Canadian retirees have it powerful today. Given the rock-bottom rates of interest we’ve been dealt over time, it’s practically unimaginable to even fathom an atmosphere the place risk-free debt devices paid coupons yielding in extra of 10%. An equity-like return that’s free from threat? That’s what the bond market provided traders again within the early Nineteen Eighties. Sadly, these days are over, and the “free lunch” from 30-year U.S. Treasury notes bought again then have lengthy expired, and there’s no going again.Today, traders are grappling with greater inflation (lately hit 5% within the U.S.) that threatens to erode the coupons of immediately’s unrewarding bonds. For Canadian retirees, the reply is both to tackle extra threat or settle.Taking an opportunity on “dangerous” securities like equities in your late 60s or 70s might seem to be a really unhealthy concept, however it doesn’t need to be. You see, simply since you tackle extra threat doesn’t imply you’ll be becoming a member of the likes of the meme inventory crowd by speculating on dangerously risky devices that may blow up in your face.You labored exhausting for your nest egg. And you want it to final. You can’t threat extreme capital losses and run the chance of returning to work, in any case! That stated, Canadian retirees may additionally stand to take a success from inflation by overweighting in risk-free belongings like bonds, GICs (Guaranteed Investment Certificates), and the like. While there are not any ensures on the earth of “dangerous” equities, there are a lot higher rewards that may far outweigh the marginal dangers.When you think about alternative prices of being left in money amid 5% inflation, among the prime bond proxies on the TSX Index change into that rather more enticing, though they assure nothing.Fortis: The final dividend inventory for Canadian retireesFortis (TSX:FTS)(NYSE:FTS) is a regulated utility with a good-looking 3.3% dividend yield. The payout isn’t assured, however it’s fairly near it, given the steadiness of Fortis’s operations and its unshakeable money movement stream, which tends to be little rattled when the going will get powerful. The dividend has grown and can probably proceed to take action at a mid-single-digit price for the foreseeable future.Story continuesMoreover, it’s not simply Fortis’s steady dividend that’s the star of the present by the eyes of Canadian retirees. It’s the dearth of volatility. A regulated utility isn’t going to make the information often. Quarterly releases apart, Fortis is ridiculously boring, and issues seldom deviate drastically from expectations.The lack of surprises makes Fortis a reasonably easy journey relative to most different performs on the market, long-duration bonds included. Still, Fortis inventory’s near-zero beta is not any assure that the inventory received’t plunge come the following massive market-wide scare. During the 2020 market crash, practically the whole lot offered off, from bond proxies to Bitcoin. (*2*), even bond funds took a success to the chin, because the sudden rush for money took maintain.Undoubtedly, in case you offered your supposedly secure bond funds on the fallacious occasions, you’d have taken an enormous loss. Given this, I’d argue that it’s a heck of lots wiser to spend money on an instrument that will get higher, and never probably worse, with time. With charges prone to rise over the approaching years, I’d argue that bonds are certain to be a dropping wager, particularly when stacked towards a bond proxy like Fortis with its rising dividend and one of many lowest betas on the market.Bottom lineFor Canadian retirees, the reply is evident. Fortis shines. And I feel it’s a terrific answer to assist them get the passive revenue they rightfully deserve with out having to up one’s threat urge for food considerably.The publish Canadian Retirees: 2 Top Picks for Safe, Passive Income appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.Speaking of ample upside, you’ll want to take a look at these following shares curated by the staff right here on the Motley Fool Canada!Just Released! 5 Stocks Under $49 (FREE REPORT)Motley Fool Canada’s market-beating staff has simply launched a brand-new FREE report revealing 5 “filth low cost” shares you can purchase immediately for underneath $49 a share.Our staff thinks these 5 shares are critically undervalued, however extra importantly, may probably make Canadian traders who act shortly a fortune.Don’t miss out! Simply click on the hyperlink beneath to seize your free copy and uncover all 5 of those shares now.Claim your FREE 5-stock report now!More studyingFool contributor Joey Frenette owns shares of FORTIS INC. The Motley Fool recommends FORTIS INC. 2021