In high-rate environment, don't replace individual bonds with bond funds

Mark Asaro, director of investments at Noble Wealth Management, says investors should not think that a traditional open-end mutual fund is a good replacement for individual bonds. Without a maturity date, bond funds don't have the pull toward par of an individual bond. Closed-end funds, however, are immune to dilution from cash flows into the fund, thereby providing a stable yield that investors can bank on, making them a better portfolio mix with individual bonds. Asaro notes that closed-end bond funds work best when the yield curve is upward sloping -- as opposed to today's heavy inversion -- but notes that there are selective opportunities looking strong now, notably in funds which buy municipal bonds.