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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: What are your initial thoughts on the new spot bitcoin etas?

Thanks for the service.
Read Answer Asked by Gregory on January 19, 2024
Q: I'm curious as to why you recommend VFV as it is my understanding that it is a Canadian ETF invested in a US S&P 500 ETF which has double taxation in a RRSP and doesn't seemed to be taxed favorably in a TFSA or non registered account either. Wouldn't be better to buy ZSP which invests directly in the S&P stocks or HXS which has a higher fee but no dividend to trigger withholding tax?
Read Answer Asked by Cheryl on January 19, 2024
Q: Hi. After reading your ETF newsletter, I was considering this ETF as a good way to buy into many of the larger companies that are higher performers on the US market. I already have a full market ETF. What is your opinion?
Read Answer Asked by Jeff on January 19, 2024
Q: In a recent answer comparing the 2 ETFs, VFV & HXS, you said HXS does not pay any distribution. Does that mean it is like DRIP, instead of a dividend payment, your share holdings increase every quarter. Thanks … Cal
Read Answer Asked by cal on January 19, 2024
Q: Good morning,

I currently hold VIG ETF in my Non Registered US$ account and VGG in my Non Registered Cdn$ account. Both of these ETFs have the same holdings but the VIG appears to be cheaper in terms of MER and perhaps more tax efficient if held in a RRSP.

Given that both VIG and VGG hold the same holdings and taxation not a consideration, I was thinking of selling the VGG ETF and purchasing some additional VIG ETF.

However, I just stumbled across another ETF (DGRW ETF) that I would appreciate your thoughts on as a potential replacement for VIG ETF. Although a bit more expensive in terms of MER, the annual performance over the last 10 years appears to be much better.


Thank you and I'll await your response.

Francesco
Read Answer Asked by Francesco on January 19, 2024
Q: What would be your top 4 CAD ETF picks for longer term growth?
Read Answer Asked by Kevin on January 19, 2024
Q: HXS has has a management fee of .10 but as they state this does not include a swap fee of approximately 30 bps. Is the actual management fee .40? Is the swap fee related to the total return nature of this ETF? I’m looking for an S&P ETF to hold in my TFSA and HXS seems like a great option as I wouldn’t be subject to withholding taxes. Do you feel HXS is a better choice then VFV for a 10+ year hold inside a TFSA due to the savings on withholding taxes?
Read Answer Asked by Anthony on January 19, 2024
Q: Which sector will perform the best in 2024 ? Based on this answer , which fund should be purchased among the ones mentioned (or a fund representing another sector not mentioned in my question) ?
Read Answer Asked by georges on January 19, 2024
Q: If one was to anchor their RRSP portfolio with VBAL which is a 60 equity/40 fixed income split, but would like to be more 70/30. Would you add another ETF or two to achieve the desired weightings? Does this strategy make sense? What would be Five i's thoughts and suggestions.

Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Mike on January 19, 2024
Q: It looks like, regardless of oil price movements or direction of the market, XEG only goes down. I am currently down 15% on XEG and wondering if there is any hope for oil sector in Canada? Would you keep this ETF/sector for 1-3 years timeframe, or get rid of oil sector entirely and relocate money to some other sectors?
Read Answer Asked by Amy on January 19, 2024
Q: FID5973 has spun off an ETF version FINN.
Compare owning FINN to QQQ/QQQM and FINN to a basket of stocks held within the ETF - What do you prefer for long term investor wants.
Read Answer Asked by Franc on January 18, 2024
Q: Dear 5i team.
As I read through the recent Q's on the merits of owning laddered bond funds vs long bond funds (CLF/CBO vs XBB/XLB) couple of f/ups for you. Assuming rates have peaked, and downward is the consensus:
1) What is the upside for CLF vs XLB for example. How much of a move in bond prices would you estimate for each 50 BP move? (can you do same exercise assuming rates move higher?)
2) Since you like both XBB/XLB for long bond exposure, can both be owned, or should one be sufficient?

Many thanks for your help to understand the risk/reward here.
Read Answer Asked by Arthur on January 18, 2024
Q: Can you explain the product from Purpose ETF (ticker APLY) in the link below. Seems to be an ETF which owns Apple shares and somehow gives you yield with a call strategy as you hold. What is downside risk ? What is upside ?

Does anyone just hold shares anymore ? The financial wizardry with these ETFs seems like it will all blow up at some point just like CDOs in 2009.

https://www.purposeinvest.com/funds/apple-yield-shares-purpose-etf?utm_campaign=apple&utm_source=bnn&utm_medium=banner&utm_content=takeover

Thomas
Read Answer Asked by Thomas on January 18, 2024
Q: Good morning 5i;

I do not often see questions/comments regarding preferred shares; of which I confess I understand very little. Do you have a few good resource recommendations where one could educate themselves on these investment vehicles?

I would also be interested to know if there are any (understanding there's thousands of possibilities) preferred shares or preferred share ETF's you would suggest could be examined more closely for investment.

Thanks very much!
Read Answer Asked by Dave on January 17, 2024
Q: Greetings 5i,
This ETF was mentioned in an earlier question today. I can't find 'MAGS'. Is there a typo?
Also, are there alternative ETFs that hold the 'magnificent seven' that have been around for longer?
Thanks as always
SP
Read Answer Asked by Steve on January 17, 2024