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  5. CBIL: I’m looking for safer areas to park money in each of our tsfa’s ,rrsp’s and non registered accounts. [Global X 0-3 Month T-Bill ETF]
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Q: I’m looking for safer areas to park money in each of our tsfa’s ,rrsp’s and non registered accounts. Can you suggest a few of your favourites for each. We are semi retired and won’t need the funds for at least 10-20 yrs but would like a little more protection in a downturn.Currently 80 equities ,20% cash (CBIL and BIL )and no bonds. If there are safe bond ETFs that you prefer in certain accounts please recommend them as well. Take as many credits as needed. Thanks!
Asked by Randall on August 28, 2025
5i Research Answer:

We are comfortable with CBIL, BIL, PSA, CASH, HISA, HSAV, ZMMK, Canada T Bills, GICs, bank Money Market funds, and direct Canada bond investments (we are also comfortable with US bonds directly). Bond funds have more general risk, and can decline, but for the timeframe noted we would be fine with XBB, XSB, CBO, CBD.

All of these except HSAV would be better in an RRSP as they are taxed as interest. HSAV does not pay distributions and thus can be held in a non-reg account for the best tax positioning. Generally we would prefer to save a TFSA for 'growth' securities and not bonds or cash equivalents. 

Of the above, it really depends on how much security one wants. ETFs are not guaranteed but we consider them very safe.  GICs (to $100,000) and direct government investments (unlimited) are guaranteed. Money Market funds are short term and very safe, but again not technically guaranteed. Funds like CBIL are not 'guaranteed' but at least they own guaranteed securities only. 

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