Q: Good afternoon 5i;

I have been a holder of the TLT ETF for some time; only a very short period was it in the green. While the yield has been decent, I am now down 14% as the Jerome Powell cage gets rattled.

My question is simply, are the Trumpian risks becoming too much to hold this ETF? I believe he is radical enough to remove Powell, but likely won't and will just continue to make noise. Even the noise is having impact.

If yes, do you have a Canadian Bond Fund you might recommend of similar characteristics?

Q: Long-term rates in the US are reaching above-average highs. Am I wrong to think that these rates are unsustainable in the long run and therefore they have to eventually come down? If this thesis is correct, doesn't that make TLT an excellent buy now? You are paid to wait and know that you will get your money back someday.

Appreciate your insight.

Paul F.

Q: In an effort to balance my portfolio, I’ve invested in both short-term (XBB, currently +0.9%) and long-term (XLB, currently -2.74%) bond ETFs, all held within a registered account. Despite these being commonly recommended by industry analysts for portfolio diversification and stable returns, I’m seeing losses across both and finding it difficult to understand how to generate positive returns from bonds in the current market environment.

Given this, I’d appreciate your guidance. Should I consider:
• Selling XBB and XLB and moving the funds to a high-interest savings account?
• Adding to my bond holdings by including alternatives like XSB or VAB?
• Holding my current positions and staying the course?

I’m open to adjusting my strategy but would value your insight on how best to approach bond investments right now.