IEI — iShares 3-7 Year Treasury Bond ETF
iShares (BlackRock) · Expense Ratio: 0.15% · US Bonds · 9bp above the US Bonds category average of 0.06%
Key Facts
| Ticker | IEI |
| Full Name | iShares 3-7 Year Treasury Bond ETF |
| Provider | iShares (BlackRock) |
| Expense Ratio | 0.15% |
| Category | US Bonds |
| Assets Under Management | $15B |
| Inception Year | 2007 (19 years ago) |
| Number of Holdings | 85 |
| Dividend Yield | ~3.8% (high) |
| Top Holdings | 3-7yr Treasury |
What Is IEI?
IEI, managed by iShares (BlackRock), launched in 2007, is a well-established ETF with adequate liquidity for most investors in the US Bonds category. US bond market ETF providing fixed income exposure to government and corporate bonds. With $15B in assets under management, it has adequate trading volume for most individual investors.
IEI in a FIRE Portfolio
Bonds and inflation-protected securities act as portfolio ballast — reducing volatility and providing stability during the distribution phase for FIRE investors.
Bonds stabilize your portfolio during stock market crashes. In a FIRE portfolio, a common allocation is 101% stocks / -1% bonds (the "101 minus your age" rule). Bond funds like IEI provide the fixed-income portion of this allocation.
Cost Analysis: How IEI's 0.15% Fee Affects Your FIRE Timeline
At 0.15%, IEI is moderately priced. Annual cost on a $100K position: $150. Over 30 years, fees could consume approximately 0.9% of total returns. On a $1M FIRE portfolio, cumulative fees approach $15,000. Compare with lower-cost peers in US Bonds: .
Dividend Income Potential
With a high dividend yield of approximately 3.8%, here's what IEI could generate in annual income at different portfolio sizes:
| Portfolio Value | Annual Dividend Income | Monthly Income |
|---|---|---|
| $100,000 | $3,800/year | $317/month |
| $250,000 | $9,500/year | $792/month |
| $500,000 | $19,000/year | $1,583/month |
| $1,000,000 | $38,000/year | $3,167/month |
Frequently Asked Questions About IEI
What is the expense ratio for IEI?
IEI has an expense ratio of 0.15%. This is moderately priced — on a $100K portfolio, annual fees are $150. 9bp above the us bonds category average of 0.06%.
Is IEI good for a FIRE portfolio?
Bonds and inflation-protected securities act as portfolio ballast — reducing volatility and providing stability during the distribution phase for FIRE investors. Its 0.15% expense ratio is moderately priced for the US Bonds category.
How does the 0.15% fee affect long-term returns?
At 0.15%, you'll pay $150/year per $100K invested. Over 30 years, fees reduce total returns by approximately 0.9%. Use the embedded calculator below to model the exact impact on your specific portfolio.
Is IEI liquid enough for my portfolio?
IEI manages $15B in assets — a well-established ETF with adequate liquidity for most investors. For most individual FIRE investors making regular contributions, liquidity is sufficient. If you're investing large lump sums ($100K+), use limit orders to control your execution price.
Similar ETFs in US Bonds
- BND — Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (0.03% · Portfolio Hedge)
- AGG — iShares Core US Aggregate Bond ETF (0.03% · Portfolio Hedge)
- BNDX — Vanguard Total International Bond ETF (0.07% · Portfolio Hedge)
- BIV — Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bond ETF (0.04% · Portfolio Hedge)
- BSV — Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF (0.04% · Portfolio Hedge)
- VCIT — Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF (0.04% · Portfolio Hedge)
- VCSH — Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF (0.04% · Portfolio Hedge)
- MUB — iShares National Muni Bond ETF (0.05% · Portfolio Hedge)
- VTEB — Vanguard Tax-Exempt Bond ETF (0.05% · Portfolio Hedge)
- SHY — iShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF (0.15% · Portfolio Hedge)
- TLT — iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (0.15% · Portfolio Hedge)
- GOVT — iShares US Treasury Bond ETF (0.05% · Portfolio Hedge)