Reddit reviews The Sterling Bonds and Fixed Income Handbook: A practical guide for investors and advisers (Harriman Finance Essentials)

Aha! This is something of a hobby of mine.

I would recommend The Sterling Bonds and Fixed Income Handbook by Mark Glowrey

Much good free information is available on these sites:

https://www.fixedincomeinvestments.co.uk/ (https cert has run out but site is legit)

http://www.fixedincomeinvestor.co.uk/x/default.html

You seem interested in building a portfolio . This is a very clear description of how to go about it.

For ideas you may want a gander at the Fantasy Annuity Portfolio

I personally cannot stomach the artificially low returns due to QE from gilts & other government bonds, and turned to bond-proxies such as preference shares a long time ago. I have about 45% of my portfolio in about 25 varied FI instruments, they together with various state and DB pensions form the "Living expenses" part of the retirement portfolio. I accept that is at the cost of some additional risk. That element of my portfolio is less volatile than the equities.

For your entertainment I offer the most amusing bond analysis I have yet encountered. A flavour " Quite a few years ago passing through Paris on my way to Italy, I stayed with an old friend of mine. The son of a Vicar he had run off to Paris with a Sergeant in the French horse guards and was living in a small one-roomed garret in the Rue de Fauborg St Honore. ...."