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SIE: Debt Securities
SIE practice questionhardCMOs — Collateralized Mortgage Obligations

What is the primary purpose of creating tranches in a Collateralized Mortgage Obligation (CMO)?

  1. ATo guarantee a fixed rate of return regardless of interest rate changes
  2. BTo eliminate all prepayment risk for every investor
  3. CTo redistribute prepayment risk among different classes of bondholders based on their risk tolerance✓ Correct answer
  4. DTo make mortgage investments tax-exempt
Explanation

Why CTo redistribute prepayment risk among different classes of bondholders based on their risk tolerance

CMOs divide a pool of mortgages into tranches (classes) to redistribute — not eliminate — prepayment risk. Different tranches absorb prepayments in a specified order, allowing investors to choose a tranche that matches their risk tolerance and time horizon. CMOs do NOT eliminate prepayment risk entirely (A), guarantee returns (C), or provide tax-exempt status (D).

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