Portfolio Intelligence Podcast

The role of municipal bonds in tax-efficient portfolios

After a bumpy year with shifting supply dynamics and uneven performance, the muni market has regained its footing. In this episode, host John Bryson speaks with Adam for a discussion on what’s driving improved performance and the opportunities for investors. Adam breaks down how issuance trends, investor flows, and structural factors are shaping the market. He also shares why investors should consider munis and how active management can drive value in this environment. Here’s a quick look at the conversation: 1 What is driving the improved performance of municipal bonds? Adam: We started the year with a bumpy backdrop. Supply had been heavy for a couple of years as municipalities faced growing infrastructure needs, the replacement of older projects, and the rising cost of labor and materials. Early in the year, the supply overwhelmed demand, but as the year went on, flows came back into the market, and demand eventually outstripped supply. What we’re seeing now is a reversion to the mean, with lighter supply and money returning. It sets us up for a more balanced environment as the rest of the year plays out. 2. Why should investors consider municipal bonds in their portfolios? Adam: Munis work well for investors with taxable accounts or at higher tax brackets. Beyond that, they provide diversification and risk management as they tend to be less volatile than other fixed income instruments and act as a dampener in the portfolio. They also have one of the lowest correlations with the stock market, as they’re backed by more stable state and local revenues rather than corporate earnings. And there’s also the altruistic act of supporting your community infrastructure projects. 3. What differentiates your team’s approach to managing municipal bond portfolios? Adam: We’re looking for bonds that we believe are priced below their intrinsic value. Then, hopefully, as they move back toward their intrinsic value, we’ll sell them and move on to the next opportunity. We take an active approach—muni bonds are one of the asset classes where active management adds the most value because it’s an incredibly inefficient market.

Beyond home bias and the case for international equities

International equities have recently generated meaningful outperformance relative to U.S. equities, suggesting a material shift after an extended period of U.S. dominance. Host John Bryson is joined by Dean Bumbaca, CFA, portfolio manager at Axiom Investors, to discuss why international markets could continue to gain momentum and how global exposure can help investors capture these dynamic opportunities. Dean shares insights into the most attractive investment opportunities as the global economy restructures. The conversation also touches on the AI trade, equity valuations, and the consequences of a weaker U.S. dollar for investors with U.S.-focused portfolios. 1 How would you describe Axiom’s investment approach? Dean: At Axiom, we view the predominant, most durable factor that drives alpha in equity markets to be positive surprise. Our entire process is designed to spot inflections in businesses that will ultimately result in positive earnings surprises, coupled with an improving competitive advantage and deepening moats. We embrace buy and monitor, where new information proves or disproves our hypothesis. 2 Why should investors consider international equities in 2026? Dean: U.S. market outperformance through the end of 2024 was fueled by the strength of the U.S. economy and the country’s edge in design. We believe the global economy is beginning to shift from the design era to a build era, where outsized growth comes from capital heavy enterprises. The winners of this phase are in Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and parts of Europe, where advanced manufacturing remains concentrated. 3 What are the specific regional opportunities available in international markets? Dean: We have a large and increasing position in Japan. With the country’s dominance in materials science and scaled manufacturing, our companies are seeing strong demand for high performance specialty materials used in aeroengines and nuclear reactors. On top of that, the government has made structural changes to enhance shareholder return, improve return on equity, and valuation multiples. We also see meaningful upside in defense and aerospace. Defense demand is supported by rising government budgets, while aerospace should benefit from stronger international travel, which increases aircraft utilization and drives higher maintenance needs. In addition, we expect positive earnings momentum in European financials, supported by credible cost takeout programs that should translate into substantial capital returns over the coming years.

