From the Inside Flap
Fixed income investing is often unduly subject to the whims of inflationary economic forces, and, at best, serves a minor risk-management function. At least, that's the perception of most investors. But, according to consummate industry insider Sean Simko, nothing could be further from the truth. A well-constructed fixed income portfolio, says Simko, offers the promise of reliably consistent returns, even in the most turbulent and unpredictable market environments. Which is why knowing how to build and strategically manage one is a skill every investment manager and financial advisor surely needs to master.
In Strategic Fixed Income Investing, Simko draws upon his many years of experience as a successful global fixed income portfolio manager, with over 7 billion in assets under management, to share valuable lessons he has learned about creating a fixed income portfolio built to help weather any storm. He offers priceless insights into and methods for accurately sounding prevailing economic conditions, with an eye to identifying and investing in the most appropriate asset classes for every economic climate, whether its sovereign bonds, munis, T-bills, money markets or ABSs.
The first part of Strategic Fixed Income Investing explores recent changes in the fixed income markets, as well as recent and emerging economic and political trends and their implications for fixed income investors. With a laser focus and taking "expect the unexpected" as his motto, Sean Simko pursues a wide-ranging discussion covering everything from early warning signs of the 2008 financial collapse to the ongoing debt ceiling debates in Congress, the Federal Reserve, and the vagaries of monetary policy to loss of confidence in the AAA rating and the demise of Lehman Brothers.
In Part Two, Simko delineates a number of highly successful methodologies for navigating the ever-evolving fixed income markets. With the help of numerous case studies and real-world examples, he describes an array of tested-in-the-trenches portfolio construction and asset allocation strategies, as well as powerful analytic techniques. Foremost among the strategies he prescribes is the ladder strategy, which can help mitigate interest rate risk. Put in the simplest of terms, laddering entails evenly investing in bonds in different maturities, over a set time frame. As Simko vividly illustrates with examples drawn from his personal investing experience and from recent history, a well-orchestrated ladder strategy can help insulate a portfolio from the most adverse market conditions, while providing a consistent annual income stream, regardless of the interest rate environment or market cycle.
Offering an unparalleled opportunity to learn from a noted expert in the field, Strategic Fixed Income Investing is your best hedge against the flux and uncertainty of today's financial markets and the mounting instability of the global economy.
SEAN P. SIMKO is the Head of Fixed Income Portfolio Management at SEI, and a sought-after expert on fixed income investing and the financial markets. He leads a team of investment professionals responsible for research, analysis, implementation, and ongoing portfolio management of over $7 billion of fixed income strategies. Prior to joining SEI, Mr. Simko was vice president and portfolio manager for Weiss Peck & Greer Investments and was responsible for managing approximately $6 billion in assets through various strategies including short duration, tips, structured products, futures, and currencies. Mr. Simko has appeared on Bloomberg TV and radio and frequently on Money Matters, and he is regularly quoted in the Wall Street Journal and other mainstream publications. He has written numerous articles for financial magazines, including most recently, December's issue of Investment Advisor.
