Municipal Bond Forum
FMSbonds, Inc.’s Municipal Bond Forum is an exclusive opportunity for investors to submit questions and comments on the bond market or to respond to one of our articles.
To participate, just send us an e-mail. Be sure to include your name or initials and your state of residence. Posted e-mails may be edited for length and clarity. If you prefer a private response, please note that in your e-mail. Responses are provided by James A. Klotz, president and co-founder of FMSbonds, Inc., a municipal bond specialist for more than 35 years, and other members of the firm as noted.
Postings are listed by date. If you have any questions, please call us at 1-800-FMS-BOND (1-800-367-2663) or e-mail us.
Laddering when rates are flat
Your argument against laddering works well in large part because of the environment we have been in (sharply declining rates since 1982). In a bear market for bonds, or in an environment where rates stay relatively flat, it is not nearly as compelling. I suspect the multi-generational bull market in bonds we have had is about over, so a more defensive stance may have more merit going forward.
P.V., Oregon
North Carolina reciprocity
I don’t remember reading anything as cogent and as interesting as your Investor Bond Forum. On a separate matter, does North Carolina tax bonds from other states?
J.V., North Carolina
Muni Floaters
Are there any advantages to buying floater muni bonds? What is the best way to analyze floaters?
D.E.
On General Motors Reports Improved Earnings:
I assume that the article intends to make people feel good about buying GM bonds, but I find it misleading. You left out unfavorable facts that have appeared in the press and are well documented.
W.A., Florida
Uncovering value through close inspection
Please explain why one would pay 102 for a bond that is callable in one month at 100? I requested from you bonds in the two to 10-year range, A-rated or above and no “AMT” features. This hardly fits the bill.
N.B.
GM vs. Ford
Do you see a difference between GM and Ford bonds in terms of company viability?
M.M., New Hampshire
On Big Brother Expands Reach(Cont’d):
Mr. Klotz answered one question about the “Big Brother Expands Reach” article in the Bond Investors’ Forum, but his response has raised another question for me. Here is the last paragraph from Mr. Klotz’s answer: “Incidentally, there is a method to this madness. Although the interest is not taxable, certain levels of tax-free income can reduce other benefits you receive, such as Social Security.” My question is: How can I determine if the amount of tax-free interest I earn is at a level that will reduce other benefits?
T.O., Maryland
Residency and interest
For health reasons, I move in the summer to one state where I have property, and in the fall, I move back to the other state. If you own bonds from one state with state taxes and move to another state that doesn’t have state taxes, what happens to the interest?
A.F., Arizona
On ACA Financials Cheer Bondholders
You cheerfully tell us how great ACA insurance company is. I am 92 years old and I pay absolutely no attention to the fact that a bond is insured. Why? You say ACA has $6 billion in assets. What do the assets consist of? How many municipals have ACA insured? What is the total amount of insurance? How big are the individual responsibilities? In a financial crash, worst-case scenario, California would bankrupt ACA. I realize that there is some safety in spreading the risk, but a general financial collapse would create chaos in the insured municipal market, and only several separate individual municipals collapsing might create tremendous problems for insurance companies.
D.J.
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