The current state of the bond market is confusing to say the least. But for fixed income investors willing to do a little digging, there could be plenty of opportunities. In fact, some may even produce higher yields with less risk than other segments of the bond market, which doesn’t happen very often in history. And when it does, investors should pounce ..read more

So far, 2024 has been an interesting year for fixed income investors. The mixture of economic uncertainty along with the Fed’s new ‘higher for longer’ message has thrown many bond investors for a loop. But even amid all the uncertainty, some interesting trends and themes have begun to take shape. This is particularly true for investors in the municipal bond space ..read more

With the Federal Reserve raising rates, building a fixed income portfolio may have just gotten a bit easier. With yields high, many investors feel they don’t need to venture outside the world of Treasuries and investment-grade corporate bonds. After all, why take on extra risk when you can get 4.5% to 6% in relatively safe assets? But investors who do so may be missing plenty of opportunities ..read more

The anticipated reduction of interest rates by the Federal Reserve, initially projected at the outset of the calendar year 2024, is now facing diminished likelihood due to the persistent presence of inflationary pressures ..read more

Driven by their tax-free interest and current high yields, municipal bonds have continued to be in the spotlight. More investors have continued to add the bond variety to their portfolios to take advantage of these benefits. And, increasingly, they are choosing so-called general obligation (GO) bonds. Issued by state and local governments, these bonds are backed by the taxing authority of municipalities, giving them an aura of safety ..read more

After 2022’s bond rout, 2023 was a wonderful time for fixed income investors. High yields as well as a variety of other factors sent many investors into attractive bonds. With lower issuance, the prices for many fixed income asset classes surged. This included the municipal bond sector. And with that, total returns—yield plus capital appreciation—was one of the best on record ..read more

While municipal bonds have grown in popularity, they are still ignored by the bulk of the investing public. Often seen as an asset class for the very rich, many investors don’t understand muni bonds and what they can do for their portfolios. Several myths about the asset class remain, which prevent investors from understanding the benefits of using them in their portfolios – no matter what tax bracket they are in ..read more

In recent years, the United States has experienced a significant increase in the number of migrants and asylum seekers arriving at its borders ..read more

When it comes to safety, municipal bonds have long been a go-to investment for income seekers. After all, in theory, a state or a local town has the ability to raise taxes to help pay for coupon payments – and history suggests just that. However, some investors have begun to worry about municipality and state revenues in the face of the dwindling economy ..read more

Savers have been rejoicing over the last year or so. With the Fed raising benchmark rates, CDs, money market funds, and even checking accounts have started to pay some meaningful interest. This has been wonderful news for those seeking income. However, as they say, “No good deed goes unpunished ..read more