Risk Information

Risks associated with Fixed Income investing: many investors consider bonds to be "risk free" investment vehicles. Historically, bonds have indeed provided less volatility and less risk of loss of capital than has equity investing. However, there are many factors that may affect the risk and return profile of a fixed-income portfolio. The two most prominent factors are interest-rate movements and the creditworthiness of the bond issuer. Bonds issued by the U.S. government have significantly less risk of default than those issued by corporations and municipalities (see footnotes 3 and 5 below for a discussion of the risk associated with high-yield bonds and convertible securities). However, the overall return on government bonds tends to be less than these other types of fixed-income securities. Investors should pay careful attention to the types of fixed-income securities that comprise their portfolio, and remember that, as with all investments, there is the risk of the loss of capital.

Not every investment opportunity will meet all of the stringent investment criteria mentioned to the same degree. Trade-offs must be made, which is where experience and judgment play a key role. Accounts are invested at the discretion of the portfolio manager and may take up to 60 days to become fully invested.

Disclosures

(1) The calculation of the performance data includes reinvestment of all income and gains and is depicted on a time-weighted and size-weighted average for the entire period. Calculations include reinvestment of all income and gains. This performance is after the deduction of both management fees and transaction costs. Performance figures include all of Eagle’s retail managed accounts. No inference should be drawn by present or prospective clients that managed accounts will achieve similar investment performance in the future. Because accounts are individually managed, returns for separate accounts may be higher or lower than the average performance stated above.

Performance data for the current year have not been audited and are subject to revision. Thus, the composite returns shown here may be revised and Eagle will publish any revised performance data. Investing in equities may result in a loss of capital.

(2) Investment grade refers to fixed-income securities rated BBB or better by Standard & Poor’s or Baa or better by Moody’s.

(3) Asset-backed securities and mortgage-backed securities are created by pooling loans from a variety of sources and issuing bonds that are backed by these loans. Creditworthiness stems from the credit quality of the underlying loans, as opposed to corporate bonds in which creditworthiness is derived from the earning power of the issuing company. The primary risk of these securities is interest-rate risk. Rising interest rates might cause loan principal prepayments to slow, resulting in less available principal to invest at prevailing higher rates. Conversely, rate decreases might accelerate prepayments, leaving more dollars to invest at lower rates.

(4) Convertible securities and preferred stock combine the fixed-income characteristics of bonds with some of the potential for capital appreciation of equities and, thus, may be subject to greater risk than pure fixed-income instruments. Unlike bonds, preferred stock and some convertible securities do not have a fixed par value at maturity, and in this respect may be considered riskier than bonds. Convertible securities may include convertible bonds, convertible preferred stocks and other fixed-income instruments that have conversion features.

(5) Accounts using Intermediate Conservative and High Quality Tax–Free may only be available at select broker/dealers.

(6) Investments in high-yield bonds and convertible securities are subject to the client’s authorization, as set forth in the Investment Management Agreement. Such investments may be subject to greater risks than other fixed-income investments. The lower rating of high-yield bonds (less than investment grade) reflects a greater possibility that the financial condition of the issuer or adverse changes in general economic conditions may impair the ability of the issuer to pay income and principal. Periods of rising interest rates or economic downturns may cause highly leveraged issuers to experience financial stress, and thus markets for their securities may become more volatile. Moreover, to the extent that no established secondary market exists, there may be thin trading of high-yield bonds, which increases the potential for volatility.