What’s goin on, Investors?
I believe most of you are now comfortable with ETFs, most likely because of Bitcoin ETFs and other coin and token ETFs. So, in this article, I’m going to show you how I invest in ETFs outside of crypto. I mostly look for dividend-paying ETFs, Stocks and, Bonds, because I love passive income and you should too!
Also, I’ve included links to the resources I used for this article. This is something I don’t usually do, but if you like it, leave a comment, and I will continue to leave resource links.
🏛️ Best Treasury Bond ETFs in 2026
For Pure Income + Safety (Short-to-Intermediate Term)
SCHR – Schwab Intermediate-Term U.S. Treasury ETF: Tracks the Bloomberg U.S. Treasury 3–10 Year Index with an expense ratio of just 0.03% and a 30-day SEC yield of 4.02% as of April 2026. Duration is around 4.9 years, giving moderate interest rate sensitivity. The Motley Fool
VGIT – Vanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury ETF: Also tracks the Bloomberg U.S. Treasury 3–10 Year Bond Index, with roughly half the fund in 3–5 year bonds and the other half in 5–10 year bonds — a "Goldilocks" balance of income and rate sensitivity. The Motley Fool
For Broad Treasury Exposure
GOVT – iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF Holds pure Treasury exposure across the full maturity curve, with shares trading around $23 and a one-year total return of 4.4%. Credit risk is effectively zero since every holding is backed by the U.S. government. Yahoo Finance
For Maximum Growth Potential (Higher Risk)
TLT – iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF Holds long-term U.S. Treasury bonds (20+ years to maturity) with a 16.5-year duration. If rates drop 1%, TLT gains ~16% — making it a concentrated bet on falling rates. It's priced attractively for investors who believe rates will stabilize or decline. Wealthvieu
ZROZ – PIMCO 25+ Year Zero Coupon U.S. Treasury ETF Currently pays a 4.8% 30-day SEC yield, but carries an average duration of roughly 27.9 years — meaning substantial volatility. It charges a 0.15% expense ratio and is best for investors with a strong conviction on falling rates. U.S. News & World Report
For Inflation Protection
SCHP – Schwab U.S. TIPS ETF: Invests in Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities, where the principal value increases with the Consumer Price Index (CPI). With inflation remaining a lingering concern in 2026, SCHP acts as insurance against rising prices — at a rock-bottom 0.03% expense ratio. Intellectia.AI
For a One-Stop Diversified Bond Core
BND – Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF: Holds the entire U.S. investment-grade bond market — Treasuries, corporate bonds, and mortgage-backed securities — in a single fund at a 0.03% expense ratio, with a 4.50% yield. When financial advisors say "put X% in bonds," they typically mean BND or AGG. Wealthvieu
💡 Key Context for 2026
Given ongoing U.S. economic uncertainty and sticky inflation, some strategists recommend investors stay shorter in duration to avoid heightened volatility at the long end of the Treasury curve.
That said, the Federal Reserve has held its target rate at 3.50–3.75% since December 2025, with the 10-year Treasury yield recently around 4.3% — triggering renewed demand for high-quality fixed income as equities carry residual uncertainty. U.S. News & World Report Yahoo Finance
A few things to consider for your own situation: your time horizon, whether you need monthly income or long-term growth, and your tax situation (Treasury income is exempt from state/local taxes, which matters in California). A financial advisor can help tailor the right duration and allocation for your goals.
Side Note: For those who wish to continue to explore fixed-income mutual funds or ETFs that generate regular payouts, try using the Vanguard Bond ETFs overview or review fixed-income options on Fidelity Fixed Income & Bonds. Yes, I’ve used both, that said ALWAYS DYOR!
Until next time, The Dark Sage singing out ✌️
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