Home Page | Annual Report | Quarterly Report
Calvert Foundation’s mission is to maximize the flow of capital to disadvantaged communities in order to create a more equitable and sustainable society. By creating innovative financial products and services, they’ve made it possible for everyday people, not just institutions, to participate in financial instruments that directly serve communities. Calvert Foundation was incorporated in September 1988 as an independent nonprofit corporation. They currently have nearly $200 million invested in 250 community organizations in all 50 states and over 100 countries. To date, their investors and supporters have helped them build or rehabilitate over 17,000 homes, create 430,000 jobs in the U.S. and in developing countries, and finance over 25,000 cooperatives, social enterprises, and community facilities. They are headquartered in Bethesda, MD. Eligible for both IRA Accounts & 401k Rollover to IRA Accounts.
Features Continued
Overview of Fixed Rate Bonds | Overview of Step-Up Rate Bonds | Process | Credit Quality | Callable Features | Step-Up Features | ID Requirements | Fees
OVERVIEW OF FIXED RATE BONDS
Fixed rate callable bonds are fixed income securities purchased at FISN, a brokerage firm. FISN searches nationwide for bonds with the highest return and offers these securities for investment. Bonds mostly carry an investment grade credit quality and are liquid. Callable investments offer higher rates than non-callable notes but the issuer has the right to return the funds early. Corporate issuers and brokerage firms team-up to distribute these investments across the nation. FISN has access to the widest inventory from major Wall Street firms. Investors select corporate bonds that meet their needs for safety, yield and return of principal. The security is held in a brokerage account.
OVERVIEW OF STEP UP RATE BONDS
Step-up rate callable bonds are fixed income securities purchased at FISN, a brokerage firm. The interest rate steps up periodically over the life of the investment. FISN searches nationwide for the step-up bonds with the highest return and offers these securities for investment. Bonds mostly carry an investment grade credit quality and are liquid. Callable investments with steps offer higher rates than non-callable, fixed rate notes, but the issuer has the right to return the funds early. FISN has access to the widest inventory from major Wall Street firms. Investors select corporate bonds that meet their needs for safety, yield and return of principal.
PROCESS
Investors start by selecting suitable bonds for investment and then open a standard brokerage account at FISN in their name. A brokerage account can hold many corporate bonds from any corporate issuer, for instance, to construct a laddered portfolio. The investor wires funds or sends a check to fund this new account. FISN sends new account paperwork and purchase confirmations to the investor. The brokerage forms are completed and the transaction confirmation is verified. Only one account needs to be opened for each ownership category. Paperwork is returned to FISN along with the required identification.
CREDIT QUALITY
Issuers of corporate bonds mostly carry an Investment Grade. A credit rating is the measurement of the financial strength of a bond issuer. This measurement helps an investor to understand an issuer’s ability to make timely interest payments and repay the investment principal upon maturity. Generally, the higher the credit quality of a bond issuer, the lower the interest rate paid by the issuer because the risk of default is lower. Credit quality ratings are provided by nationally recognized rating agencies. The notes are not bank deposits and are not FDIC insured. Principal is protected at maturity by the issuer.
The following is an explanation of the top credit ratings. The rating for each individual investment should be evaluated based the rating criteria. Credit ratings fluctuate with business conditions. Upgrades and downgrades in credit ratings change the risk profile of issuers and possibility the market prices of their securities.
Long Term Credit Ratings
Investment Grade
AAA ratings denote the highest rating assigned. This rating is assigned to the "best" credit risk relative to all other issuers or issues.
AA ratings denote a very strong credit risk relative to other issuers or issues. The credit risk inherent in these financial commitments differs only slightly from the highest rated issuers or issues.
A ratings denote a strong credit risk relative to other issuers or issues. However, changes in circumstances or economic conditions may affect the capacity for timely repayment of these financial commitments to a greater degree than for financial commitments denoted by a higher rated category.
BBB ratings denote an adequate credit risk relative to other issuers or issues. However, changes in circumstances or economic conditions are more likely to affect the capacity for timely repayment of these financial commitments than for financial commitments denoted by a higher rated category.
Below Investment Grade
BB ratings denote a fairly weak credit risk relative to other issuers or issues. The payment of the financial commitments is uncertain to some degree and capacity for timely repayment remains more vulnerable to adverse economic change over time.
B ratings denote a significantly weak credit risk relative to other issuers or issues in the country. Financial commitments are currently being met but a limited margin of safety remains and capacity for continued timely payments is contingent upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.
See Corporate Bond Ratings chart for a simple description and comparison of credit quality ratings issued by S&P, Moody’s and Fitch.
CALLABLE FEATURES
Callable corporate bonds are unsecured and un-subordinated obligations of the corporate issuer. These notes offer alternative investment opportunities to traditional CDs, with yields higher than government agency securities. The issuers are major U. S. corporations and are not FDIC insured like banks. Callable notes have an initial non-callable term and a callable term. They pay interest at a fixed rate over the life of the investment. The interest is paid on a semi-annual or monthly basis into the brokerage account where it can continue to earn interest in a money market fund account. At the end of the non-callable period, the security may be called for the full amount of the investment. When called, the issuer returns the amount to the brokerage account with full interest to date. If not called, it remains callable, usually every 6 months. Only the issuer can make the call decision, not the account holder or the broker. The bond will continue to pay interest for the full, possible term if it is never called. Key information is the name of the issuer, the issuer credit quality, the first call date, subsequent call dates and the final stated maturity at the end of the possible term. A new selection of terms and rates from many issuers is offered each week by FISN, subject to availability and price. There is no early withdrawal permitted but the note can be sold in the secondary market or redeemed at par upon the death of the owner or co-owner, if the issuer permits. Securities sold prior to maturity are subject to market conditions and could result in a loss.
STEP-UP FEATURES
Step Up corporate notes pay interest at a fixed rate for each period and then step-up to a new, higher rate of interest for the next period. Interest is paid on a semi-annual or monthly basis into the brokerage account. At each step-up point these notes are usually callable. Key information is the interest rate and dates for each step period.
Interest can be disbursed immediately or periodically via checks or electronic funds transmission straight to your local bank. Available cash also can be withdrawn from the account via checks, automatic teller machines or debit cards. There may be fees for accounts with ATM or debit cards.
See An Investor’s Guide to Corporate Bonds.
ID REQUIREMENTS
Brokerage accounts are opened at FISN’s brokerage division, First Internet Securities Network. Securities in FISN accounts are carried by National Financial Services LLC, Member NYSE/SIPC, a Fidelity Investments company. FISN is required under U.S. government rules to verify ownership of all accounts. Individuals are required to provide a copy of a government issued photo identification. Business accounts, trusts and other non-individual accounts have special documentation requirements.
FEES
There are no investment fees or commissions paid by the investor. The issuers of the securities pay brokers to distribute their newly issued securities. New issue securities are sold at par or a price of 100.0 to the investor. Par is the face amount of the investment on which interest is earned. Most investments require a minimum purchase amount. Secondary market securities are sold net to the investor without any commissions, and are usually offered at a market price indicating a discount or premium to par.