Skip to Cookie Banner Skip to content Skip to footer
Mutual funds
  • Mutual funds list
  • About RBC mutual funds
  • RBC Fixed Income Pools
  • RBC Portfolio Solutions
ETFs
  • ETFs list
  • About RBC iShares ETFs
  • ETF investment strategies
Alternative investments
  • Alternative investments list
  • About RBC alternative investments
Types of investments
  • All about mutual funds
  • ETF Learning Centre
View all learn & plan articles
{{r.fundCode}} {{r.fundName}} {{r.series}} {{r.assetClass}}
  • See all results
  • See results in Products
  • See results in Insights
RBC iShares

Welcome to the new RBC iShares digital experience.

Find all things ETFs here: investment strategies, products, insights and more.

.hero-subtitle{ width: 80%; } .hero-energy-lines { width: 70%; right: -10; bottom: -15; } @media (max-width: 575.98px) { .hero-energy-lines { background-size: 200% auto; width: 100%; } }

Fixed income ETFs can play a key role in building resilient portfolios, but what is the optimal approach? Our RBC iShares bond pyramid provides a framework that helps you determine your fixed income investment needs and provides actionable implementation ideas.

View transcript

Bonds are back

Fixed income ETFs can play a key role in building a resilient fixed income portfolio, but what is the optimal approach? How do you select the right ETFs for the job?

Whether you’re looking for income, capital preservation, equity diversification or all three, fixed income ETFs can help meet your investment needs.

Our Bond Pyramid can help investors focus on what’s important to them and provides actionable fixed income ETF implementation ideas.

For example, If you are looking for higher income, you may want to invest in an ETF that invests in high yield bonds or corporate credit.

And if you are looking for stability and more consistent returns, you could look to ETFs that invest in shorter-duration or investment-grade bonds.

Looking to diversify your equity portfolio? ETFs that invest in high quality longer-duration bonds could meet your needs.

Each of these layers of the pyramid can help you build a strong foundation for your investment portfolio.

The bond pyramid approach can also help you take advantage of today’s attractive market opportunities. Visit rbcishares.com to learn more.

The bond pyramid will not look the same for every investor. When building your fixed income portfolio, it’s important to consider what role each of your fixed income funds play, and then optimize your fixed income mix based on your overall asset allocation. Below, we illustrate the fixed income component of two sample portfolios using RBC iShares ETFs.

img-fluid

 For more ETF implementation ideas, read our Bond Pyramid brochure.

Additional resources

Share this article

Download this article

  • The bond pyramid framework
RBC iShares

How can we help?

RBC iShares offers an unparalleled breadth of ETF solutions, a commitment to exceptional service and top investment expertise located around the world.

Advisors: Contact your dedicated sales team and access portfolio resources – Login here.

Investors: Contact your financial advisor to discuss which investments may be right for you.

Disclosure


“Markit®” and “iBoxx®” are registered trademarks of Markit Group Limited and Markit Indices Limited (formerly named International Index Company Limited), respectively. XHY, XIG and XCBU are permitted to use the applicable marks pursuant to a license agreement between Markit Indices Limited and BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A., an affiliate of BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited, which has sublicensed the use of those trademarks to BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited. XHY, XIG and XCBU are not sponsored, sold or promoted by Markit Indices Limited and it makes no representation, condition, warranty or recommendation regarding the advisability of investing in XHY, XIG and XCBU.





XBB, XCB, XCH, XFR, XGB, XGGB, XHB, XLB, XQB, XRB, XSB, XSH XSQ and XSU (collectively, the “iShares ETFs”) are not in any way sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by the London Stock Exchange Group plc and its group undertakings (collectively, the “LSE Group). The LSE Group does not accept any liability whatsoever to any person arising out of the use of the iShares Funds or the underlying data.





“FTSE®” "Russell® and “FTSE Russell®” are trademarks of the relevant LSE Group company and are used by any other LSE Group company under license.





Bloomberg®” and Bloomberg U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) 0-5 Years Index, Bloomberg U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) 0-5 Years Index (CAD-Hedged), Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (CAD-Hedged, Bloomberg Canada 15+ Year Federal Bond Float Adjusted Index and Bloomberg U.S. High-Yield Very Liquid Index (CAD Hedged) are service marks of Bloomberg Finance L.P. and its affiliates, including Bloomberg Index Services Limited (“BISL”), the administrator of the index (collectively, “Bloomberg”) and have been licensed for use for certain purposes by BlackRock. Bloomberg is not affiliated with BlackRock, and Bloomberg does not approve, endorse, review, or recommend XSTP, XSTP.U, XSTH, XAGH, XAGG, XAGG.U, XFLB or CHB. Bloomberg does not guarantee the timeliness, accurateness, or completeness of any data or information relating to XSTP, XSTP.U, XSTH, XAGH, XAGG, XAGG.U, XFLB or CHB.




ICE Index(es)SM is a service/trade mark of ICE Data Indices, LLC ("ICE Data") or its affiliates ("Interactive Data") and has been licensed for use by BlackRock, Inc. in connection with XTLT and XTLH. Neither BlackRock, Inc. nor XTLT or XTLH are sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by ICE Data and ICE Data makes no representations or warranties regarding BlackRock, Inc. XTLT or XTLH or the ability of XTLT or XTLH to track the applicable Index.




RBC Target Maturity Corporate Bond ETFs (“TMCBs”) have been developed solely by RBC GAM. The TMCBs are not in any way connected to or sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by the London Stock Exchange Group plc and its group undertakings (collectively, the “LSE Group”). FTSE Russell is a trading name of certain of the LSE Group companies. All rights in the FTSE Maturity Corporate Bond Indices vest in the relevant LSE Group company which owns the FTSE Maturity Corporate Bond Indices. “FTSE®” is a trademark of the relevant LSE Group company and is used by any other LSE Group company under license. RBC ETFs do not seek to return any predetermined amount at maturity.




RBC iShares ETFs are comprised of RBC ETFs managed by RBC Global Asset Management Inc. and iShares ETFs managed by BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited (“BlackRock Canada”).




Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investing in exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Please read the relevant prospectus before investing. The indicated rates of return are the historical annual compounded total returns including changes in unit value and reinvestment of all distributions and do not take into account sales, redemption, distribution or optional charges or income taxes payable by any securityholder that would have reduced returns. ETFs are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Tax, investment and all other decisions should be made, as appropriate, only with guidance from a qualified professional.





® / TM Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under licence. iSHARES is a registered trademark of BlackRock, Inc., or its subsidiaries in the United States and elsewhere. Used under licence.





© 2023 BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited and RBC Global Asset Management Inc. All rights reserved.


MKTGH0823C/S-3041344

Footer

Products

  • Mutual funds
  • RBC iShares ETFs
  • Alternative investments

Investor information

  • Fund facts (mutual funds)
  • Fund facts (RBC iShares ETFs)
  • PFIC reporting
  • Regulatory documents
  • Fund governance
  • Proxy voting
  • Unclaimed property
  • Important investor information

About RBC GAM

  • Our story
  • Media centre
  • Contact us
  • Careers

Investing

  • Ready to invest?
® / TM Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under licence. iSHARES is a registered trademark of BlackRock, Inc., or its subsidiaries in the United States and elsewhere. Used under licence. © 2025 RBC Global Asset Management Inc. and BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited. All rights reserved.
  • Privacy & security
  • Legal
  • Accessibility
  • Terms and conditions
  • Advertising & Cookies
  • About RBC
Back to top