U.S. Core Fixed Income Strategy

The strategy seeks to provide excess returns through a combination of bottom-up security selection, active sector allocation, and yield curve positioning. The team’s research-driven process targets relative value opportunities across multiple segments of the bond market with a focus on fundamental analysis.

 

Philosophy

The team believes strong relative performance can be generated through bottom-up, active management of sector allocation, issue selection, and yield curve positioning. In managing the portfolio, the team takes a relative value approach to sector allocation and issue selection, engaging in intensive fundamental credit research and identifying points on the yield curve with the greatest return potential. Additionally, the team seeks to maintain a yield that’s above the benchmark yield in order to help reduce portfolio volatility.

Managed by

Howard C. Greene, CFA

Senior Portfolio Manager, Co-Head of U.S. Core and Core-Plus Fixed Income

Howard is head of U.S. core and core-plus fixed income at Manulife Investment Management. He serves as a lead portfolio manager for the core-plus fixed-income strategy and the core fixed-income strategy. Prior to joining the company, he spent more than 14 years at Sun Life Financial Services of Canada, where he worked as a senior vice president for Sun Capital Advisers and managed investment-grade and high-yield fixed-income portfolios for Sun Life’s general account and separately managed pension clients, mutual funds, and other institutional investors. Earlier in his career, Howard worked at Baring Asset Management as a fixed-income analyst. He holds the Certified Financial Analyst designation, is a member of the CFA Society Boston, and a past president and director of the Fixed Income Management Society of Boston. Howard has made several appearances on Bloomberg TV to discuss the bond market.

  • Education: B.B.A. in Business Administration, University of Massachusetts; M.B.A., Northeastern University
  • Joined the company: 2002
  • Began career: 1983
Howard C. Greene, CFA

Jeffrey N. Given, CFA

Senior Portfolio Manager, Co-Head of U.S. Core and Core-Plus Fixed Income

Jeff is co-head of the firm’s U.S. core and core-plus fixed-income team and is responsible for the firm’s securitized, core, core-plus, and government bond strategies. Prior to joining the portfolio management team, he was focused on research and trading in mortgage-backed securities within the Manulife fixed-income teams. Previously, he was an investment compliance analyst at the company. Jeff holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the CFA Society Boston.

  • Education: B.S., Business Administration, Boston University; M.S., Finance, Boston College
  • Joined the company: 1993
  • Began career: 1993
Jeffrey N. Given, CFA

Pranay Sonalkar, CFA

Associate Portfolio Manager, U.S. Core and Core Plus Fixed Income

Pranay is an associate portfolio manager on the firm’s U.S. Core and Core Plus Fixed Income team. Previously, he was a credit research analyst and sector lead responsible for research coverage of the industrials, utilities, and energy sectors. Prior to that, he was a lead credit analyst with Standard & Poor's on various chemical and environmental services issuers and, before that, he worked for Barclays Capital as a sell-side credit analyst assisting coverage in multiple sectors.

Education: B.A., Economics and Mathematical Science, Colby College; M.B.A., Cornell University–Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management

Joined the company: 2014

Began career: 2007

Pranay Sonalkar, CFA

Connor Minnaar, CFA

Portfolio Manager, Core and Core-Plus Fixed Income, Manulife Investment Management

Connor is a portfolio manager on the core and core-plus fixed-income team.  Previously, he was an investment analyst on the firm’s securitized assets research team, where he was responsible for coverage of agency and nonagency mortgage-backed securities sectors. Prior to joining the company, he was a senior capital reporting and control specialist at Pioneer Investments. Connor holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

  • Education: B.A., Economics, Drew University; M.B.A., Boston University
  • Joined the company: 2006
  • Began career: 2002
Connor Minnaar, CFA

Vehicles

At Manulife Investment Management, we offer investment strategies through a variety of vehicles to suit a broad range of client needs. Contact our institutional sales or consultant relations team to find out if this strategy/vehicle is offered in your region. 

  • Separate accounts

    Our separate accounts and separately managed accounts (SMAs) are designed for institutions and high-net-worth clients seeking tailored investment solutions and direct ownership of securities.

  • Pooled Funds

    Our professionally managed Pooled Funds are available to qualified institutions.

  • Mutual funds

    Mutual funds are liquid, professionally managed portfolios which are available to both institutional and retail investors.

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Important information

The material contains information regarding the investment approach described herein and is not a complete description of the investment objectives, risks, policies, guidelines or portfolio management and research that supports this investment approach. Any decision to engage Manulife Investment Management should be based upon a review of the terms of the prospectus, offering documents or investment management agreement, as applicable, and the specific investment objectives, policies and guidelines that apply under the terms of such agreement. There is no guarantee investment objectives will be met. The investment process may change over time. The characteristics set forth above are intended as a general illustration of some of the criteria the strategy team considers in selecting securities for client portfolios. Client portfolios are managed according to mutually agreed upon investment guidelines.

This information has been provided by Manulife Investment Management. All material is compiled from sources believed to be reliable and correct but accuracy cannot be guaranteed. This is not to be construed as an offer to buy or sell any financial instrument nor does it constitute an offer or invitation to invest in any fund managed by Manulife Investment Management and has not been prepared in connection with any such offer. This information does not constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice or recommendations with respect to the securities and sectors listed.

References to securities, transactions or holdings should not be considered a recommendation to purchase or sell a particular security and there is no assurance that, as of the date of publication, the securities remain in the portfolio. Additionally, it is noted that the securities or transactions referenced do not represent all of the securities purchased, sold or recommended during the period referenced and there is no guarantee as to the future profitability of the securities identified and discussed herein.

The indices cited are widely accepted benchmarks for investment performance within their relevant regions, sectors or asset classes, and represent non managed investment portfolio.