Bond Investment Mentor

Welcome to Bond Investment Mentor! In this episode, Chris addresses the question he's been hearing from community bankers recently: rates are higher, markets are choppy, so what do we do now? He shares a three-step strategic process for making confident investment decisions when market conditions feel uncertain. In this episode: What should community bankers do with investment portfolios now? Mark...

Welcome to Bond Investment Mentor! In this episode, Chris presents a simple, practical approach to municipal bond due diligence for community financial institutions.  In this episode: Returning to Pacific Coast Banking School ( LEARN MORE ) Market & Fed update (2:22) The return of the term premium (4:03) Municipal bond due diligence made simple (9:16) Two essential questions when evaluating muni b...

Welcome to Bond Investment Mentor! In this episode, Chris examines the difference between "portfolio managers" and "bond collectors." He also discusses how to tell the difference, and how it's the most important step you can take to effective investment management. In this episode: Market update (2:00) Portfolio managers vs. bond collectors (4:18) What makes your institution's investments a portfo...

Welcome to Bond Investment Mentor! In this episode, Chris discusses investment portfolio duration management and why it matters for community financial institutions. He also shares a four-step process to help you manage investment duration systematically. In this episode: Market & Fed update (2:15) Changing Fed communications (4:29) Managing portfolio duration (10:19) The two definitions of durati...

Welcome to Bond Investment Mentor! In this episode, Chris discusses the importance of a periodic strategic check-up for your institution's investment portfolio. He also shares six key checkpoints to help you evaluate the portfolio's current position.    In this episode: Market & Fed update (2:08) Update: FASB amendment to allow hedging HTM securities (6:44) A Mid-Year Strategic Portfolio Check-Up...

Welcome to Bond Investment Mentor! In this episode, Chris explores what bond defeasance is, how it works, and how it affects you as an investor. He also discusses how to identify and analyze defeased securities.   In this episode: Market & Fed update (1:34) Understanding Defeasance (9:19) How defeasance works Municipal bonds & defeasance Commercial MBS & defeasance Analyzing defeased securities Wh...

Welcome to Bond Investment Mentor! In this episode, Chris breaks down callable step-up agency bonds. He explains how these agency bonds work and how these investments could deliver less than you expect. Chris also provides a framework for analyzing step-ups using Bloomberg screens and deciding whether they actually make sense for your institution's portfolio. In this episode: Market & Fed update (...

Welcome to Bond Investment Mentor! In this episode, Chris explores callable agency bonds and examines what you're actually trading away when you buy these securities. He walks through how callable bonds work, the three main call structures you'll encounter, and the portfolio-level implications of giving up control to the issuer. You'll also learn which Bloomberg screens to use when analyzing calla...

Welcome to Bond Investment Mentor! In this episode, Chris discusses the importance of establishing a solid investment pre-purchase due diligence process. He shares a four-question framework to help build a system that works both before and after the investment purchase. In this episode: Fed & Market Update (2:08) Visa Class B repurchase offer ( Visa announcement ) (13:01) Your Pre-Purchase Due Dil...

Welcome to Bond Investment Mentor! In this episode, Chris explores why most investment policies are built to fight the last crisis and how that reactive approach leaves institutions exposed to emerging risks. He shares a practical six-step approach for transforming your investment policy into a forward-looking strategic tool. In this episode: Market & Rate Update (1:37) NEW! Sub-Debt Reference Gui...

Welcome to Bond Investment Mentor! In this episode, Chris breaks down bank subordinated debt as community banks face a wave of refinancing offers. Learn what makes sub-debt riskier than typical bonds, the policy foundation required before investing, and how to perform independent credit analysis on these securities. In this episode: Market & Rate Update (1:32) Follow-Up Investments/Liquidity Discu...

Welcome to Bond Investment Mentor! In this episode, Chris explores why strategic cash flow management should be your number one liquidity tool for managing the investment portfolio. Learn how to move from reactive scrambling to proactive liquidity planning, while protecting portfolio income and performance. In this episode: Federal Reserve Update (1:13) FASB Comments on Hedging HTM Securities (7:1...

Welcome to Bond Investment Mentor! In this episode, Chris discusses prepayment risk, why it may be making a comeback, and how to manage this risk in investment portfolios. In this episode: Celebrating five years of BIM1 (1:06) Bond market update (2:40) Bond rally and interest rates Fed Chair Powell comments The importance of "strategic patience" What's happening with the GDPNow model? (7:30) - Che...

