The Muni CreditCast

New data tools are providing a never-before-seen look at the state of infrastructure owned by cities nationwide ... with potentially major implications for future borrowing needs and credit quality.
In the latest episode of The Muni CreditCast, veteran municipal analyst Richard Ciccarone joins BAM's Suzanne Finnegan and Mike Stanton to discuss the new Infrastructure & Capital Assets Burden tool he built as part of the Investortools CreditScope platform -- with specific tips on how the information can be used by both muni bond investors and issuers. 
Please Note: This podcast does not constitute individual investment recommendations or advice. Investors considering the merits of a particular debt issue should read the Official Statement prepared for it. If BAM insurance has been purchased for some but not all of the bonds being offered for sale, the Official Statement will identify which bonds are insured. For more information, please view our Terms of Use: http://buildamerica.com/terms-of-use

In the final Muni CreditCast of 2025, we talk with Jim Kellum from S&P Global Markets Intelligence about the drivers of record new-issue volume in 2025 -- including surprising strength from an off-the-beaten path territory -- and how investors are preparing for what's expected to be another heavy volume year in 2026.
Please Note: This podcast does not constitute individual investment recommendations or advice. Investors considering the merits of a particular debt issue should read the Official Statement prepared for it. If BAM insurance has been purchased for some but not all of the bonds being offered for sale, the Official Statement will identify which bonds are insured. For more information, please view our Terms of Use: http://buildamerica.com/terms-of-use

The fiscal outlook for US colleges and universities remains uncertain, clouded by broad factors like macroeconomic conditions and demographic shifts, as well as questions about impacts from policy changes in response to deteriorating long-term Federal budget forecasts. To help listeners understand the dynamics -- and how financial leaders are responding -- we welcomed Liz Clark, VP of Policy and Research for the National Association of College and University Business Officers and Alex Vaisman, Managing Vice President and Heaf of Higher Education underwriting at BAM Mutual.

The Janaury 2025 wildfires in Los Angeles County are likely to be the most expensive natural disaster in US history. The financial consequences for local governments and bond investors are secondary to the losses suffered by residents and homeowners who were directly impacted., but the scale and severity of the damage has raised questions about the impact on the #municipalbonds market. 
In the latest edition of The Muni CreditCast from BAM Mutual, we look at which of the unique bond structures that help support infrastructure investments in Southern California are most likely to be impacted, and how investors can think about the outlook for their portfolios. We also provide updates on the BAM surveillance team's ongoing monitoring, which has indicated no material impacts on our outstanding portfolio.

Farhad Omeyr, author of the National League of Cities' annual report on City Fiscal Conditions, joined the podcast to discuss his findings, including how City leaders are adjusting to the end of Federal ARPA funding, and how the various revenues Cities rely on: Property, Sales, and Income taxes are holding up in the post-COVID economy.

Airport bond sales have surged in 2024, with a new wave of Terminals and other improvements revolutionizing fliers' experience from New York's Kennedy Airport to Burbank. BAM National Airports Practice lead Kevin Roberts joins the podcast to discuss the drivers of this trend and the key credit questions investors should ask when evaluating new deals. 

After more than a decade of relatively muted municipal bond sales by public power utilities, the sector is poised for growth. This month's episode of The Muni CreditCast provides insights about why market professionals are anticipating a turnaround, and what questions investors need to ask to help understand the credit quality of individual issuers.
Please Note: No statements in The Muni CreditCast should be considered individual investment recommendations or advice. Investors considering the merits of a particular debt issue should read the Official Statement prepared for it. For more information, please view our Terms of Use: http://buildamerica.com/terms-of-use

Texas Municipal Utility Districts are a unique ... and uniquely powerful financing tool for the infrastructure that supports fast-growing communities in Texas: They play a key role in providing roads, and water and sewer service. In the latest episode of The Muni CreditCast, BAM's Head of Texas Public Finance Greg Pacifico and Chief Credit Officer Suzanne Finnegan explain why new-issue volume by MUDs will be surging between now and November, and how BAM's underwriters analyze risks in the sector. 
Please Note: No statements in The Muni CreditCast should be considered individual investment recommendations or advice. Investors considering the merits of a particular debt issue should read the Official Statement prepared for it. For more information, please view our Terms of Use: http://buildamerica.com/terms-of-use

Hurricane Beryl kicked off what is expected to be a busy Atlantic hurricane season. What will that mean for #municipalbonds investors?
BAM Chief Risk Officer Laura Levenstein and Head of Surveillance Mike Weinstein join The Muni CreditCast to discuss the short-term and long-term risks from severe weather and other natural disasters, with insights about questions investors can ask, both before they purchase a bond in a disaster-exposed region ... and when a storm is bearing down.

National League of Cities researcher Farhad Omeyr is the guest for this month's podcast, discussing the results of NLC's recent survey of its members about the need for new infrastructure investments to enhance communities' resilience -- particularly in the face of extreme weather events. The discussion covers topics ranging from the types of events that local leaders are dealing with to the role they expect the municipal bond market to play in helping to address them.