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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: Is there a set/portfolio of ETFs you would recommend for a medium risk investor to ”set and forget” forever? What % allocation would you attribute to each? Timeframe would be for 25+ years.
Read Answer Asked by Mike on April 21, 2021
Q: Can you help me regarding how to determine fees/yields for ETFs?
I'm presently looking at is HMMJ

What is the "total" management fee?
Their website has manage fee of 0.75% plus tax and a MER of 0.85%

I don't know where Google finance comes up with a dividend yield of 7.47%? Horizon's website has the following:
Most Recent Distribution per Unit : 0.03433
Estimated Annualized Yield : 1.16%
12-Month Trailing Yield: 2.83%
Distribution Frequency : Quarterly

Also, for the most recent distribution, would you multiply the stock price at time of distribution by 0.03433
For example using stock price $10.65. 10.65 times 0.03433 or 36.6 cents for most recent quarter times number of stocks held?

thanks for all your help?
Paul
Read Answer Asked by Paul on April 20, 2021
Q: What is your view on commodity prices relative to the recovery from the pandemic and/or the global efforts to curb carbon omissions? Is the demand outpacing supply and if so what are the companies or ETF's to hold over the coming years? Is there any particular metals that one should focus on?
Read Answer Asked by Ronnie on April 20, 2021
Q: Good afternoon, I understand this is an active, concentrated ETF. The past performance looks good and it looks like the fund managed through the March 2020 downturn quite well. David Fingold from Dynamic is the portfolio manager. I've seen him numerous times on BNN and he seems insightful and level headed. I was wondering if you had any perspectives or insights on him as a portfolio manager as well as the mandate of the fund itself. I am thinking of making this ETF a core part of my portfolio (about 33% weighting). Thank you!
Read Answer Asked by Rye on April 20, 2021
Q: JEPI is a fairly new actively managed ETF (it is not in your data base). In its description of that JEPI ETF.com says JEPI “... is invests in large-cap US stocks and.... ” .

1. What are equity-linked notes and what do ELNs do risk vs. reward?
2. Would you agree with the following statements:
(a) If any investors are uneasy about current valuations, the covered call strategy the manager uses would likely be acceptable.
(b) JEPI would not be good to have in a major draw down, but...
( c) JEPI would not necessarily be a safety net in a major draw down, but would likely be something of a net in routine dips of up to 15%.

If you have other ETFs that you consider better, I would appreciate if you gave some symbols that one could do further research on.



Read Answer Asked by Adam on April 20, 2021
Q: Having been horribly burned by investments in oil and gas companies , I have been much too shy to even glance at any (scared is a more honest word, but shy is more polite— and sounds better). Since energy is a sector that is too stubborn to exit markets, please suggest an ETF that would cover the pesky allocation thing. I would prefer , if possible , companies that are primarily refining and distribution , not so much exploration. Also prefer US or Euro listed ETFs.

If you think one decent energy company would likely be better than the diluted results ETFs give, please suggest two names that would be one can buy and just forget— company listed in Canada or anywhere I developed Europe.
Read Answer Asked by Adam on April 20, 2021
Q: I sent a question regarding selling stocks a couple of days ago approximately about some stocks I wanted an opinion about whether to sell and I have sold a few because they were underperforming on a daily basis. Here are some that I still have and would like your opinion on which ones you would sell: VFF (half of what it was a few months ago), GDNP, CARS (ETF - has a lot of electric car products in it - the market is saturated with these things and it shows in this ETF), CQQQ (China), and XBI (looks like upside down V). Hope to hear from you shortly. Thanks,
Read Answer Asked by Dennis on April 19, 2021
Q: I am interested in an 'all-in-one' diversified ETF to provide regular (quarterly/monthly) income such as VCIP, that best meets the following criteria:
1) Fairly conservative
2) As tax-advantaged as possible as it will be held in a non-registered account
3) Yield that can reasonably be expected to outpace inflation over time
4) MER<0.4

The rest of the investment portfolio is well diversified across geography, market cap, and sector, achieved with a few broad market index ETFs.
Read Answer Asked by Walter on April 16, 2021
Q: What are the risks associated with investing in ZPAY? Also are there any similar funds with the same risks and rewards?
Thanks Mike
Read Answer Asked by Michael on April 15, 2021
Q: Hi group just sold this stock (HMMJ) this am based on to many Canadian companies that are losing $ Should I buy a US based ETF to take better advantage of the US opening up on legalizing the product or just stay on the sidelines for now - what do you think ? buy some individuals or a US ETF or do not invest in the sector at all ? - Thanks for your help on this
Read Answer Asked by Terence on April 14, 2021
Q: Hello 5i,
As I approach 70 years of age I am trying to prepare for my impending RRSP - RRIF conversion. One move I am considering is to move VIG over a period of years from my RRSP to my TFSA. The rationale is that it is a relatively low dividend stock but the capital appreciation is huge - I am currently up about 76% - and this means the increase in VIG value affects my minimum withdrawal required each year while contributing relatively little in the way of dividend income to cover the mandated minimum withdrawals.
One note - for the past several years we have been taking our TFSA contributions from our RRSP's but seem to always end up with a tax refund anyway, so we are not so concerned with the tax issue on that front.
So, to the question (finally): do you see any problems at all in such a move for VIG or any other U.S. ETF or Global ETF? The withholding tax on U.S. holdings in the TFSA is not an issue. Any other comments or suggestions?
Many thanks!!
Cheers,
Mike
Read Answer Asked by Mike on April 13, 2021