Welcome to Bond Investment Mentor! In this episode, Chris explores the power of strategic portfolio management and why it's essential for community financial institutions in today's uncertain environment. In this episode: Upcoming training (2:10) GSBC Executive Development Institute Community Bank Performance Institute Learn More Federal Reserve update (4:00) FOMC decision Bowman nomination for Vi...

In this episode: FOMC decision (1:35) BTFP is officially ending (6:09) Discount Window proposal (7:55) Federal Reserve info on Discount Window collateral (Click here) Rates are changing, what should we do? (11:23) Upcoming investment strategy workshop (LEARN MORE) Two investment training opportunities (22:37) Bond Basics course (LEARN MORE) Community Bank Investments School (CBIS) (LEARN MORE) If...

In this episode: Bond market review (2:14) Federal Reserve update (4:59) BTFP expiration FOMC membership changes Portfolio preparations for 2024 (10:12) Join us at the Fixed Income Institute (LEARN MORE) If you have questions about anything covered in this episode, please email me at Chris @ BondInvestmentMentor.com. Do you know someone who could benefit from this information? Please share this ep...

In this episode: Special Guest:  Darnell Canada from Darling Consulting Group Join us at the Fixed Income Institute (LEARN MORE) 1-on-1 mentoring - Professional development for community bankers (LEARN MORE) If you have questions about anything covered in this episode, please email me at Chris @ BondInvestmentMentor.com. Do you know someone who could benefit from this information? Please share thi...

In this episode: Special Guest:  Bob Newman from Chatham Financial Join us at the Fixed Income Institute (LEARN MORE) If you have questions about anything covered in this episode, please email me at Chris @ BondInvestmentMentor.com. Do you know someone who could benefit from this information? Please share this episode and podcast with them! You will find more articles, tips, and resources about fi...

In this episode: Special Guest:  Neil Stanley from The Core Point Pressure Gauge for Bank Funding (Click here to try it!) Join us at the Fixed Income Institute (LEARN MORE) If you have questions about anything covered in this episode, please email me at Chris @ BondInvestmentMentor.com. Do you know someone who could benefit from this information? Please share this episode and podcast with them! Yo...

Welcome to Bond Investment Mentor! This is a podcast dedicated to helping community financial institutions master the art of fixed-income investments. In this episode: Results of FHFA review of FHLB (3:53) (Download FHFA Report) The Fixed Income Institute: The Ultimate Investment Training for Community Bankers (9:51) (LEARN MORE) If you have questions about anything covered in this episode, please...

Welcome to Bond Investment Mentor! This is a podcast dedicated to helping community financial institutions master the art of fixed-income investments. In this episode: Review of bond markets & economic data (1:12) July MBS prepayment report (2:04) Investment Strategy Workshop in September! (3:31) (Learn More) Guest: Gretchen Claflin, Pacific Coast Banking School (5:58) If you have questions about...

Welcome to Bond Investment Mentor! This is a podcast dedicated to helping community financial institutions master the art of fixed-income investments. In this episode: Review of bond markets & economic data (1:43) Coming Up! - GSBC Economic & Investment Forum (5:11) (Learn More) Past episodes on fixed-income security types (6:30) Municipal bonds (Click Here) Commercial MBS (Click Here) The basics...

Welcome to Bond Investment Mentor! This is a podcast dedicated to helping community financial institutions master the art of fixed-income investments. In this episode: Bond market review (2;34) EMMA - A free muni bond resource (3:51) (Learn More) The basics of commercial mortgage-backed securities (7:38) What are commercial MBS? Call or prepayment protection benefits Agency CMBS types Fannie Mae -...

Welcome to Bond Investment Mentor! This is a podcast dedicated to helping community financial institutions master the art of fixed-income investments. In this episode: Bond market review (1:59) The latest MBS prepayment data (5:26) The basics of municipal bonds (6:51) What are municipal bonds? Benefits of muni bonds Types of municipal bonds Taxable-equivalent yields Risks & other considerations Ch...

Welcome to Bond Investment Mentor! This is a podcast dedicated to helping community financial institutions master the art of fixed-income investments. In this episode: Bond market review (1:43) A follow-up to last week's episode (3:56) The four levels of risk (6:32) If you have questions about anything covered in this episode, please email me at Chris @ BondInvestmentMentor.com. Do you know someon...