Yield and income are key factors to weigh

Article Excerpt

Retirees and other investors who depend on the income from their portfolios face a time of low returns on their fixed-income investments. The table below indicates the current income yields available on those investments, plus other asset classes—as represented by the ETFs highlighted below. It also provides an indication of risk as measured by the standard deviation of returns (higher standard deviation is riskier). The last column indicates the expected long-term returns. Meanwhile, here’s a brief look at a range of income-producing ETFs: High-rate savings accounts The PURPOSE HIGH-INTEREST SAVINGS ETF $50.01 (Toronto symbol PSA) has a market cap of $2.0 billion. Its MER is 0.14%. The ETF pays monthly distributions that fluctuate as deposit rates rise or fall. Based on the April payment for investors, the annual yield is 0.6%. Corporate Bonds The ISHARES CANADIAN CORPORATE BOND ETF $21.76 (Toronto symbol XCB) invests in medium-term investment-grade corporate bonds. This ETF has returned an average 3.9% per year to investors over the past decade with relatively low volatility. The distribution yield is 3.0%. The ISHARES IBOXX…