Free Interactive Course Simulates Decision-making About Investing In Municipal Bonds

WASHINGTON, July 5, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) today launched a free, interactive online course to help investors understand how municipal bonds work and assess how they might fit into a balanced portfolio.

"For sheer variety, there is no market quite like the universe of municipal securities," said MSRB Executive Director Lynnette Kelly. "One million securities are outstanding, a total that dwarfs all other equity and bond instruments. The MSRB is committed to providing objective and authoritative information to help investors navigate this diverse marketplace."

"Exploring Municipal Bonds: A Course for Investors" uses real-world scenarios to show investors where to get information about municipal bonds and to highlight considerations for selecting an individual security. Appropriate for both individual investors and professionals, the course was developed to supplement the MSRB's online Education Center, which provides free, objective information about the municipal bond market. Create an account in MuniEdPro® to take the free, 45-minute course. 

The municipal bond investor course is part of MSRB's MuniEdPro® suite of online, interactive courses about municipal market activities and regulations. Other topics in the series include primary market offering disclosure responsibilities, roles and responsibilities of market participants in a primary offering, and the role of the regulator. 

"We wanted to leverage the latest in online technology to engage investors seeking a deeper understanding of municipal bonds," said Ritta McLaughlin, MSRB's Chief Education Officer. "Our investor course enables them to experience a variety of scenarios to explore how municipal bond investing would have an impact on their portfolio and their income. It is an exciting addition to the growing catalog of MuniEdPro® courses."

The MSRB developed the free course to educate fixed-income investors about municipal bonds and help them evaluate how municipal bonds can fit into a balanced portfolio of investments. Municipal bonds attract perennial interest through ups and downs in the broader financial markets because of their tax advantages and historically low default rates.

The MSRB protects investors, state and local governments and other municipal entities, and the public interest by promoting a fair and efficient municipal securities market. The MSRB fulfills this mission by regulating the municipal securities firms, banks and municipal advisors that engage in municipal securities and advisory activities. To further protect market participants, the MSRB provides market transparency through its Electronic Municipal Market Access (EMMA®) website, the official repository for information on all municipal bonds. The MSRB also serves as an objective resource on the municipal market, conducts extensive education and outreach to market stakeholders, and provides market leadership on key issues. The MSRB is a Congressionally-chartered, self-regulatory organization governed by a 21-member board of directors that has a majority of public members, in addition to representatives of regulated entities. The MSRB is subject to oversight by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contact: Jennifer A. Galloway, Chief Communications Officer
202-838-1500
[email protected] 

SOURCE Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB)