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Five Bond Ladder Visualization & Portfolio Tools

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Click here to watch the recorded session.

Keep reading for links and a high level overview of five FREE tools available to IARs for bond ladder visualization and portfolio recommendation construction.  

Visualization Tools - Affect of Interest Rates on a Bond ladder

The following tools have varying degrees of customization, and provide client-friendly tools to demonstrate a bond ladder's behavior depending on the interest rate environment.  Bonds have gotten a bad rap in recent years, but may still be a valuable tool in a portfolio for the long-term; these tools help clients visualize the potential benefits of a bond ladder.

Eaton Vance - Laddered Interest Rate Scenario Tool

  • DOES NOT require you to create an account to access the tool.
  • DOES NOT produce a printable report/summary.
  • DOES allow you to model either a corporate bond ladder or a municipal bond ladder.
  • DOES take tax brackets into consideration.

JP Morgan - Bond Ladder Illustrator

  • DOES require you to create an account to access the tool.
  • DOES produce a printable report/summary.
  • Other Notes:
    • JP Morgan's site is something we commonly use for economic updates.
    • We strongly recommend creating an account.
    • Tool functions very similarly to the Eaton Vance tool.

Nuveen -  Municipal Bond Ladder Tool

  • DOES NOT require you to create an account to access the tool.
  • DOES model only municipal bonds.
  • DOES produce a printable report/summary.
  • DOES include training assistance/support buttons within the tool.


Portfolio tools - proxy bond portfolios for recommendations

The following tools allow you to model a portfolio for a client using proxies offered by the tool.

iShares - Build Ladders with iBonds ETFs

  • DOES NOT require you to create an account to access the tool.
  • DOES NOT produce a printable report/summary.
  • DOES allow treasury, municipal, corporate, or high yield exposures.

Invesco - Total CX Bond Laddering Tool

  • DOES NOT require you to create an account to access the tool.
  • DOES produce a printable report/summary.
  • DOES allow corporate, high yield, emerging markets, or municipal exposures (NO treasury).

As always, email Nicola@cgnadvisors.com with questions, or submit a help ticket!

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