: Self-managed accounts at firms like Fidelity , Charles Schwab, or Vanguard allow you to research and place orders yourself.
Buying municipal bonds ("munis") directly generally means purchasing individual bonds rather than investing through a mutual fund or ETF. There are two primary ways to do this: the (newly issued bonds) and the secondary market (previously issued bonds). 1. Purchase Channels how to buy municipal bonds directly
: Brokers typically charge a markup (a hidden fee added to the purchase price) or a commission to execute these trades. : Self-managed accounts at firms like Fidelity ,
: Working with a dedicated bond dealer or bank can provide access to specific inventory and professional guidance, though this often comes with higher fees. 2. Primary Market: New Issues often called a .
: There are generally no markups or transaction fees when buying in the primary market. However, minimum investments are often higher—typically starting at $5,000 per bond. 3. Secondary Market: Existing Bonds
This involves buying bonds during their initial sale period, often called a .