In the first scenario of a steady, extended climb in rates, the firm found that investors would likely see the value of investments in mutual funds that hold short-term or medium-term bonds decline over a three-year period, while holders of stable-value accounts would see their balances continue to grow steadily.

WSJ: A 401(k) Defense Against Rising Rates

He also exited long- and medium-term bonds for fear that rising rates would zap them.

FORBES: Russian Roulette Investing

There are several reasons, one of the more subtle among them being that the insurer can fund the product entirely with medium- and long-term bonds, since there are no payments in the short term.

FORBES: A 10% Annual Payout For Retirees

Most of those Treasuries are of medium-term duration: very few 30-year bonds are in the mix.

FORBES: Federal Reserve Subverts Fiscal Responsibility With Cash Creation Machines Fully Cranked

Among the alleged baits recently used to separate unwary investors from their funds: film deals, 19th-century railroad bonds, gold mines, iron mines, equipment leases, "medium-term notes, " greeting card manufacturing, a board game teaching investors how to get wealthy and even Mormon church financings.

FORBES: Fraud per capita

The railway ministry, which is China's largest corporate-bond issuer, used all of last year's quota for long-dated bonds and also raised an additional 50 billion yuan via short-term bills and medium-term notes.

WSJ: China's Railway Ministry Gets Approval for Bonds