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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 would like to put about 50% of my portfolio into safe, higher yielding (10%+) Canadian focused ETF's or Mutual Funds, and adjust my holdings as needed going forward based on sector performance. I feel that both Banks & Utilities are nearing lows and that a further correction may occur in the general market due to tax loss selling or possibly one more rate hike. Do you feel that the mix of ETF's listed provide a safe way to invest with the goals indicated? What % for each, as part of the 50%, would you recommend as a holding, and how would they be treated for tax purposes? Thanks for the great service and please use as many credits as necessary.
Read Answer Asked by Will on October 25, 2023
Q: I am a retired income investor and I purchased this ETF several months ago for income and some potential growth. It is in a registered account. The payment is reasonable but I now realize that I don't fully understand how this will react to interest rate swings compared to either short or long-term bonds. Should I expect it to have a higher beta than longer-term or shorter-term bonds? Would it usually react fairly quickly to anticipated interest rates move or because there is an equity component does the state of the economy (aside from rates) impact its value, resulting in slower swings? Would you consider it riskier or "safer" than "straightforward" bonds?

Appreciate the insight.

Paul F.
Read Answer Asked by Paul on October 25, 2023
Q: Could you comment about Ninepoint High interest savings etf
Read Answer Asked by terrance on October 25, 2023
Q: Looking for any ideas for U.S. specific sector exposure, are there any sector ETF's similar to ZUB and ZUH but in other sectors of the U.S. market and similarly Can. $ hedged? Thanks. Brian
Read Answer Asked by Brian on October 24, 2023
Q: I don't have any ETF's and I would like to have one of Canadian stocks and one for US stocks. What do you think of the above etf's or could you suggest another one for each of the markets.
Thank you Dorothy
Read Answer Asked by Dorothy on October 24, 2023
Q: I currently have positions in HYG ( a bit underwater but no reason to sell) and am considering switching HYG for TLT. The current yield is lower, it seems, but the chances for a long term gain look more inviting. Your thoughts on TLT would be much appreciated. Good idea to switch?

All the best

al
Read Answer Asked by alex on October 23, 2023
Q: I have been retired for 11 years and looking at de-risking a taxable portfolio consisting of HFR and corporate class index funds HXT, HXS, HXQ, HULC, HUC and HEQT. My registered accounts hold mostly corporate strip bonds. What would you suggest in terms of tax efficiency and capital preservation given the challenging investment environment ?
Read Answer Asked by Paul on October 23, 2023
Q: With the huge surge in the popularity of covered call etfs, the amount of calls written is also surging. Who is buying this huge increase in call options? Will this increased volume result in lower premiums and thus make the covered calls such as hhl, Zwu and others with a long history under perform their own history?
Read Answer Asked by Paul on October 22, 2023
Q: In a recent fixed income question, the option of a bar bell approach was suggested using XSB/XLB for short/long bond exposure. Is there an ETF option for this?
I see few questions recently on the covered call version for long bonds (HBND) is there a short bond version of this available as well?

Your comments on up to date pros/cons of this strategy also appreciated.
Read Answer Asked by Arthur on October 22, 2023
Q: Dear 5i
Could you please confirm the MER's for the above stated high interest funds and that the stated 12 month yield is net of the MER . Also is it more important to go with the fund with the higher yield or the fund with the tighter bid/ask spread or the fund with the tighter 52 week differential or try to determine the best when considering all three factors knowing there is some compromises ?
Thanks
Bill C
Read Answer Asked by Bill on October 20, 2023
Q: I'm interested in investing in a basket of companies that you think have the ability to increase their dividends even in a recessionary environment. Could you please send me some of your favourite ETF's that would give me exposure to these kinds of companies. If possible could you suggest ones that give me the necessary exposure to:
Canadian companies
American companies
International companies.
Thanks for your appreciated support.
Read Answer Asked by Les on October 20, 2023
Q: Hi

What would be your picks for International stocks or ETF's, for both a cash account and RRSP accounts.

Thank you

Mike

Read Answer Asked by Mike on October 20, 2023
Q: Hi 5i,
In today's environment; October 17, 2023.
If one wanted to purchase a Canadian Passive Fixed Income ETF to hold in a TFSA for 1 to 3 years and then potentially sell. Can you suggest some ETF's that might give out sized Total Return. My goal is Total Return and not necessarily High Yield.
Read Answer Asked by Ian on October 20, 2023
Q: Hi 5i,
Are ETF and Fund companies required to detail "Performance Fees" in the "Fund Facts" document? If not, where must it be disclosed?
Read Answer Asked by Ian on October 20, 2023
Q: From what I understand from 5i - HCAL should move up much faster than HMAX and ZWU should move up faster than UMAX when the market begins its recovery. Is this a correct analogy? Thx James
Read Answer Asked by JAMES on October 20, 2023
Q: What is the potential regulatory risk related to HISAs? Is it restricted to HISA ETFs?

I have funds parked in a BMO investorline HISA for immediate deployment when needed:

https://www.bmoinvestorline.com/selfDirected/pdfs/BMT_HISA_Terms_CAD_EN.pdf

Can you explain what the regulatory risk and if it is applicable to my current holding?

Is there a better place to park funds?
Read Answer Asked by Simon on October 20, 2023
Q: I'm looking to diversify from my US and CA markets to buy some international markets. I noticed that VE, European developed etf, didn't appear in the companies addressed above. Would you prefer a developed Europe etf or a Japanese etf at this time? Do you think Japan has a higher growth rate vs potential loss rate than VE? If so which Japanese etf would you recommended? Would you consider hedged back to CAD to be preferable at this time?
Read Answer Asked by Steven on October 19, 2023
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