# Stable Value Fund Lags, 3 ETFs Pay More

> Retirees with $180K in stable value funds miss out on higher yields from 3 low-risk ETFs.
- Title: Stable Value Fund Lags, 3 ETFs Pay More · 24/7 Wall St.
- Summary: Retirees with $180K in stable value funds miss out on higher yields from 3 low-risk ETFs. Retirees at 66 could earn 4.7-4.9% on $180K in high-yield ETFs…
- Keywords: stable value fund, etf, treasury, corporate bonds, retirement, yield, fixed income, federal reserve, bond fund, yield gap, Stable, Value
- Source: 24/7 Wall St. — https://247wallst.com/investing/etf/2026/09/21/youre-66-with-180k-in-the-401k-stable-value-fund-because-it-felt-safe-these-3-etfs-are-just-as-boring-and-pay-more
- Author: Ryne Mauck
- Published: 2026-09-21T21:45:49+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: stable value fund, etf, treasury, corporate bonds, retirement, yield, fixed income, federal reserve, bond fund, yield gap
## Your 401(k) Safe Fund
At 66, you parked $180k in your 401(k) stable value fund for principal safety.
## Stable Value Lags Market
Your fund pays 2.5-3% while short-term rates hit 4.24%.
## 3 ETFs Pay More
WisdomTree, Janus Henderson, and Vanguard ETFs offer 3.8-4.9% yields without stock risk.
## USFR: Treasury Safety
USFR resets weekly against short T-bill rates, paying 3.8% with 0.15% fees.
## JAAA: Highest Yield
JAAA pays 4.9% with 0.20% fees from top-rated collateralized loans.
## VCSH: Corporate Bonds
VCSH pays 4.7% with 0.03% fees on investment-grade corporate bonds.
## Trade-Offs for Retirees
These ETFs carry small mark-to-market risk but beat stable value yields by 2-3%.
## Key takeaway

Retirees at 66 could earn 4.7-4.9% on $180K in high-yield ETFs instead of stable value funds paying 2.5-3%.