RIFI.TO vs. VAB.TO

Last updated Jul 25, 2026

RIFI.TO (Russell Investments Fixed Income Pool) and VAB.TO (Vanguard Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF) are both Total Bond Market funds. RIFI.TO is actively managed, while VAB.TO is passively managed. Over the past 5 years, RIFI.TO returned 0.20%/yr vs 0.19%/yr for VAB.TO. At a 0.41 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. RIFI.TO charges 0.65%/yr vs 0.09%/yr for VAB.TO.

Performance

RIFI.TO vs. VAB.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in Russell Investments Fixed Income Pool (RIFI.TO) and Vanguard Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF (VAB.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, RIFI.TO achieves a 0.75% return, which is significantly lower than VAB.TO's 0.79% return.

RIFI.TO

• 1D: 0.17%
• 1M: -1.41%
• 6M: 0.42%
• YTD: 0.75%
• 1Y: 3.61%
• 3Y*: 4.19%
• 5Y*: 0.20%
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: 1.03%

VAB.TO

• 1D: 0.31%
• 1M: -1.35%
• 6M: 0.31%
• YTD: 0.79%
• 1Y: 3.51%
• 3Y*: 4.25%
• 5Y*: 0.19%
• 10Y*: 1.35%
• ALL TIME*: 2.28%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

Liquidity Comparison

Position	Avg. Volume Value (2W)	Avg. Volume Value (1M)	Avg. Volume Value (3M)
RIFI.TO Russell Investments Fixed Income Pool	CA$25.16K	CA$28.29K	CA$29.32K
VAB.TO Vanguard Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF	CA$3.13M	CA$3.27M	CA$3.95M

RIFI.TO vs. VAB.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020
RIFI.TO Russell Investments Fixed Income Pool	0.75%	2.96%	4.26%	6.17%	-11.54%	-2.03%	7.40%
VAB.TO Vanguard Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF	0.79%	2.28%	3.98%	6.90%	-11.86%	-2.88%	6.99%

Correlation

The correlation between RIFI.TO and VAB.TO is 0.54, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.54
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.48
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.42
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 22, 2020	0.41

The correlation between RIFI.TO and VAB.TO shifts across timeframes, from 0.41 (all time) to 0.54 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

RIFI.TO vs. VAB.TO — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

RIFI.TO

RIFI.TO Risk / Return Rank: 34
RIFI.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 30
RIFI.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 28
RIFI.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 38
RIFI.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 39
RIFI.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 36

VAB.TO

VAB.TO Risk / Return Rank: 33
VAB.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 34
VAB.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 30
VAB.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 31
VAB.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 36
VAB.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 33

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

RIFI.TO vs. VAB.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Russell Investments Fixed Income Pool (RIFI.TO) and Vanguard Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF (VAB.TO). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

	RIFI.TO	VAB.TO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	0.75	0.82	-0.07
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.08	1.13	-0.05
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.18	1.14	+0.04
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.39	1.24	+0.14
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	3.56	3.06	+0.50

RIFI.TO vs. VAB.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current RIFI.TO Sharpe Ratio is 0.75, which is comparable to the VAB.TO Sharpe Ratio of 0.82. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of RIFI.TO and VAB.TO, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

RIFI.TO vs. VAB.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum RIFI.TO drawdown since its inception was -19.47%, which is greater than VAB.TO's maximum drawdown of -18.39%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for RIFI.TO and VAB.TO.

Drawdown Indicators

	RIFI.TO	VAB.TO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-19.47%	-18.39%	-1.08%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-2.61%	-2.83%	+0.22%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-4.21%	-4.16%	-0.05%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-16.46%	-15.82%	-0.64%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-18.39%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-2.96%	-2.72%	-0.24%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-8.07%	-4.06%	-4.01%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	1.02%	1.15%	-0.13%

Volatility

RIFI.TO vs. VAB.TO - Volatility Comparison

Russell Investments Fixed Income Pool (RIFI.TO) and Vanguard Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF (VAB.TO) have volatilities of 1.12% and 1.13%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	RIFI.TO	VAB.TO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	1.12%	1.13%	-0.01%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	3.51%	3.43%	+0.08%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	4.86%	4.32%	+0.54%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	6.80%	6.58%	+0.22%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	9.44%	6.46%	+2.98%

RIFI.TO vs. VAB.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

RIFI.TO has a 0.65% expense ratio, which is higher than VAB.TO's 0.09% expense ratio.

Dividends

RIFI.TO vs. VAB.TO - Dividend Comparison

RIFI.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.06%, more than VAB.TO's 3.37% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
RIFI.TO Russell Investments Fixed Income Pool	4.06%	4.04%	4.00%	3.93%	2.03%	1.82%	1.91%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
VAB.TO Vanguard Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF	3.37%	3.33%	3.19%	2.95%	2.87%	2.48%	2.51%	2.65%	2.80%	2.99%	2.75%	2.79%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both RIFI.TO and VAB.TO in my portfolio?

RIFI.TO and VAB.TO have a correlation of 0.54, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, RIFI.TO or VAB.TO?

On fees, VAB.TO is cheaper at 0.09% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, RIFI.TO or VAB.TO?

VAB.TO is cheaper with a 0.09% expense ratio, compared with 0.65% for RIFI.TO.

What is the main difference between RIFI.TO and VAB.TO?

They also come from different issuers: Russell Investments Canada Limited and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.65% for RIFI.TO and 0.09% for VAB.TO.