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Investment Q&A

Not investment advice or solicitation to buy/sell securities. Do your own due diligence and/or consult an advisor.

Q: Currently, all of my fixed income (>$100000) allocation is in VSB, all in non-registered accounts. Should I switch to BXF for tax efficiency, or stick with VSB given it's lower MER (0.11 vs 0.2)? For my fixed income allocation, safety, capital preservation, and liquidity are primary considerations; yield is a secondary consideration.
Read Answer Asked by Walter on March 27, 2017
Q: good morning.
I own ala shares and just wondering if you would probally switch to ala.r. What happens if deal does not go through and in this case would ala.r be safer? Trying to find the analysis you did on
ala and receipts but cannot find.
can you tell me where I can find.
thanks and keep up great work
Read Answer Asked by hans on March 23, 2017
Q: Following-up on a question about Blackberry debentures: if my broker matches my bid with an in-house ask, does the TSX find out about the trade? I'm wondering because, according to tmxmoney.com, the debentures haven't changed hands since Jan 25, nor do quotes show any ask. If they're this tightly-held, then there doesn't seem to be much point adding to the bid unless there's unreported in-house trading going on.

Of course, I could set my bid farther above par, but with the debs at 3.75% and the share price stagnant for the past three years, it seems as likely that I'd lose money. I understand that some debt is, essentially, privately-held; fine - I'm just trying to understand what's possible.
Read Answer Asked by John on March 22, 2017
Q: Hi I am looking to further diversify my portfolio. I have about 70 percent in the market and that is the highest I want to go. I have some tips, xbb and hfr and too much cash but having hard time with rates rising to go to bonds. The xhy seems to go with market, I was wondering about individual bonds or will they trade closely with market. I was looking at them. How does one choose the right duration, if it is over valued it could get called? and I loose money. There seems so many when I look at my investorline I don't know where to start. any ideas?
Read Answer Asked by Geoff on March 22, 2017
Q: During significant market corrections in the past, how much have dividend payouts by listed companies been affected? I am planning for retirement and wanted to know if I should use the current value of my dividends (mostly large cap companies) as annual income or whether I should plan that the dividends could decrease. If they could decrease, what would be an approximate percent drop to use in my plan? Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Linda on March 22, 2017
Q: just a comment re your comments on student transportation, i have owned stb for almost 2 years paying just over 5.00 a shares, it has been a huge winner, furthermore the 8 per cent u,s. dividend worksout to over 10 per cent cdn.it now represents 8 per cent of my portfolio and i am happy to hold it, i also really like the management team, they keep getting huge wins . dave
Read Answer Asked by david on March 22, 2017
Q: 5i

What is a covered call and what is the risk level in a covered call ETF in both a rising market and a falling market. Looking at ZWH and ZWU as my utilities segment is low as is my USA segment of my portfolio. Yield on both is good and I am looking more for income with a little growth.

Wayne
Read Answer Asked by Wayne on March 22, 2017
Q: I have both Enbridge and Brookfield Renewable in my portfolio. Would it be advantageous to move to one or the other? It seems that Enbridge is setting itself up quite nicely for long term growth and income and looks to be a real good buy and hold. BEP is no slouch either. Please let me know your analysis, much appreciated, thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Christopher on March 21, 2017