TIPS stands for Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities, which are special bonds whose face value and interest payments move upward or downward with changes in the Consumer Price Index. Being balanced means keeping some exposure to bonds and other asset classes, and that's where the iShares Barclays TIPS Bond Fund (NYSEMKT: TIP) can play a vital role. The TIPS ETF invests in bonds, but they aren't just any kind of bonds.