Market update and key investment themes for 2026

As markets enter 2026, investors are seeking clarity on how to navigate shifting risks and opportunities. Matt and Emily join the podcast to provide a wide-ranging market update amid the ongoing volatility and geopolitical uncertainty. They share their perspectives on what investors should watch for in today’s environment, including the impact of global events on inflation, the importance of focusing on quality investments, and where they see opportunities in fixed income and international markets. 1 What should investors watch out for in today’s volatile and uncertain geopolitical environment? Emily: From a geopolitical disruption standpoint, we're watching commodity prices closely, especially oil prices. If any event disrupts oil supply and drives prices higher, it could push inflation up. While we’re not seeing this right now, such a scenario would impact the U.S. Federal Reserve. It could challenge the expectations of one or two rate cuts that are currently priced into the market. 2 What are the key themes that investors should watch out for in 2026? Emily: Our mantra for 2026 is finding quality at a reasonable price. In 2025, lower-quality opportunities gained traction, and we’re looking to trim exposure to those areas. We expect companies that can maintain margins to perform well this year. Earnings growth could broaden beyond technology stocks, with mid-cap companies offering new opportunities. We’re also focused on right-sizing international positions based on any macro developments related to the U.S. dollar. Matt: Inflation, in our view, is moderating more than the market is pricing in. Despite this disinflation, bond yields remain elevated, offering attractive real income for investors. As a result, our conviction in bonds has grown, and we see current yields as a compelling opportunity for income as we head into 2026.

The role of alternative investments in modern portfolios

As the investment landscape continues to evolve, alternative investments are playing a larger role in portfolio construction. In this episode, host John Bryson talks with Pattie about the factors driving increased interest in this segment. Pattie shares insight into the development of new product structures, advances in technology, and the expanding access to private markets. She also addresses how the industry is responding to investor demand through innovation. 1 What are alternative investments? Pattie: Alternative investments are nontraditional assets outside of stocks and bonds, such as private equity, private credit, hedge funds, and real assets. They’re typically less liquid, more complex and are structured to enhance risk/return profiles. They generally provide diversification and increased income. These differ from liquid alternatives, such as long/short equity, market neutral, managed futures, and more derivative-related strategies. 2 What investor needs do alternative investments address? Pattie: Alternative investments are designed to meet investor needs and market gaps that traditional stocks and bonds may not. They provide diversification, which helps reduce portfolio concentration risk, as well as inflation protection. They also offer higher return potential through access to unique private market opportunities. Lastly, the illiquidity premium is a key feature, which is the price paid for additional returns in exchange for locking up capital for longer. 3 What’s the future of alternative investment product development? Pattie: In one word: democratization. We’ll see increased retail access to private markets, technology-driven distribution, tokenization, blockchain for settlement and customization. We’ll also see the emergence of alternative model portfolios that blend private and public assets. The industry is also focusing on innovations in liquidity and evolving fee structures.

Focusing on income and quality: portfolio positioning for 2026

2025 was a year unlike any other, with politics and sentiment driving markets more than fundamentals. In this episode, host John Bryson welcomes Matt and Emily to share their views on what shaped the year and how they’re thinking about portfolio positioning for 2026. Matt and Emily discuss why they’re taking a “drafting the market” approach, i.e., remaining fully invested, with a focus on managing risk. They explore the importance of targeting income and diversification, share their outlook on interest rates and sector dynamics, and provide practical ideas for building resilient portfolios in the year ahead. 1 Which sectors and trends stood out in 2025, and what do you expect for 2026? Emily: Market leadership broadened in 2025. Tech and communication services stayed in the lead, but industrials, financials, and healthcare also saw strong returns. Momentum was the top-performing factor. Heading into 2026, we’re looking to redeploy assets into high-quality stocks and bonds, especially as yields remain attractive. We think it’s a good time to move some cash sitting in money market funds into a diversified mix of high-quality bonds and stocks. 2 What are the top themes investors should focus on as they position portfolios for 2026? Matt: The first theme is income. After years of strong equity returns, it’s getting harder to sustain those gains. There are a lot of income opportunities, with the U.S. bond market providing attractive yields. As interest rates fall, we think investors shouldn't wait too long to allocate capital to lock in these yields. Additionally, investors can look for ways to boost return potential outside U.S. tech—consider mid and small caps. With international stocks looking expensive, we’re focused on finding areas with good quality earnings growth, such as industrials and healthcare. But above all, income remains our top focus for 2026.