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Portfolio Construction Insights
How a Bond Ladder Can Offer Stability in Any Market Condition
A bond ladder, or a portfolio of individual bonds whose maturity dates are staggered over a set number of years, is designed to provide a predictable income stream while minimizing exposure to interest-rate fluctuations. We explore why an investor might consider holding a bond ladder, risks, and our expectations for the current rate environment.
Retirement
A New Way to Calculate Retirement Health Care Costs
We believe viewing retirement health care costs as an annual expense, instead of as a lump sum, makes it easier for retirees to plan for and pay for them.
Active/Passive Management
Active ETFs Are Here to Stay
This piece is approved to use with clients.
Head of Exchange-Traded Products Nick Cherney discusses the driving forces behind the growth of the exchange-traded fund (ETF) industry and why active ETFs are capturing a larger share of the overall market.
Fixed Income Insights
Positioning for Higher Yields
This piece is approved to use with clients.
With higher government bond yields looking increasingly likely, Head of U.S. Fixed Income Greg Wilensky explains why investors should consider how much interest rate risk they have in their portfolios, and make sure it is appropriate for their needs.
Sustainable Investing
Global Sustainable Equity: News and Opportunities
This piece is approved to use with clients.
Reflecting on the last quarter of 2020 and looking ahead to the opportunities in the world of sustainability.
Fixed Income Insights
The Shape of Credit
This piece is approved to use with clients.
In this Q&A, Portfolio Managers Jason England, Nick Maroutsos and Dan Siluk discuss the factors shaping credit markets, from central bank support to potential resilience from financials.
Key Takeaways
- Corporate earnings and cash flows are under strain, but while defaults are likely to increase, they should continue to be largely contained to sub-investment-grade issuers.
- Massive and proactive central bank support measures have injected confidence into markets, but this does not preclude sporadic bouts of future volatility and warrants a selective approach.
- We believe more resilient opportunities are likely to be found in higher-quality, shorter-dated investment-grade issues and continue to favor financial sector bonds and corporates with defensive attributes.