"Valuable Corporate Bond Exposure"

The media focuses most of its attention on the stock market when it comes to investments.  The Dow or S&P 500 has often been the benchmark for the health of the economy.  They are also the most widely known indexes to the average investor.  But what about the investment grade bond index or the high yield bond index? How important are these to the average investor?  Since we evaluate asset classes when allocating clients' money, it is important that we monitor all areas of the investable market.  A huge component of that overall evaluation is the bond market.  After a major selloff during 2008, there has been a subsequent rally in 2009 that has benefited both bond and stock holders.  Bonds are often less appealing to investors because they are viewed as conservative investments with lower investment returns.  With relatively attractive current yields, less volatility, and low inflation, we have been significantly invested in corporate bonds for most of the year and expect to continue to be invested at least for the near future.