Why you may want to zig when the Agg zags

Partner Insights from

Many investors use the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (the Agg) as the basis for large fixed-income allocations. But the Agg has become very concentrated — it’s heavily weighted toward government exposure. In this video, Ed Kerschner explains why products that track the Agg may lead to a lack of diversification and why it’s important to look beyond the benchmark to create a more efficient portfolio.

Download transcript

Securities products offered through Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., member FINRA. Advisory services provided by Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC.

Columbia Threadneedle Investments (Columbia Threadneedle) is the global brand name of the Columbia and Threadneedle group of companies.

The views expressed are as of the date given, may change as market or other conditions change and may differ from views expressed by other Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (CMIA) associates or affiliates. Actual investments or investment decisions made by CMIA and its affiliates, whether for its own account or on behalf of clients, may not necessarily reflect the views expressed. This information is not intended to provide investment advice and does not take into consideration individual investor circumstances. Investment decisions should always be made based on an investor’s specific financial needs, objectives, goals, time horizon and risk tolerance. Asset classes described may not be suitable for all investors. Past performance does not guarantee future results, and no forecast should be considered a guarantee either. Since economic and market conditions change frequently, there can be no assurance that the trends described here will continue or that any forecasts are accurate.

“The Agg right now is a very concentrated index….” Source: Bloomberg, 8/31/17.

The Bloomberg Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index (U.S. Aggregate) is a broad-based benchmark that measures the investment grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market. The index includes Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, MBS (agency fixed-rate and hybrid ARM pass-throughs), ABS and CMBS (agency and non-agency).

The Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 500 Index tracks the performance of 500 widely held, large-capitalization U.S. stocks.
It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

© 2019 Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC. All rights reserved.
2202031

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
Fixed income Earnings Passively managed products ETFs ETF Resource Center
MORE FROM FINANCIAL PLANNING