What’s in the News: As expected, the Fed left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at its September 20th meeting. The Fed indicated that it remains on pace to raise short-term rates later this year, signaling one more rate hike in 2017, three in 2018, two in 2019 and one in 2020. However, a more gradual pace of rate increases is a real... Read more »

What’s in the News: Last Thursday, the 10 year Treasury note hit 2.03%, its lowest point of the year. With Fall just around the corner, we are reminded that the Fed is supposed to be on a path of normalizing interest rates, a fact difficult to grasp since the 10 year US Treasury note is at the same level it was in November of last year. While US... Read more »

Did you know… The preferred securities market is up 9% since the beginning of the year.* That performance has given back somewhat in July and August as corporate spreads have widened. As the traditional preferred market pulls back slightly, we are picking up several basis points of yield in the Current Income Portfolio by incorporating a newer... Read more »

Whats in the news: Dennis Gartman, editor and publisher of the well-respected and widely circulated industry newsletter, The Gartman Letter, recently gave an interview discussing his outlook for bonds, interest rates and what bothers him in the market. When asked whether investors should even bother owning bonds in the current market environment,... Read more »

Did you know... Some of the questions we hear most frequently from advisors surround a common topic, preferred securities. We’ve noticed advisors tend to shy away from owning individual preferred securities due to the tedious work needed to follow call provisions, credit ratings and tax treatment. We believe, that with proper management, a sleeve... Read more »

What’s in the News: On June 30th the S&P 500 posted its best 6 month return since 2013 and according to Strategas Research Partners this year’s run has just begun. “Since 1950, when the index has risen by more than 8% in the first six months of the year, it has increased by an additional 7.2% through year-end, on average”. With equity markets... Read more »

Did you know… Capital markets are expecting the Fed to raise rates two more times in 2017, and while it appears that the Fed is committed to a path of steady rate hikes, this would still only end the year with rates in the range of about 2.70%. With yields remaining low, the thirst for higher coupons can be sidelined by potential tax implications.... Read more »

What’s in the news: Startling statistics from the March edition of the Employee Benefit Research Institute’s survey: 50% of American workers reported to have less than $25,000 saved for retirement 18% of American workers feel very confident about retiring, and six out of ten American workers feel very or somewhat confident about having enough... Read more »