Core Viewpoint - Floating rate notes (floaters) are considered an attractive fixed income option as Treasury yields rise, and the VanEck IG Floating Rate ETF (FLTR) remains appealing even with expected interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve [1] Group 1: ETF Overview - FLTR is a $2.56 billion ETF that yields 4.28% and tracks the MVIS® US Investment Grade Floating Rate Index [1] - The ETF holds investment-grade corporate floaters, providing a yield advantage over Treasuries [1] - FLTR has a low correlation of 0.12 to the S&P 500, making it a good diversification tool for equity-heavy portfolios [1] Group 2: Suitability and Benefits - FLTR is suitable for a wide range of client portfolios, helping to broaden income streams and offering higher-yielding alternatives to cash instruments [1] - Floating rate notes (FRNs) can serve as a cash complement for investors with intermediate holding periods, accepting modest volatility for higher income potential compared to money market instruments or Treasury bills [1] - Approximately 82% of FLTR's holdings are rated AA or A, indicating high credit quality [1] Group 3: Investment Strategy - FRNs are recommended when seeking higher income compared to risk-free rates in environments with elevated or rising short-term rates, while avoiding duration losses of fixed-rate bonds [1] - Investors should be aware of issuer credit risk in exchange for spread-based yield when considering FRNs [1] - FLTR charges an annual fee of 0.14%, equating to $14 on a $10,000 investment [1]

Core Viewpoint - Fidelity Total Bond ETF (FBND) offers a higher yield and broader sector exposure compared to iShares 3-7 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEI), but comes with a higher annual cost and greater historical risk [1][2]. Cost and Size Comparison - FBND has an expense ratio of 0.36%, while IEI has a lower expense ratio of 0.15% [3][4]. - As of January 9, 2026, FBND's one-year return is 2.5%, compared to IEI's 3.0% [3]. - FBND provides a dividend yield of 4.6%, whereas IEI offers a yield of 3.5% [3][4]. - The assets under management (AUM) for FBND is $23.4 billion, while IEI has an AUM of $17.7 billion [3]. Performance and Risk Comparison - Over the past five years, FBND has a maximum drawdown of -17.23%, compared to IEI's -14.05% [5]. - An investment of $1,000 in FBND would have grown to $862 over five years, while the same investment in IEI would have grown to $903 [5]. Investment Strategy and Holdings - FBND includes over 4,400 holdings, primarily consisting of U.S. Treasuries, investment-grade corporate bonds, and mortgage-backed securities, with up to 20% allocated to high-yield corporate bonds and emerging market debt [7][10]. - IEI exclusively invests in U.S. Treasury bonds with maturities between three and seven years, avoiding corporate and sector risks [8][10]. Investor Guidance - Conservative investors seeking government-backed safety should consider IEI, while income-focused investors willing to accept moderate corporate credit risk for higher yields may prefer FBND [12].

Core Insights - Municipal bonds are providing elevated returns in 2025, with yields around 6% to 7%, which are historically high, making them attractive for high-net-worth clients [1] - The securitized sector, including agency and non-agency mortgage-backed securities, is considered an attractive investment area due to tight spreads with US Treasuries [2] - Advisors are focusing on fixed income investments, emphasizing quality and tailoring guidance to client-specific needs [3] Municipal Bonds - High-net-worth clients are encouraged to extend maturities in municipal bonds due to their competitive yields [1] - The market's performance will depend on supply and demand dynamics, with expectations of improved conditions compared to the previous year [1] Securitized Sector - Both agency and non-agency mortgage-backed securities are viewed as good investment options, but require extra due diligence due to the lack of government guarantees [2] Fixed Income Strategy - A general theme among advisors is to prioritize quality in fixed income investments, with a focus on not stretching for income [3] - The bond market is expected to steepen, indicating potential volatility in long-term bonds [6][7] Inflation and Interest Rates - The correlation between fixed income and equities has turned negative, which is beneficial for diversified portfolios [4] - The Federal Reserve may ease monetary policy, but interest rates are not expected to return to pre-COVID levels [4] High Yield and Private Credit - There is a slight increase in allocation to high yield bonds, with over 50% rated double B or higher, indicating improved credit quality [8] - Diversification remains crucial, and while high-yield bonds are not being avoided, there is caution against chasing yields [9] - Private credit is seen as valuable, with a focus on high quality and strong management, despite market growth and potential risks [9][10] Investment Outlook - The expectation is for rates to continue to fall due to slowing inflation, with a normalization of the yield curve [5] - Companies are cautious about long-term US Treasuries amid potential market volatility and inflation risks [6]

Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. Her dad's fridge was nearly empty. His toilet paper was gone. Rent had jumped to $750, and his only income was a $1,000 monthly disability check. In a post on Reddit, a woman shared how she tried to help without humiliating him. He never asked for anything. But he hadn't been eating. "He said he was humiliated and how this should be reversed — he should be helping me," she wrote. "How he has taken food fro ...

