Need Core Bond Exposure? Here Are Passive & Active Options

Core Insights - Investors have two main pathways for core bond exposure through ETFs: passive options that track an index and active options that leverage portfolio managers' capabilities [1] Passive Alternatives - The Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund ETF Shares (BND) offers low expense ratios at three basis points and tracks the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index, providing broad exposure to investment-grade debt in the U.S. [2] - BND is primarily exposed to U.S. government debt, making benchmark Treasuries the majority of the fund's holdings, which may limit diversification [3] - The newly launched Vanguard Core-Plus Bond Index ETF (BNDP) tracks the Bloomberg U.S. Universal Float Adjusted Index, including U.S. government, investment-grade corporate, securitized, high yield corporate, and emerging market debt, aiming to provide core bond exposure with higher yield potential [4] Active Alternatives - The Vanguard Core-Plus Bond ETF (VPLS) offers active management, allowing portfolio managers to identify income opportunities and adapt to changing market conditions, making it suitable for various economic environments [5] - VPLS maintains exposure to U.S. Treasuries while also investing in mortgage-backed, corporate securities, and emerging market debt to enhance yield [6] - Active ETFs like VPLS are supported by the expertise of the Vanguard Fixed Income Group, which is beneficial in navigating current macroeconomic conditions [7]