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BLACKROCK INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

Investment strategies: building bond portfolios

Seek to capitalize on higher yields in bonds today with BlackRock. Explore fixed income strategies and investment ideas for 2024 that can help build better bond portfolios.
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Consider increasing bond allocations now that the worst may be over

The last few years were challenged for bonds, with 2022 marking the worst year, leaving many investors spooked and under-allocated today. Take the late 2023 bond rally as an example – if you weren’t invested, you missed out.

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Source: Bloomberg, as of 12/31/23. Represented by U.S. Treasury bond 10Y index annual real returns from 1929 through 2023. Past performance does not guarantee or indicate future results. Index performance is for illustrative purposes only. You cannot invest directly in the index.

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Take advantage of higher yields

Higher rates mean ‘bonds can act like bonds’. Investors typically buy bonds for income and diversification – but they didn’t get either over the last few years. And higher rates mean your "yield cushion" may help limit portfolio downside in multiple market scenarios.
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Build your fixed income portfolio

Explore BlackRock fixed income solutions across the risk and yield spectrum for all types of investment portfolios and goals.

Objective Fund Name Ticker ETF or mutual fund
Income      

I want to tap into today's higher yields.

 iShares Flexible Income Active ETF > BINC ETF 
BlackRock High Yield Bond Fund > BHYIX Mutual fund
BlackRock Credit Strategies Fund > CREDX Mutual fund
BlackRock Private Credit Fund > BDEBT  ETF 
Capital preservation      
I want to put cash to work. BlackRock Strategic Income Opp. Fund > BSIIX Mutual fund
iShares Short Duration Bond Active ETF > NEAR ETF 
iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF > ISTB ETF 
iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF > TFLO ETF 
Equity diversification      

I want bonds that diversify my stocks.

 BlackRock Global Equity Market Neutral Fund > BDMIX Mutual fund
BlackRock Systematic Multi-Strategy Fund > BIMBX Mutual fund
iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF > AGG ETF 
iShares Core Total USD Bond Market ETF > IUSB ETF 
Personalize & scale      

 I want to personalize and scale.

 Fixed income SMAs > - Other
Model portfolios > - ETF/Mutual fund

The funds listed in the table above have been chosen by BlackRock and iShares product strategists to help represent potential investor portfolio objectives. The scope of the funds under consideration are iShares ETF and mutual fund offerings. This information should not be relied upon by the reader as research or investment advice regarding the funds or any issuer or security in particular and is subject to change.

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The strategies listed in the table above have been chosen by BlackRock and iShares product and portfolio strategists to help represent potential investor portfolio objectives. The scope of the funds under consideration are iShares and BlackRock ETF and mutual fund offerings. This information should not be relied upon by the reader as research or investment advice regarding the funds or any issuer or security in particular and is subject to change.

Optimize your bond portfolio

The BlackRock Bond Pyramid is an interactive tool that showcases ways to blend active funds with bond ETFs to help meet portfolio goals or prepare for changing markets.
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Resources for educating clients on investing for the long-term

BlackRock’s popular, end-client approved “conversation starters” help you get the conversation rolling.

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Conversation starters

When markets are volatile, clients’ emotions can run high. Each of them need to hear from you, but there aren’t enough hours in the day for individual conversations. This is where effective scaled communications can help you build and maintain client trust without zapping all your energy.

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Counsel clients with behavioral finance

Logically, a client’s investment decisions should be driven by numbers. But, in reality, emotions can come into play. That’s why your clients need a coach to help them stay invested through market ups and downs.

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