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Palm Beach has been using a non-competitive process to issue bonds over the last 16 years, a practice condoned by most finance experts and one that has cost taxpayers an estimates $800,000 per year.

Recent data shows that investors are piling into the tax-free yields and relative safety of municipal bonds.

An article in today's WSJ discusses the risks of corporate bonds, which are a popular investment vehicle today. The biggest risk seems to be the potential for inflation and future higher rates.

Munis are becoming much more attractive than the best online CDs and savings accounts.

One of questions often asked about municipal bonds is whether they should be purchased individually or via a fund. I think it depends on your goal in purchasing municipal bonds.

The stimulus plan making its way through Congress contains some provisions that may aid the municipal bond market.

California's financial paralysis and its deteriorating fiscal condition is not something that is widely reported. Still, investors hold tens of biillions of its bonds and the state has the fifth largest economy in the world. We should all be paying attention.

As markets continue to gyrate, corporate and muni bonds may offer steady and in some cases extraordinary returns. Depending on the risk you are willing to take some corporate bonds yield 18%+. Munis can offer 6.5% tax free.

After a short three weeks and in an increasingly dire economy, municipal bonds have already proven to be the trade of 2009.

The individual investor, for as long as one can look back, dominated the municipal bond market. Munis were tax free and, most important, safe. With everything unraveling in front of our eyes – from mortgages to credit to banks – it is no surprise that a new shoe is now dropping – the municipal market. And, it is not a pretty picture

As we close 2008, one of the biggest stories of the year, the auction rate security meltdown, comes full circle. Pimco, a company roundly criticized for not redeeming investor money locked in illiquid auction rate preferred shares, has now delayed the divided payments from two bonds funds because of auction rate security cash. Talk about irony.

Democrats are discussing several proposals for removing the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) which can impact holders of private activity municipal bonds. The impact would make the bonds more tax advantages but also lead to lower interest rates.

More transparency is coming to the municipal bonds market which is good for all investors. The SEC just approved the electronic disclosure of municipal bonds issues on a website available free of charge.

Now this is interesting. Goldman will be selling bonds to raise money that are 100% backed by the US government. I wonder what they will price at?