We recently highlighted the fact that we are using index funds as part of our strategy in addition to individual stocks, individual bonds and exchange traded funds (ETFs).  

One of the areas that we are shifting is from bond ETFs to low cost, index-like bond mutual funds that use a what is called a variable maturity strategy.  While name sounds complicated, the strategy is relatively intuative: buy bonds with the highest expected return based on the shape of the yield curve.  

To learn more about the strategy and get a yield curve primer, read the full article here.