Investment Q&A

Q: Could you comment about Ninepoint High interest savings etf

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

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

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

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 ?

Q: For S&P500 and Nasdaq100 Index ETFs:
Which Canadian ETFs would be more beneficial if one believes the Canadian dollar is currently close to the low point and will get stronger against USD on the long run ?
Also comment on withholding tax consequences of holding these index ETFs in TFSA.
Thank you

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?

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.

Q: Is HXS cap-weighted or equal weighted?
thanks jerry

Q: If TD or BSN or any of the Canadian banks cut the dividend, how would that effect HMAX dividend?

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

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.

Q: Hi

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

Thank you

Mike

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.

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?

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

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?

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?

Q: Hi - I resend the question about this product, a “smart” GIC:

RBC® Canadian Banking MarketSmart GIC.

What do you think, for a RRIF, could be an alternative to VRIF?

Thanks

Q: hello 5i:
We've held a small position in PFFD for quite some time, with a significant loss (glad its small position).
But: the Fed narrative has changed from raising to pausing and the next step is inevitably lowering. Yes, there may be another small raise and yes, I know the higher for longer argument.
PFFD pays out over 7% in our RRIF, in an investment that appears to have very little risk of more downside and even a large amount of upside if things were to return to pre-covid levels.
Summing up and being a bit of a contrarian (skate to where the pucks going?), would you agree with my assessment? Can you see any reason for anything but limited downside with new money in the preferred space? What am I missing here?
thanks
Paul L