Five Bond Ladder Visualization & Portfolio Tools
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!