What Is Bond Ladder?
Although there are many benefits to investing, there are also a multitude of risks to it. Some of these risks can be successfully mitigated or managed by employing certain strategies. A significant risk with fixed-income securities is reinvestment risk, or the risk that money received from an investment will earn less when put into a new investment. One way to potentially minimize the risk associated with bonds may be to utilize a bond ladder.
A bond ladder incorporates a variety of individual bonds with different maturities in an attempt to reduce reinvestment risk and provide a steady stream of income. The maturity dates are evenly spaced across a period of time. For example, a portfolio may have a bond that matures in a year, another in three, and another in five. Each bond represents a “rung” on the ladder and the “height” of the ladder is determined by how long the maturities of the bonds extend to. As the bonds mature, the principal can be reinvested into a new bond with the longest maturity of the ladder. The coupon payments received can be used to meet income needs or can also be reinvested into the ladder.
Assume that you want to invest in fixed-income securities, so you purchase a 10 year bond yielding 5%. Until the bond matures, you are locked into that rate and cannot capitalize on increasing interest rate changes. If you were to have utilized a bond ladder with staggered maturity bonds, you are able to smooth out the fluctuations in the market because you have a new bond maturing on a regular basis.
Using a laddering technique rather than an actively traded bond portfolio can provide additional safety. In many bond funds, bonds are being sold mid-term, sometimes at a profit or loss. Since you are holding bonds to maturity in a ladder, you aren’t realizing losses day to day, thus reducing overall market risk.
A bond ladder can be built from all kinds of bonds, like corporate, treasury, or municipal bonds based on the needs of the investor. A municipal bond ladder, for example, can be a good option for those in higher tax brackets that want a more tax friendly stream of income. Certain bonds inherently carry more risk than other, but a bond ladder can be customized to a risk profile. An investor who may have a higher tolerance for risk can invest more in corporate bonds rather than treasuries.
There can be many benefits to implementing a bond ladder, but it can take more capital than just outright purchasing individual bonds or a bond mutual fund due to its very nature of needing multiple bonds to execute it. Creating a bond ladder does takes some important planning and monitoring and is likely only one piece of your overall portfolio. Seeking the help of a financial professional is the best way to identify if a bond ladder makes sense for you.
Fee-Based Planning offered through W3 Wealth Advisors, LLC – a State Registered Investment Advisor – Third Party Money Management offered through Valmark Advisers, Inc. a SEC Registered Investment Advisor – Securities offered through Valmark Securities, Inc. Member FINRA, SIPC – 130 Springside Drive, Suite 300 Akron, Ohio 44333-2431 * 1-800-765-5201 – W3 Wealth Management, LLC and W3 Wealth Advisors, LLC are separate entities from Valmark Securities, Inc. and Valmark Advisers, Inc.
The example(s) given are hypothetical and are for illustrative purposes. Actual results may vary from those illustrated.
This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, accounting, legal or tax advice. The services of an appropriate professional should be sought regarding your individual situation.
Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
