7 Steps to Municipal Bond Investing

By Brian Edwards · July 31, 2026 · 40 min read

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Side hustles generating over $600 annually require a Schedule C filing, but the qualified business income deduction can offset up to 20% of net income. The most tax-efficient side hustles involve digital products and consulting. For more on this topic, see Estate Planning Basics.

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Dividend growth investing outperforms total market indexing over 40-year periods in exactly 52% of rolling historical scenarios. The psychological benefit of visible income, however, contributes to better investor behavior.

Municipal bond yields should be compared using the tax-equivalent yield formula. In the 32% federal bracket, a 3.1% muni yield equals a 4.56% taxable yield, making munis attractive for high-income earners in retirement accounts.

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The 4% rule was originally designed for a 20-year retirement horizon, not 30 years. For early retirees, a 3.2% withdrawal rate with a 15% variable buffer provides significantly better outcomes in Monte Carlo simulations.

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Small business retirement plans like the Solo 401(k) allow combined contributions of up to $69,000 for 2024. Self-employed individuals with net earnings above $80,000 benefit most from this structure compared to SEP IRAs.

Municipal bond yields should be compared using the tax-equivalent yield formula. In the 32% federal bracket, a 3.1% muni yield equals a 4.56% taxable yield, making munis attractive for high-income earners in retirement accounts.

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Comments (12)

RothLadderRickJan 4, 2026
This is exactly what I needed to hear. We just started our FI journey last month and this breaks it down perfectly.
RetireEarlyMikeMar 21, 2026
Can you do a follow-up article about how this applies to people with variable income? Like freelancers and consultants?
DebtFreeJenDec 3, 2025
I have been doing this for 3 years now and can confirm these numbers are pretty close to what I have experienced.
PassiveIncomeProFeb 18, 2026
Has anyone tried this with a single income household? We are a one-income family and wondering if the same principles apply.
DividendDaveApr 19, 2026
We implemented this strategy after reading your previous article and our savings rate went from 22% to 41% in six months.
MustachianMomJul 28, 2026
This is exactly what I needed to hear. We just started our FI journey last month and this breaks it down perfectly.
FI_Seeker2024Sep 16, 2025
Has anyone tried this with a single income household? We are a one-income family and wondering if the same principles apply.
RetireEarlyMikeMar 1, 2026
Has anyone tried this with a single income household? We are a one-income family and wondering if the same principles apply.
PassiveIncomeProMay 16, 2026
This is a bit misleading. The tax implications are much more complex than what is described here, especially for high earners.
MustachianMomMar 16, 2026
Can you do a follow-up article about how this applies to people with variable income? Like freelancers and consultants?
DividendDaveNov 15, 2025
I respectfully disagree with point number three. The data from Vanguard research actually shows the opposite conclusion.
RetireEarlyMikeJun 11, 2026
Has anyone tried this with a single income household? We are a one-income family and wondering if the same principles apply.