In the current volatile and low interest rate environment, fixed-income funds with stable returns are an important part of investment portfolios. For Daniela Mardarovici and Scott Kimball, co-managers of BMO Mortgage Income Fund, mortgage-backed securities represent a large and diverse universe that can offer opportunities in different market environments.

Socially responsible investing funds have a variety of selection criteria, but only a limited number of these funds tend to focus on supporting community development. The CRA Qualified Investment Fund is one of the largest among its impact investment peers when it comes to supporting home ownership and community development.

Most intermediate bond funds rely on corporate bonds to deliver attractive total returns while anchoring overall credit exposure by using U.S. government and agencies’ debt. Mitch Flack explains how the portfolio team of the TCW Total Return Bond Fund seeks to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns by employing the company’s extensive

The combination of U.S. government and agency debt provides an anchoring and diversifying role in the portfolios of many retail investors. However, most government bond funds have expanded the scope to include corporate and international bonds into the mix of holdings. Bill Irving and Franco Castagliuolo, portfolio managers of Fidelity

While investors use core bond funds as a way to diversify from the equity portion in their portfolios, they tend to move away from the core investing mission to bonds in emerging markets and in the high yield spectrum. Keith Brakebill explains how the Russell Investment Grade Bond Fund stays

Investment decisions in the broad fixed-income market tend to be heavily dependent on macroeconomic and interest rate forecasts. Doug Folk and Chris Fitze, portfolio managers of Touchstone Total Return Bond Fund, restrict the influence of such projections on their portfolio by applying a bottom-up approach to sectors and bonds and

The bond market is deep and complex, with plenty of choices available across the yield curve and credit spectrum. Jim Keegan, Chairman and CIO of Seix Investment Advisors, explains how the RidgeWorth Seix Core Bond Fund seeks to benefit from a full market spread cycle investing instead of chasing yield

A diversified fixed-income portfolio of corporate and government agency bonds generally provides better balance between risks and returns. Matt Toms explains how the portfolio team of the Voya Intermediate Bond Fund benefits from the input of a dedicated team of analysts following debt securities that range from investment grade corporate

Differing investor objectives, behavioral elements and the overall market complexity tend to result in long-term mispricings in the fixed-income market. Greg Wilensky explains how the managers of AB Intermediate Bond Portfolio use a disciplined approach to identifying systemic opportunities with the help of a global team of researchers. 

Socially responsible investing has been traditionally based on exclusionary criteria. However, Delmar King and Benjamin Bailey have added a positive investment philosophy as they search for unique opportunities in the fixed-income world, bringing in the values of environmental concern and vibrant, peaceful communities.