In this broadcast, Mellody Hobson discusses the current market and compares investments in equities to investments in bonds.  Investing in equity stocks is risky and subject to the volatility of the markets.  Bonds are fixed income securities in that at the time of the purchase of a bond, the amount of income and the timing of the payments are known.  Risks of bonds include credit risk and interest rate risk, both of which may affect a bond’s investment value by resulting in lower bond prices or an eventual decrease in income.  Treasury bonds are issued by the government of the United States.  Payment of principal and interest is guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, and interest earned is exempt from state and local taxes.