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of adding a reliable, income-producing component to investment portfolios for seniors to ensure stability during market downturns [1] Group 1: Income-Producing Components - ChatGPT suggests that seniors should have an income-producing component in their portfolios for three main reasons: predictable cash flow, liquidity, and protection against the need to sell other assets during downturns [2][5] - A well-designed, diversified income-generating portfolio should align with individual risk tolerance, time horizon, and income needs [2] - Recommended components include a diversified portfolio of dividend-paying stocks, bonds, income funds, fixed income, annuities, cash, and low-risk instruments [5] Group 2: Expert Opinions - Experts acknowledge that while the suggestion to include income-producing assets makes sense, it overlooks certain factors such as market volatility of stocks, inflation risks with cash, and slow growth of bonds [4] - The necessity for predictable cash flow for seniors is highlighted, as income-producing assets can provide this essential financial support [5]

Core Insights - The bond market is a more reliable indicator of economic health than the equity market, suggesting that investors should focus on fixed income opportunities like the Neuberger Berman Flexible Credit Income ETF (NBFC) as a potential investment for 2026 [1][2] - Credit spreads are currently tight, indicating a strong economy and low default rate expectations, which is favorable for corporate debt investments and specifically for NBFC [2][3] - The low corporate bond yields and spreads this year suggest that investors are confident in economic growth, which bodes well for ETFs like NBFC [4][5] Group 1: Economic Indicators - The bond market is a key area to assess economic health, with credit leading equity [1] - Tight credit spreads indicate a solid economic footing and low default rate expectations, which are beneficial for corporate debt investments [2][3] - Corporate bond yields reflect investor confidence in economic growth, as low spreads suggest companies are likely to meet their debt obligations [4][5] Group 2: Investment Opportunities - The Neuberger Berman Flexible Credit Income ETF (NBFC) has shown a 9% gain in 2025, making it an attractive option for fixed income investment in 2026 [1] - The ETF's 30-day SEC yield of 6.37% offers a compelling income opportunity while managing default risk [5] - As an actively managed ETF, NBFC can quickly adapt to spread-related opportunities, enhancing its investment appeal [2]

BlackRock Portfolio Manager of the Systemic Multi-Strategy Fund Jeff Rosenberg talks about the impact of the November US employment report on inflation and fixed income. He says markets reacted to the higher than expected unemployment rate. "If we look at November payrolls, 64,000 was pretty close to expectations and don't forget we will have another payroll number before the January meeting, that's going to make these other two much less important," he said on "Bloomberg Surveillance." ...

But I want to get to the broader markets. And we have a Fed meeting next week and there's a lot going on in rates as well. So let's bring in Rick Rieder.We have a ton of economic data coming out at the top of the hour, Rick. And normally we would have also jobs day to day. That's going to be pushed forward a couple of weeks or back, a couple of weeks, I should say.And this leads me to my my main question. Why would the Fed meet next week if they're not going to get the big jobs number out until after their ...

Core Insights - The article discusses the shift in investment strategy from cash to bonds, suggesting that bonds may offer better returns in the current rate-cutting environment [1][4] - Historical data indicates that during previous rate-cutting cycles, fixed income securities have outperformed cash, supporting the case for bonds [3][4] Bond Market Dynamics - In 2022, the Federal Reserve's aggressive rate hikes led to increased yields, prompting investors to flock to money market funds, which created opportunities for purchasing bonds at attractive prices [2] - As bonds approach maturity, their prices tend to rise, and with the Fed cutting rates, fixed income securities are expected to provide price appreciation alongside coupon payments, potentially exceeding declining money market yields [3][4] Active Management in ETFs - Active management is deemed essential in the current market due to the complexities of the bond market and the potential downward pressure on yields during a rate-cutting cycle [5][6] - Thornburg offers actively managed funds, such as the Thornburg Core Plus Bond ETF (TPLS) and the Thornburg Multi Sector Bond ETF (TMB), which aim to maximize income opportunities through high-quality bond portfolios and diverse fixed income assets [7][8]

Group 1 - The central bank positioning, particularly by the Fed, Bank of England, and ECB, is supporting valuations across equities and fixed income [1]