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 1-800-367-2663 or e-mail us.
Given the turmoil in the muni market since the eruption of the financial crisis, do you still think the same about munis or are you concerned, specifically, in states like New York, where such a significant portion of city and state revenues come from Wall Street? Are municipal default risks rising or am I just unnecessarily fearful that a state like New York will not be fine, in terms of munis?
R.C., New York
Net asset values of muni bond funds have dropped these days. I know I shouldn’t look at day-to- day market fluctuations, but with the $700 billion bailout coming, its potential drag on the economy and with bond insurers in trouble, I wonder if muni bonds or bond funds are still a good investment?
D.O., California
Assuming an investor’s objective is tax-free income and he lives in a state with an income tax of 5%, do you recommend investing in one’s own state offerings in order to enjoy tax exemption at the state level, or investing in other states’ offerings if the yield is higher? If you agree with the second option, is there any minimum difference in yield between the best offering in one’s own state vs. that in another state that you think must be exceeded before going through the hassle of paying state taxes?
H.F., Alabama
Do you think Lehman Brothers will survive its present problems? What is its responsibility to the bondholders in case of a sale of the company? Will the bondholders eventually be made whole? Is there any protection in case of a default by Lehman?
B.P., Florida
I appreciate your article. Because I own several businesses and am in a high tax bracket, I’ve looked at munis. I’m not a speculator, so I didn’t leap at opportunities when MBIA and Ambac were downgraded. I, too, foresee a rise in taxes and see no bounce in interest rates as in the era of “stagflation.” I think the “wage” component of the “wage-price spiral” has been wiped out. I am looking at a three- to five-year investment horizon. As an investor in Treasuries, what do I do? I’m losing principal to inflation.
H.H., California
Can you sell bonds at anytime or do you have to hold on to them until maturity?
D.D.
Where do you think mortgage rates are headed?
V.W.
Why has the rating of my municipal bond, Massachusetts St. Dev. Fin., CUSIP 57583fzx2, gone from “AAA” to “A-“?
C.S., Florida
I am heavily invested in Ohio tax-free municipal bonds. My huge open-ended bond fund went from being 100% “AAA” insured to 80% “AAA” insured, but because of recent negative news surrounding bond insurers, my fund will suffer yet another hit. How safe are these investments today, without the insurance, given the economic outlook for my state?
B.A., Ohio
Over the past week, the NAV of my California municipal bond fund (FRCIX) has been going down. I am OK with the ups and downs and I recognize that I am in it for the income. However, is there anything specific going on this week causing the fund to drop so much?
V.C., California
Do you have specific criteria for bonds you’re looking for? Let us know and we’ll e-mail you bonds that fit your needs. There is no charge for this service.