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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: How would you suggest getting exposure to consumer discretionary/staples?

Could you please give a good ETF for each sector and a couple good names?

Looking for broad exposure (not just Canada)
Read Answer Asked by Max on April 29, 2021
Q: Which ETF[s] would you recommend to cover commodities e.g. cereals, minerals, etc?
Read Answer Asked by steve on April 28, 2021
Q: I need a bit of assistance knowing what to do with bond ETFs. With interest rates projected to change in Canada and mounting inflationary pressures in the US, would you go long (as per a G/M article today 'A contrarian case for bonds - and stellar returns ahead' which suggested the CND ETF XLB) or short term (eg VSB, CBO as in an answer you provided today)? In the past I have opted for aggregate bond ETFs feeling interest rate calls were beyond my abilities to 'call the market'.

Thanks for your valued input.
Read Answer Asked by David C. on April 28, 2021
Q: Hi group need more exposure to real estate and health care - could you recommend a few in each sector also a few ETF would be helpful. I have some ready cash to deploy but am a bit queasy about investing into todays market feels oversold? also India , South America are struggling with COVID what's you thoughts (leaning towards waiting until Virus is better controlled. Wait or jump in Appreciate your thoughts
Read Answer Asked by Terence on April 28, 2021
Q: Looking for both US and Cdn (GIC replacement) ideas for an 80+ year old, looking for some income, not looking to shoot the lights out. Sitting in cash is tough. 4-6 suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by David on April 28, 2021
Q: Breakwave dry Bulk Shipping/BDRY. This keeps creeping up almost every day. Please comment. Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Austin on April 28, 2021
Q: Hi gang, have $200,000.00 canadian to invest for 2-3 years. Just want to invest 50-50 Canada-USA. Would like to be as safe as possible. Some stocks and some ETF. If possible dividend paying one. Thanks
Alnoor.
Read Answer Asked by Alnoor on April 28, 2021
Q: Hi
can you recommend one or more ETFs that together or individually cover Europe, Australia and the Far East?
thanks
Read Answer Asked by Mary on April 27, 2021
Q: I am one that is not very fond of Bonds and with their present performance I have decided to sell ETF XBB .
What would be a best ETF as an alternative to XBB in a RRIF account over a five year time frame?
Read Answer Asked by Terry on April 27, 2021
Q: Hi 5i
Can I please get your thoughts on geographic selection for index mutual fund investment?

Working with TD e-Series Funds, monthly contribution, 19 year old just getting started, single fund has been the thought so far.

Choice Range: Canada Index? US Index? International Index(Holds TPE ETF)?
(can go Europe only but I'm guessing you will ward off this selection)

Comments welcome on all aspects.
Thanks
Dave

Read Answer Asked by Dave on April 27, 2021
Q: SPY, QQQ, and IWM HAve what seem to be historically (and ridiculously) attenuated charts especially viewed from a 20 year perspective. Short of using trailing stop loss orders with each of my largely dividend-oriented equity positions, what would you recommend as a defensive strategy? E.G. gradually adding to a laddered IWM put and/or LEAP put position(s)?
Read Answer Asked by David on April 27, 2021
Q: I'm helping a friend set up a "couch potato portfolio". I noticed a while back that you commented on such a portfolio. I am suggesting the following to my friend. What do you think? Is there any of the ETFs that you would swap out? And why?

XIU S&P/TSX60 total return for Canada 25%
ZSP BMO S&P 500 Index ETF for USA 25%
XEF ishares Core MSCI EAFE for Europe/Japan 25%
ZEM BMO MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF for emerging markets 5%
XGD iShares S&P/TSX Global Gold for gold exposure 5%
ZAG BMO Aggregate Bond ETF 15%

It appears that both ZSP and XEF offer USD versions. What are the pros and cons?
Thanks

Read Answer Asked by Steven on April 27, 2021
Q: Hi all. You mentioned COPX for copper in one of your answers about copper as well as ERO and LUN. I cannot find COPX?
Thank you
Read Answer Asked by El-ann on April 26, 2021
Q: Can you suggest an US Equal Weight trading on TSX or on US Exchange? BEP.UN or BEPC for non-registered account? Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Shiraz on April 26, 2021
Q: I am a member of your “ETF and Mutual Fund Update” web service and a recent 5i member question on his ETF portfolio raised a question for me. Your ETF site has recommended portfolios for “Conservative”, “Balanced” and “Growth” strategies but not one for “Income”. Is this because an Income ETF portfolio is difficult to formulate or (as usual) am I missing something? I do not think conservative and income strategies should necessarily be the same but …
Read Answer Asked by Danny-boy on April 26, 2021