Expenses and fees: All mutual funds have operating expenses. Some funds may charge a redemption fee for shares sold within a certain time period.

Some investment bond funds have sales charges, or loads, that are deducted from the amount of your initial investment. Others charge a small annual account fee.

Do your own 'due diligence' by typing the name of the investment bonds broker into a search engine, along with the words "problem" or "scam" or "bad experience". This should show any negative postings about them. If there are a lot, or the allegations look substantial, steer clear.

Needless to say, don't buy anything recommended by someone you don't know. 'Hot tips', from almost everybody, including the seemingly wise, are worthless.

TIP: Watch out for the 'Deal Of A Lifetime'. When shopping for your investment bonds, watch out for the deal that seems too good to be true. If you see that a few broker are quoting much lower than average, ask: Why so? If you you can never speak to an individual, or you have to wait 'on hold' for a long time, this speaks badly for the level of service you are likely to get.

Another trick I'd use is to type 'investment bonds forum' into a search engine, and see what comes up. If you find a lively forum, you can ask questions about the broker you're keen on, or ask for other users' recommendations.

WARNING: Some touts for brokers lurk in these forums; you may not get unbiased advice. Also, some posters are overly negative; they hate everyone! Or they are fools, or ignorant. Search thoroughly: you'll know the truth when you find it.

Choose the right broker. The worst financial mistake you can make is choosing a broker you cannot trust. There are hundreds of investment bonds brokers and even more on the Internet. It's necessary to find one you can count on. You want a good deal but it's important you're choosing a broker with a good reputation.

A bond is an IOU, with interest. You are lending money to the issuer in exchange for a fixed rate of interest over a set period, with your original investment to be returned on a specified date. Bonds are often called 'fixed-interest securities'.

Anyone can set up an investment bonds info web site. But few can offer a reliable, trustworthy service. If they haven't got an office, or you can't get them on the 'phone, or they won't return your calls, or they take your money and you never hear from them again, can you say you got a good deal, even if it was cheap?

You hear people griping about the cost of investment bonds. The socialist-student-worker-miser believes capitalism is inherently evil. Someone is out to screw him. The truth is 'yes', someone is out to screw you, and will, but only if you let them. They're not obliged to get you the best deal on your bonds, and you're not obliged to take the first deal they offer.