differences between owning individual bonds and investing in bond funds
• The pros and cons of each approach
• Why “safety” in bonds can be misunderstood
• How market interest rates affect the value of your bonds or bond funds
• When it may make sense to use one over the other in your financial plan

Resources mentioned:

• Vanguard: Individual Bonds vs. Bond Funds
• Vanguard: Taxable Bond Investing - Bond Fund vs. Individual Bonds
• US Treasury Direct
• S&P Dow Jones: The Hidden Costs of Retail Purchases in Investment Grade Municipal Bonds
• A Wealth of Common Sense Blog: Owning Individual Bonds vs. A Bond Fund

Related Episodes:

• Podcast Ep 58: Investing Fundamentals – Understanding Stocks, Bonds, Mutual Funds, and ETFs
• Ep 134: The Case for Index Funds – Why Optometrists Should Embrace Passive Investing

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The Optometry Money Podcast is dedicated to helping optometrists make better decisions around their money, careers, and practices. The show is hosted by Evon Mendrin, CFP®, CSLP®, owner of Optometry Wealth Advisors, a financial planning firm just for optometrists nationwide.