With interest rates returning to more normalized levels, municipal bond yields are drawing renewed attention—and investors are looking for time-tested strategies to navigate this evolving landscape. This week on Basis Points, Kevin Flanagan is joined by Rick Harper to introduce the WisdomTree Core Laddered Municipal Bond Fund (WTMU) and the WisdomTree High Income Laddered Municipal Bond Fund (WTMY), combining the consistency of laddered bond strategies with the active credit expertise of Insight Investment Management.

Basis point: 1/100th of 1 percent.

Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index: Measures the performance of the Bloomberg U.S. Municipal bond market.

Obligor: refers to a bond issuer who is contractually bound to make all principal repayments and interest payments on outstanding debt.

Uncertainty remains the defining theme as investors await the April 2nd tariff announcement. In the latest episode of Basis Points, Kevin Flanagan is joined by Sam Rines (Macro Strategist at WisdomTree) and they break down how Trump’s trade stance, Powell’s Fed, and interest rate expectations are shaping market dynamics. 

Basis Points: 1/100th of 1 percent. 

The Fed just hit pause, again, at the March FOMC meeting, keeping rates steady at 4.25%-4.50% amid economic uncertainty. With policymakers in “wait and see” mode, this week on Basis Points, Kevin Flanagan breaks down what’s driving the decision and what it means for fixed income investors.

Basis point: 1/100th of 1 percent.

The bond market can turn on a dime, and 2025 is proving to be no exception. This week on Basis Points, Kevin Flanagan unpacks how tariff uncertainty and federal job cuts are steering the bond market, and what investors should watch next. Basis point: 1/100th of 1 percent.

Bond market volatility has made extending duration an unreliable strategy, with the U.S. Treasury 10-year yield swinging between 3.6% and 5% over the past 18 months. This week on Basis Points, Kevin Flanagan explains why Floating Rate Notes (FRNs) have outperformed longer-duration bonds and how they can help investors navigate interest rate uncertainty.

Barbell: The barbell is an investment strategy applicable primarily to a fixed income portfolio.

Basis point: 1/100th of 1 percent.

Private credit has surged in popularity, but how does it stack up against public credit heading into 2025? This week on Basis Points, Kevin Flanagan leads a discussion with Morgan Stanley’s Vishwanath Tirupattur to break down the competitive landscape, expected returns, and why both markets are carving out distinct roles in investor portfolios.

Basis point: 1/100th of 1 percent.

The U.S. labor market is proving more resilient than expected, with job growth on the rise just months after the Fed’s first rate cut. This week on Basis Points, Kevin Flanagan breaks down why this shift raises the bar for future easing and what it means for fixed income investors.
Basis point:1/100th of 1 percent.

For the first time since September, the Federal Reserve kept rates unchanged at the January FOMC meeting, holding the Fed Funds target range at 4.25%–4.50%. But is this pause a step toward more rate cuts or the beginning of a more cautious approach? This week on the Basis Points podcast, Kevin Flanagan shares the key takeaways from the January meeting, the Fed’s recalibrated stance and why the definition of a “neutral” rate remains a moving target.

Basis Point: 1/100th of a percent.

U.S. corporate bonds are currently exhibiting historically tight spreads, with investment-grade and high-yield spreads at +80bp and +270bp, respectively, levels not seen since 1998 and 2007. Despite potential headwinds like tight spreads and increased supply, this week on Basis Points, Kevin Flanagan covers why elevated yield levels and supportive macroeconomic conditions suggest a neutral outlook for U.S. corporates in fixed-income portfolios. 

Basis point: 1/100th of 1 percent.