Q: I’m looking for ideas on the best way to park a meaningful cash position safely while still earning a competitive yield.

My priorities are:
• capital preservation / low risk
• strong liquidity or predictable maturities
• a competitive yield relative to today’s rates
• flexibility to choose either monthly income distributions or annual interest payouts

I’d appreciate your thoughts on the best options available in Canada today.

Specifically, how would you compare the pros and cons of:
• a 10-year bond ladder
• GIC's
• a money market fund
• a monthly income ETF such as ZMI
• a high-interest savings ETF or HISA
• other safe alternatives I may be overlooking

For context, this is retirement-oriented capital, so I value certainty and reliable income, but I also want to avoid having too much cash sitting at low HISA rates if there are better low-risk choices available.

Would like to understand your thoughts wrt balancing yield, liquidity, and safety in the current rate environment.—

Q: I hold 2 bond funds in my RSP, ZAG and BND. Both bought last summer after a GIC matured and I didn't want to lock in funds again at that time. Both ETFs are slightly under water on the stock price, and getting worse. Interest payments don't do much more than make me even. With a low yield (esp. ZAG), market movements can be a killer and has me thinking a money market type fund might have been better, despite lower yields still. I know you seem to think rates will be coming down - which I assume will be a plus - but the market seems to be pointing the other way. Questions:
1) would you continue to hold these funds
2) do these complement each other, which was my thinking
3) do you see either of these funds changing their monthly payments
4) are there better alternatives
Thank-you

Q: Good Morning,

Retired income investor with almost 100% of funds in equities. I feel it is time that I added some bond exposure but I am not well informed on this market. Can you please suggest investments that would get me started, cover the basic gamut and provide reasonable returns.

Thanks very much.