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You are here: Home / Archives for Money Plus

467 Plus: Fallen Angels, BBB Bonds, Swapping Out Leveraged Loans Funds, and How to Use the Investment Conditions Report

February 24, 2024 by David Stein · Updated February 29, 2024

In Plus episode 467, we explain the resources on Money for the Rest of Us Plus to learn about different asset classes. We explore investing in fallen angel bonds, which are bonds that have recently been downgraded to non-investment grade status. We also explore investing in BBB bonds. David explains his recent portfolio change to swap out his leveraged loan exposure. Finally, we review how to use the investment conditions and strategy report. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Money Plus Tagged With: bank loans, BBB bonds, BDCs, fallen angels, investment conditions, leveraged loans, portfolio trades

466 Plus: When ETNs Mature, Long Angle Community, and a Long Duration Credit Muni CEF

February 17, 2024 by David Stein · Updated February 26, 2024

In Plus episode 466, we review the exchange offer for the JP Morgan Alerian MLP ETN (AMJ). The original ETN is set to mature in May 2024. David shares his experience and thoughts on the Long Angle community. Finally, we analyze the Nuveen Municipal Credit Income Fund (NZF). … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Money Plus Tagged With: AMJ, CEFS, closed-end funds, Long Angle, master limited partnerships, MLPs, municipal bonds, NZF

464 Plus: Floating Rate Treasuries, Actively Managed Preferred Stock, Valuing Assets, and Individual Country ETFs

February 3, 2024 by David Stein · Updated February 15, 2024

In Plus episode 464, we review how floating rate U.S. Treasury bonds are structured and why the iShares Floating Rate Treasury Bond ETF (TFLO) has a tiny bit of volatility compared to a money market mutual fund. Why different preferred stock issues from the same issuer have different yields. We discuss actively managed preferred stock strategies. Can we use the same methodology to value income-producing and non-income-producing assets? Do we need to invest in individual country ETFs to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Money Plus Tagged With: country rotation, floating rate bonds, floating rate Treasuries, international stocks, preferred stocks, TFLO, valuations

463 Plus: Model Portfolios, UK versus US Valuations, MCI Premium, and MFD Proxy Battle

January 27, 2024 by David Stein · Updated February 8, 2024

In Plus Episode 463, we answer member questions on model portfolio implementations. We discuss the valuations and return expectations for UK stocks versus the USA. We discuss why the Barings Corporate Investor Fund (MCI) sells at a premium to its net asset value. Finally, we analyze the proxy battle being led by Saba Capital regarding the potential merger involving the Macquarie/First Trust Global Infrastructure/Utilities Dividend & Income Fund (MFD) … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Money Plus Tagged With: MCI, MFD, model portfolios, proxy votes, stocks, United Kingdom, valuations

462 Plus: Immediate Annuities, More on Closed-End Funds, and Currency ETFs

January 20, 2024 by David Stein · Updated February 2, 2024

In Plus episode 462, we review why one might want to buy an immediate annuity to help fund retirement expenses. We consider the Cohen & Steers Closed End Opportunity Fund (FOF). Finally, we discuss using an ETF to speculate on currencies. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Money Plus Tagged With: annuities, closed-end funds, currencies, currency hedges, fund of funds, immediate annuities

461 Plus: Updated Expected Returns, Index Rebalancing, and Portfolio Questions

January 13, 2024 by David Stein · Updated January 26, 2024

In Plus episode 461, we review the changes to the Money for the Rest of Us Plus expected return assumptions and discuss the resources available on the site for modeling portfolios using the return assumptions. We answer a question on how stock index providers, such as S&P, handle share count changes for determining the weighting of a holding within the index. Finally, David answers some questions on his portfolio, including a review of the asset category ranges he has had for the past … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Money Plus Tagged With: asset allocation, asset allocation assumptions, expected returns, index rebalancing, indexes, preferred stocks

460 Plus: January 2024 Investment Conditions

January 6, 2024 by David Stein · Updated January 22, 2024

In Plus episode 460, we review financial market performance for 2023 and set expectations for 2024. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Money Plus

459 Plus: TIPS Liquidity, a new MBS ETF, Closed-end Fund ETFs, and MLP Data

December 14, 2023 by David Stein · Updated January 18, 2024

In Plus episode 459, we discuss who is on the other side of the TIPS trade. We analyze the Simplify MBS ETF (MTBA) and learn what mortgage-backed TBAs are. We review the performance and risk of ETFs that invest in closed-end funds. Finally, we explain why MLP data is no longer included in the monthly investment conditions and strategy report. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Money Plus Tagged With: CEFS, closed-end funds, ETFs, MLPs, mortgage-backed securities, MTBA, TIPS, Treasury Inflation Protected Securities

457 Plus: Yield-to-maturity, Cumulative vs Annualized Returns, Number of Funds, DSU and AGNC

December 2, 2023 by David Stein · Updated June 13, 2024

In Plus episode 457, we explore how to calculate yield-to-maturity, cumulative returns, and annualized returns and how the measures differ. We explain why it is so challenging to identify an appropriate investment vehicle. We answer member questions on David's leverage loan holding (DSU) and preferred stock mortgage REIT with AGNC. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Money Plus Tagged With: AGNC, DSU, mortgage REITs, performance, performance calculation, REIT preferreds, return calculation, yield to maturity

456 Plus: 4% Rule, TFLO, Personal Inflation Rates, Emerging Latin America, and GIM

November 18, 2023 by David Stein · Updated November 28, 2023

In Plus episode 456, we explore how to apply retirement spending rules when real estate properties will be sold during retirement. We consider the risks of investing in the iShares Floating Rate Treasury ETF (TFLO). We answer a question about the hoopla surrounding Treasury Inflation Protection Securities. Why has David not purchased a dedicated Latin America Emerging Markets Stock ETF. Update on the Templeton Global Income Fund (GIM). … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Money Plus Tagged With: GIM, inflation, Latin America, spending rates in retirement, TFLO, TIPS, Treasury Inflation Protected Securities

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