Raising the federal funds rate places upward pressure on a wide range of interest rates, including the cost

of borrowing through bond issues. Regardless of the rate environment, however, bonds are a mainstay for

investors who want to generate income or dampen the effects of stock market volatility on their portfolios.

You may have questions about how higher rates could affect your fixed-income investments and what you

can do to help mitigate the effect in your portfolio.