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What is Debt Investment?

by

JG Wentworth

March 26, 2025

7 min

Young smiling couple going over bills while sitting on the floor at home

Debt investment, despite sounding like complex financial jargon, is something many of us engage with routinely—sometimes without even realizing it. At its core, debt investment involves lending money with the expectation of receiving interest payments and eventually the return of principal. From savings accounts to corporate bonds, debt investments form a critical component of personal financial planning.

Let’s take a closer look at how debt investment works, its various forms, and practical applications for regular consumers like yourself who are looking to build wealth systematically…*

Debt investment (in a nutshell)

Debt investment occurs when an individual, institution, or government lends money to a borrower in exchange for regular interest payments and the eventual return of the principal amount. The defining features of debt investments include:

  • Fixed returns: Predetermined interest payments at regular intervals.
  • Lower risk profile: Generally less volatile than equity investments.
  • Income generation: Focus on steady income rather than capital appreciation.
  • Principal preservation: Return of original investment upon maturity.
  • Creditor relationship: Lenders have priority claims over company assets compared to equity shareholders.

In simpler terms, when you make a debt investment, you’re acting as a lender, not an owner. This fundamental distinction separates debt from equity investments, where investors purchase ownership stakes in companies.

Common types of debt investments for consumers

There are a variety of investments to choose from based on your specific financial goals:

Bank products

Savings accounts

  • Essentially loans to banks that pay minimal interest.
  • FDIC insured up to $250,000.
  • Highly liquid with virtually no risk.
  • Current average yields: 0.35% for traditional banks, 4.0-5.5% for high-yield online banks.

Certificates of deposit (CDs)

  • Time-restricted deposits offering higher interest than savings accounts.
  • Terms ranging from three months to five years.
  • Early withdrawal penalties.
  • FDIC insured up to $250,000.
  • Current yields: 4.0-5.5% depending on term length.

Money market accounts

  • Hybrid between checking and savings accounts.
  • Limited check-writing capabilities.
  • FDIC insured with slightly higher yields than regular savings.
  • Current yields: 3.5-5.0% at most institutions.

Bonds

Treasury securities

  • Debt issued by the U.S. government.
  • Considered among the safest investments globally.
  • Options include Treasury bills (under 1 year), Treasury notes (1-10 years), and Treasury bonds (10-30 years).
  • Current yields: 4.5-5.0% for shorter terms, 4.0-4.5% for longer terms.

Exempt from state and local taxes.

  • Municipal bonds
  • Debt issued by state and local governments.
  • Income typically exempt from federal taxes and sometimes state/local taxes.
  • Higher default risk than Treasuries but still relatively safe.
  • Current yields: 3.0-4.5% depending on issuer quality and term.

Corporate bonds

  • Debt issued by companies to fund operations.
  • Higher yields reflecting increased risk compared to government securities.
  • Investment-grade vs. high-yield (junk) bonds based on credit quality.
  • Current yields: 5.0-6.0% for investment grade, 7.0-10.0% for high-yield.

Bond ETFs and mutual funds

  • Pooled investments in diversified bond portfolios.
  • Professional management with lower minimum investments.
  • Varying risk profiles based on underlying bonds.
  • Expense ratios typically 0.05-0.75%.

Other debt investments

Peer-to-peer lending

  • Direct lending to individuals through online platforms.
  • Higher potential returns with correspondingly higher risk.
  • Limited regulatory protection.
  • Current returns: 5.0-12.0% before defaults.

Mortgage-backed securities

  • Investments backed by pools of mortgages.
  • Monthly payments include interest and principal.
  • Subject to prepayment risk.
  • Current yields: 4.5-5.5%.

Fixed annuities

  • Insurance products guaranteeing income streams.
  • Various terms with penalties for early withdrawal.
  • Tax-deferred growth.
  • Current rates: 4.5-6.0% for multi-year guaranteed annuities.

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How debt investments work in practice

Let’s break down the basic functionality of these kinds of investments:

The lending mechanism

When you purchase a debt investment, you’re entering into a contractual relationship with the borrower. The key elements include:
  1. Principal: The amount you initially invest.
  2. Interest rate: The percentage paid on your principal (fixed or variable).
  3. Term: The length of time until maturity.
  4. Payment schedule: How often interest is paid (monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, annually).
  5. Maturity date: When the principal must be repaid in full.
For example, if you purchase a $1,000 corporate bond with a 5% annual interest rate and 5-year maturity, you’ll receive $50 in interest each year ($25 semi-annually in most cases) and your $1,000 back after five years.

Risk and return relationship

The fundamental principle of investing holds true with debt: higher potential returns come with higher risk. This risk-return spectrum can be visualized as:
  • Lowest risk/return: FDIC-insured savings products.
  • Low risk/return: Treasury securities.
  • Moderate risk/return: High-quality municipal and corporate bonds.
  • Higher risk/return: Lower-rated corporate bonds, peer-to-peer lending.
Factors affecting the risk profile include:
  • Credit quality: The borrower’s financial strength and ability to repay.
  • Duration: Longer terms generally have higher interest rate risk.
  • Liquidity: How easily the investment can be sold before maturity.
  • Inflation risk: The possibility that inflation will erode real returns.

