I got an e-mail this morning from my friend Steve Weiss at J.B. Hanauer in West Palm Beach. His brokerage is offering a new bank CD with a step-up coupon. It looks like a winner.

Are you having trouble locating the Freddie Mac step-up bonds I recommend in the January issue? There aren’t oodles of them around, and folks who own them are understandably reluctant to part with them. But don’t get discouraged. Here’s help.