The Globe and Mail reports in its Saturday edition that if you are an investor who has no interest in stock and bond market volatility, keep calm and carry on with guaranteed investment certificates (GICs). The Globe's Rob Carrick writes that there is really nothing quite like them for a stress-free investing experience, providing you do not need to access your money. Cashable GICs are available, but always at a cost of lower rates. With inflation at 2 per cent as of the latest reading, a 3.5-per-cent GIC gives you a decent real return of 1.5 per cent. A lot of money was poured into GICs in the past couple of years by investors enticed by the idea of returns of 5 per cent or better. This type of investor will not be satisfied with current GIC rates and will want to move on. Some alternatives for investors who want to go in a different direction with maturing GICs: The bond market is now worried that the policies of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump will be inflationary, an outcome that would be bad for bonds. Dividend stocks have more volatility, but there are many blue-chip dividend stocks with yields in the 4- to 6-per-cent range. BCE at 10.5 per cent is a reminder that extra-high yields reflect investor concerns.
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