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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: I need to increase the overall international exposure in my portfolio (currently 15%).
I am considering using VE as a simple way to increase international exposure to 30%.

1) Is VE appropriate for this purpose?
2) What other ETF(s) might be suitable?
3) Given VE is down 20% in the past 12 mos would you make a single large purchase, or several smaller ones over time?
Thanks,
Trevor
Read Answer Asked by Trevor on October 28, 2022
Q: I hold both of these and I realize it's difficult to compare an ETF to a single stock I was thinking of selling one and putting it in the other. My thought process was once the war is over the Ukraine will need a lot of help in therefore the ETF. Considering my age being 73 what would you suggest
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Read Answer Asked by Bonnie on October 28, 2022
Q: Hi Everyone at 5i!
I am a new retiree and hold these three ETFs as part of my income portfolio . They have all dropped in value , due to increased interest rates and the market in general. These are my really long term holds unless you foresee a problem with this idea.
Cheers,
Tamara
Read Answer Asked by Tamara on October 27, 2022
Q: Hello, I have asked this question last Thursday morning, so just in case it got lost, here it is: these 2 ETFs seem to be similar, except for the lower MER for LIFE and the higher market cap for HHL, is there something to be aware of if I switch from HHL to LIFE for tax-loss reasons? Any disadvantage in putting money in LIFE? Is The Evolve business solid? Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Martin on October 25, 2022
Q: HI 5I,

I have been reading, listening to my financial advisor and seeing some answers on your question blog that there may be an opportunity with bonds. I like ETF's the last while, so can you give me your advice on some ETF's that incorporate a high level of bonds that may see some upside if bonds were to have some capital appreciation. Thank-you
Read Answer Asked by Jason on October 25, 2022
Q: What is your opinion of this etf as one vehicle to ride out possible recession?
Read Answer Asked by Lawrence on October 24, 2022
Q: I have half my retirement portfolio in cash right now and plan to start layering in to index funds over the coming months. Consensus seems to be a Recession in 2023 so i'm thinking about taking a more defensive approach like SPHD and receive the 4% dividend while the market figures out where it is going in 2023 and beyond.
Once sentiment improves and another bull market looks to be in the horizon i would likely shift from SPHD to SPY and/or Sector in flavor funds.
Seem like a reasonable approach?
Read Answer Asked by Rob on October 24, 2022
Q: In your reponse to Cecil today you state: "VOO will be more tax efficient as it is US-listed whereas VFV is Canadian-listed. Foreign withholding tax on dividends will be exempt." I was under the understanding that there is no foreign withholding tax on dividends in an RRSP.
Read Answer Asked by Dennis on October 22, 2022
Q: Good Evening
To follow up on my yesterday's question, you suggested ZPR for a proxy on CDZ. How can a laddered preferred share ETF (ZPR) could be a proxy for CDZ?
Can you please clarify?
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Terry on October 22, 2022
Q: For registered accounts, (RRSP) holding VOO directly will be more tax efficient than holding VFV. Can you elaborate. Pl;ease---Cec
Read Answer Asked by Cecil on October 21, 2022
Q: Peter, one of the worst 'safe' investments I have ever made has been ZPR. Looking for a somewhat enhanced yield and a bit more safety, my 2014 investment shockingly dropped by about 40% in a year! The explanation 5i offered at the time was the declining interest rates combined with ZPR's rate reset preferred share holdings. But now, interest rates are INCREASING and ZPR is again down - almost 20% in the past year, and 12% in just the last six months. I realize other factors can move prices, but I'm mystified how a supposedly more stable investment can decline so much, so quickly, both when prevailing interest rates go UP and when they go DOWN! Do you have any explanation that might make sense to a mere mortal?
Read Answer Asked by James on October 21, 2022