Function

• According to Investopedia, a fixed income investment functions as a type of investment where periodic income payments are made and has a fixed term. Many times investors can take advantage of a fixed income managed product such as a bond mutual fund or a bond ETF.
  
  

Features

• Historically, fixed income products will feature a more stable principal and pay out monthly or quarterly interest payments. Managed products will feature a professionally managed portfolio, a broader range of diversification and lower brokerage fees and commissions than an individually run portfolio.
  
  

Considerations

• Many investors have recently moved towards ETFs, as these investments trade similarly to stocks and typically have lower fees. However, the investor should have more involvement in order to maintain proper asset allocations and to ensure there is no portfolio overlap.