Seeking higher returns and protection against an eventual rise in interest rates, investors have been turning to non-traditional “unconstrained” bond funds. According to Morningstar, nontraditional bond fund assets have more than doubled to a record $151.5 billion last year, from $62.5 billion in 2011.
On this week’s WEALTHTRACK, an exclusive interview with an award winning portfolio manager who is an expert in this field. Dan Roberts of the five star rated MainStay Unconstrained Bond Fund explains why investment flexibility is so critical in today’s complex markets.
RECENT PROGRAMS
VOTAVA: MAXIMIZING MEDICARE
It’s estimated that 95% of seniors are paying too much for Medicare coverage. Today, men and women who retire at 65 can anticipate living another 25, 30 or even 40 years – all of those years receiving Medicare benefits and contributing to them. On this week’s WEALTHTRACK, healthcare expert Katy Votava, president of Goodcare.com and author of Making the Most of Medicare explains what you need to know to maximize those benefits and avoid overpaying.
ROLLEY: NEW BOND ERA
In an era of negative bond yields, it has rarely been more challenging to make money in the world’s fixed income markets. On this week’s WEALTHTRACK, veteran Portfolio Manager, David Rolley of the Loomis Sayles Global Bond fund explains how he and his team are both protecting their portfolios and seeking outsized returns in some out of the way places.
MCCULLEY: PRESCIENT THOUGHT LEADER
Few investors have the prescience of this week’s Financial Thought Leader guest. Long before the 2008/2009 financial crisis he identified the powerful and destructive rise of what he called the “Shadow Banking System”, the unregulated institutions funding the housing and credit bubble. He also coined the phrase “Minsky Moment”, after the economist Hyman Minsky’s theory that financial stability ultimately leads to financial instability, as people and institutions take on more risk. That is exactly what happened.
This week’s WEALTHTRACK guest is legendary bond trader, Federal Reserve watcher and economist, Paul McCulley who spent many years in the top ranks of bond giant PIMCO. What financial forces does he see gathering now?
AHAMED: POWERFUL CENTRAL BANKERS
We discuss the lessons learned and ignored from the powerful central bankers of a century ago. Financial Thought Leader Liaquat Ahamed, the Pulitzer Prize winning author of Lords of Finance discusses the differences and similarities between central bank policies today and those leading up to the Great Depression.
SMITH: LEGENDARY MAVERICK
Stephen Smith, founding portfolio manager of the Legg Mason Brandywine Global Opportunities Bond fund and finalist for Morningstar’s 2014 Fixed-Income Fund Manager of the Year is known as a contrarian investor. In an exclusive interview on WEALTHTRACK, Smith takes on consensus views about oil prices, interest rates and global growth and shares where he and his team are finding opportunities in bonds and currencies.
