New York Life Bets On Long-Duration Munis As Tax-Free Yields Heat Up

BY Benzinga | MUNICIPAL | 12/16/25 02:10 PM EST

New York Life Investments launched a new actively managed municipal bond ETF, designed to serve those investors wanting to attain higher levels of tax-exempt income with interest rates near record highs.

? What’s ahead for MMCA stock?

The company launched the NYLI MacKay Muni Allocation ETF (MMMA) , a strategy that combines a core allocation to predominantly long-duration, investment-grade municipal bonds with a tactical sleeve in high-yield munis.

The strategy is designed to balance income generation with selective risk-taking, at a time when duration and credit selection are back in the spotlight.

MMMA is managed by a team from MacKay Shields. Co-Portfolio Manager Michael Denlinger said that current market conditions have created a compelling entry point for long-duration municipal strategies, noting that tax-exempt yields are at some of the most attractive levels seen in more than 10 years.

He added that an active approach allows investors to potentially benefit from higher income today while positioning for price appreciation if interest rates begin to ease. In an environment where duration risk and issuer fundamentals matter more than usual, the fund is intended to address both, he said.

The launch will help extend the product offerings for active municipal bond ETFs already managed by New York Life Investments. These existing products include NYLI MacKay Muni Short Duration ETF (MMSD) , NYLI MacKay Muni Insured ETF (MMIN) , NYLI MacKay Muni Intermediate ETF (MMIT) and the NYLI MacKay California Muni Intermediate ETF (MMCA) . With MMMA, the firm is adding a longer-duration option to round out the suite.

As of Sept. 30, New York Life Investments oversaw $799.4 billion in assets under management. MacKay Municipal Managers was entrusted with $81.6 billion in municipal bond assets, underscoring its role as a major player in active muni investing ? proving, once again, that boring bonds can still make headlines.

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In general the bond market is volatile, and fixed income securities carry interest rate risk. (As interest rates rise, bond prices usually fall, and vice versa. This effect is usually more pronounced for longer-term securities.) Fixed income securities also carry inflation risk and credit and default risks for both issuers and counterparties. Unlike individual bonds, most bond funds do not have a maturity date, so avoiding losses caused by price volatility by holding them until maturity is not possible.

Lower-quality debt securities generally offer higher yields, but also involve greater risk of default or price changes due to potential changes in the credit quality of the issuer. Any fixed income security sold or redeemed prior to maturity may be subject to loss.

Before investing, consider the funds' investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Contact Fidelity for a prospectus or, if available, a summary prospectus containing this information. Read it carefully.

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