F/m Investments Launches Industry First Ultrashort Treasury Inflation-Protected Security (TIPS) ETF (RBIL)

ETF Aims to Provide Inflation Protection with Minimal Interest Rate Risk

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- F/m Investments ("F/m"), a $16 billion investment firm and innovative provider of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), today announced the launch of the F/m Ultrashort Treasury Inflation-Protected Security ETF (Ticker: RBIL). This passively managed TIPS ETF provides inflation protection while minimizing interest rate risk, providing an inflation-protected alternative for the $7 trillion of cash held today in money markets and more than $18 trillion of bank deposits and other cash equivalents.

RBIL is the first ETF to invest exclusively and continuously in ultrashort Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities, defined as TIPS with an average duration well under one year. Other TIPS-based ETFs may carry additional duration that can negatively impact performance in periods of rising inflation. Such inflationary periods are generally associated with rising rates that can have a significant negative impact on longer duration bonds.

“As inflation spiked in 2021 and 2022, many investors saw their TIPS ETFs underperform because of their inherent duration,” said Alex Morris, F/m CEO. “In fact, any TIPS ETF with meaningful duration – even a so-called ‘short duration’ ETF – may have more interest rate risk than people realize. RBIL’s ultrashort duration is designed to solve that problem.”

TIPS are issued by the United States Treasury and, just like Treasury Bills and Bonds, are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. By only holding ultrashort duration TIPS, RBIL offers a low-risk, low-volatility solution for safeguarding investors’ purchasing power.

Harnessing the efficiency, liquidity and tax advantages of an ETF, RBIL was built for investors seeking to preserve the purchasing power of their cash holdings. “Investors are confronting meaningful inflation risks for the first time in decades,” said Mark Spindel, Senior Adviser to F/m Investments. “And for many of those investors, traditional inflation hedges - commodities, real estate, gold - are unsuitable as cash alternatives due to lack of liquidity and unwanted market volatility.”

RBIL Features and Benefits:

• Passively managed portfolio of TIPS with 13 months or less to maturity, and average duration well under one year.
• Ultrashort duration offers stable inflation protection, differentiated from even the shortest-duration TIPS ETF on the market today.
• RBIL distributes income (representing bond coupons as well as inflation adjustments) through regular dividend distributions, addressing the taxable “phantom income” challenge associated with direct TIPS ownership.

F/m Investments, creator of the $6 Billion US Benchmark Series ETFs (which includes the extremely popular TBIL), has earned a reputation for developing innovative solutions to real issues faced by investors and advisors. The launch of RBIL today fits squarely within that mission and marks a continuation of the collaborative partnership between F/m Investments, NASDAQ and lead market maker Jane Street. RBIL is launching on NASDAQ with $50 million in seed capital.

About F/m Investments

F/m Investments is a $16 billion investment firm providing diversified investment strategies to advisors and institutional investors across asset classes, markets, and styles. For more information, please visit www.fminvest.com.

Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. For a prospectus or summary prospectus with this and other information about the Fund, please call 1-800-617-0004 or visit our website at www.fminvest.com or http://www.ustreasuryetf.com. Read the prospectus or summary prospectus carefully before investing.

Investments involve risk. Principal loss is possible. Distributed by Quasar Distributors, LLC

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250224219690/en/

Media Contact:

Tucker Slosburg

Lyceus Group

fmpr@lyceusgroup.com

(206) 635-4196

Source: F/m Investments

FAQ

What is the ticker symbol for F/m Investments' new Ultrashort TIPS ETF?

The ticker symbol for F/m Investments' new Ultrashort Treasury Inflation-Protected Security ETF is RBIL.

How does RBIL differ from other TIPS ETFs in the market?

RBIL is the first ETF to invest exclusively in ultrashort TIPS with duration well under one year, while other TIPS ETFs typically have longer durations that can negatively impact performance during inflation spikes.

What is the maturity period for TIPS held in the RBIL ETF?

RBIL holds TIPS with 13 months or less to maturity, maintaining an average duration well under one year.

How does RBIL address the 'phantom income' issue associated with TIPS?

RBIL distributes income (including bond coupons and inflation adjustments) through regular dividend distributions, addressing the taxable 'phantom income' challenge of direct TIPS ownership.

How much seed capital was used to launch the RBIL ETF?

RBIL is launching on NASDAQ with $50 million in seed capital.

What market is RBIL targeting with its ultrashort TIPS strategy?

RBIL targets the $7 trillion held in money markets and more than $18 trillion in bank deposits and other cash equivalents, offering an inflation-protected alternative.