For retirees hoping to sleep at night, “laddering” bonds ensures that each year a batch of individual bonds will mature, providing the income needed for that year. There’s another option: defined-maturity bond ETFs, which resemble individual bonds right up to their distributions and maturity dates. But laddering with either ETFs or individual bonds brings its own set of trade-offs. Read the article here >>>
In this Advisor Perspectives article, Professor Wade Pfau of The American College discusses whether investors should purchase bond funds or individual bonds that are held until maturity. We really enjoy this article as Wade touches on many points that we strongly believe in. Click here to read the article >>>
In this article, Jeff Benjamin of InvestmentNews explores why financial advisers might benefit by looking once again to institutional investors for guidance with fixed income now that bond yields are poised for a cycle of rising interest rates. Read the article here >>>
For bond investors worried about what will happen to their principal when interest rates rise, a fixed-maturity bond fund is one solution.
These products, also called defined-maturity or end-date funds, offer the diversification of a bond fund with the known maturity date of an individual bond.
Each fund sets an end date and buys bonds that mature on or shortly before then. Any new money that comes into the fund is put into the same type of bond. Interest payments on the bonds are paid out monthly to shareholders. Read More…