Practical applications for regular consumers

These are some of the ways debt investments can apply to consumers like yourself:

Building an emergency fund

Debt investments, particularly liquid options like high-yield savings accounts and short-term CDs, provide ideal vehicles for emergency funds:
  • Recommended size: 3-6 months of essential expenses.
  • Optimal vehicles: High-yield savings accounts, money market accounts, short-term CD ladders.
  • Implementation strategy: Automate regular contributions until target is reached.

Creating income streams

For those seeking regular income, particularly retirees, debt investments can provide predictable cash flow:
  • CD ladders: Staggering maturities to provide regular liquidity while capturing higher rates.
  • Bond ladders: Similar strategy with bonds of increasing maturities.
  • Dividend-paying bond funds: Regular distributions without managing individual securities.
  • Fixed annuities: Guaranteed income over specified periods or lifetime.

Conservative wealth building

While stocks generally offer superior long-term growth, debt investments provide stability and preservation:
  • Capital preservation: Primary focus on protecting principal.
  • Inflation hedging: TIPS (Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities) adjust for inflation.
  • Portfolio stabilization: Reducing overall volatility when combined with equities.
  • Compound interest: Reinvesting interest payments to accelerate growth.

Building a debt investment ladder

The ladder strategy provides liquidity while capturing higher yields:
  1. Divide your investment amount into equal portions.
  2. Purchase debt instruments with staggered maturities.
  3. Reinvest maturing funds into new instruments at the longest ladder rung.
  4. Benefit from liquidity, average interest rates, and reduced reinvestment risk.
Example: A $50,000 5-year CD ladder would initially allocate $10,000 each to 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5-year CDs. As each matures, reinvest in a new 5-year CD.

Evaluating debt investment opportunities

When comparing debt investments, focus on:
  • Yield to maturity (YTM): Total return if held until maturity.
  • Current yield: Annual interest divided by current price.
  • Duration: Measure of interest rate sensitivity.
  • Credit ratings: Independent assessments of default risk.
  • Call provisions: Possibility of early redemption by issuer.
  • Liquidity: Ease of selling before maturity.
  • Fees and expenses: Particularly important for funds and annuities.

The bottom line

Debt investments play a crucial role in financial planning by providing stability, income, and capital preservation. While they may not offer the growth potential of equities, their predictable nature makes them essential components of well-diversified portfolios. For regular consumers, the key takeaways include:
  1. Start with secure foundations: Build emergency savings using appropriate debt investments.
  2. Diversify across the spectrum: Include various types of debt investments for balanced exposure.
  3. Ladder for efficiency: Implement laddering strategies for liquidity and yield optimization.
  4. Consider tax implications: Place debt investments strategically for tax efficiency.
  5. Adjust with life stages: Increase debt allocation as preservation becomes more important.
By understanding how debt investments work and their practical applications, consumers can make informed decisions that align with their financial goals and risk tolerance. Whether seeking stable income, capital preservation, or portfolio diversification, debt investments offer valuable tools for navigating the complex landscape of personal finance.  

There’s always JG Wentworth…

If you have $10,000 or more in unsecured debt there’s a good chance you’ll qualify for the JG Wentworth Debt Relief Program.* Some of our program perks include:
  • One monthly program payment 
  • We negotiate on your behalf 
  • Average debt resolution in as little as 48-60 months 
  • We only get paid when we settle your debt  
If you think you qualify for our program, give us a call today so we can go over the best options for your specific financial needs. Why go it alone when you can have a dedicated team on your side?

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* Program length varies depending on individual situation. Programs are between 24 and 60 months in length. Clients who are able to stay with the program and get all their debt settled realize approximate savings of 43% before our 25% program fee. This is a Debt resolution program provided by JGW Debt Settlement, LLC (“JGW” of “Us”)). JGW offers this program in the following states: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, FL, ID, IN, IA, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MS, MO, MT, NE, NM, NV, NY, NC, OK, PA, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, DC, and WI. If a consumer residing in CT, GA, HI, IL, KS, ME, NH, NJ, OH, RI, SC and VT contacts Us we may connect them with a law firm that provides debt resolution services in their state. JGW is licensed/registered to provide debt resolution services in states where licensing/registration is required.

Debt resolution program results will vary by individual situation. As such, debt resolution services are not appropriate for everyone. Not all debts are eligible for enrollment. Not all individuals who enroll complete our program for various reasons, including their ability to save sufficient funds. Savings resulting from successful negotiations may result in tax consequences, please consult with a tax professional regarding these consequences. The use of the debt settlement services and the failure to make payments to creditors: (1) Will likely adversely affect your creditworthiness (credit rating/credit score) and make it harder to obtain credit; (2) May result in your being subject to collections or being sued by creditors or debt collectors; and (3) May increase the amount of money you owe due to the accrual of fees and interest by creditors or debt collectors. Failure to pay your monthly bills in a timely manner will result in increased balances and will harm your credit rating. Not all creditors will agree to reduce principal balance, and they may pursue collection, including lawsuits. JGW’s fees are calculated based on a percentage of the debt enrolled in the program. Read and understand the program agreement prior to enrollment.

This information is provided for educational and informational purposes only. Such information or materials do not constitute and are not intended to provide legal, accounting, or tax advice and should not be relied on in that respect. We suggest that you consult an attorney, accountant, and/or financial advisor to answer any financial or legal questions.