Replace Your Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) With These Low-Risk Canadian ETFs

Canadian banks love to push Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GICs) as a safe option for your money, often touting their safety of principal thanks to Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC) coverage.

No thanks. The last thing I want to do is lock away my money and lose access to it for months—or even years. On top of that, the GIC rates offered by the big banks are underwhelming (with the exception of EQ Bank, which I’ll admit is awesome).

If you’re looking to stash cash in a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA), Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP), First Home Savings Account (FHSA), or even a non-registered account, consider using an ETF instead.

These options may not be CDIC insured, but they’re about as safe as it gets, with minimal price volatility. Their yields fluctuate in lockstep with prevailing interest rates, keeping your returns competitive. Here’s a look at three types of low-risk fixed income ETFs I’ve personally used to replace a GIC before.

HISA ETFs

ETFs can hold a variety of assets—and yes, that includes cash sitting in high-interest savings accounts at banks. But these aren’t like the HISAs you’re offered as a retail customer.

They’re institutional accounts, which pay higher rates because, as usual, retail investors get the short end of the stick. Fortunately, you can still access these higher rates by investing in a HISA ETF. Think of it as an exchange-traded savings account, where you can easily buy and sell shares while enjoying competitive interest rates.

HISA ETFs invest in deposits with Schedule I Canadian banks, making them highly liquid with stable prices that usually fluctuate around $50 per share. Interest is accrued daily, which you can observe in the chart as a sawtooth pattern. At the end of each month, the interest is paid out as a distribution, causing the price to drop slightly to account for the payout.

These ETFs are inexpensive, with a management expense ratio (MER) of just 0.16% for the popular Purpose High Interest Savings ETF (PSA). As of November 29, they offer a net yield of 3.61% along with monthly payouts, making them a convenient and low-risk option for cash management.

Treasury Bill ETFs

HISA ETFs took a hit in October 2023 when the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) issued new guidelines regarding their liquidity.

The result? Yields fell, leaving some investors frustrated. If you’re concerned about further regulatory risks, a solid alternative are Government of Canada Treasury bills (T-bills).

These are federally issued debt securities backed by the Canadian government. Despite the country’s current challenges, Canada still boasts a AAA credit rating, making T-bills as safe as, if not safer than, HISA accounts.

T-bills are issued with short maturities of three months, six months, or one year. Instead of paying interest, they’re sold at a discount and redeemed at face value upon maturity. Their short maturity means they have minimal interest rate risk, making them a low-volatility option for conservative investors.

ETFs provide a convenient way to invest in T-bills with excellent liquidity. One example is the Global X 0-3 Month T-Bill ETF (CBIL), which exclusively holds T-bills maturing in three months or less. The mechanics are similar to HISA ETFs, with a price that hovers around $50, daily interest accrual, and a slight NAV drop on the monthly ex-distribution date when interest is paid out.

Because CBIL holds T-bills, its yield fluctuates in lockstep with the policy interest rate. As of December 2, the yield is 3.24%. It’s also cheaper than many HISA ETFs, with a MER of just 0.11%, making it an affordable and low-risk cash management tool.

Money Market ETFs

If you’re with a big bank brokerage, you’ve likely encountered "cash sweep" options or money market mutual funds. These are unique mutual funds designed for stability and income, with a fixed net asset value (NAV) of $1 per share to keep things simple.

Money market funds also exist in ETF form, though without the fixed NAV. The share price can fluctuate, and as with T-bill and HISA ETFs, you’ll see the familiar saw-tooth pattern of daily interest accrual followed by a NAV drop on the ex-distribution date when interest is paid out.

The main difference lies in what they hold. Money market ETFs come with slightly (and I do mean slightly) more credit risk because they aren’t limited to HISA accounts or T-bills. However, they’re still considered very low risk as ETFs go.

One example I like is the BMO Money Market Fund ETF Series (ZMMK). It’s an actively managed portfolio of treasury bills, bankers’ acceptances, and commercial paper. All holdings must mature within 365 days, and on average, they mature in less than 90 days.

Despite the marginally higher risk, ZMMK maintains high credit quality. Its portfolio is evenly divided between A-1+ and A-1 ratings, which are among the highest short-term credit ratings. For the layperson, this means the issuers of these securities have a very low likelihood of default.

ZMMK is reasonably priced with a 0.13% MER and, as of November 29, offers a 4.09% distribution yield. This is slightly higher than HISA ETFs like PSA or T-bill ETFs like CBIL, compensating investors for the small additional credit risk associated with its holdings.