Investment Q&A

Q: Hearing the "options based ETF" category as a means of hedging against equity risk. Could you provide some comment and any specific favourites. Thanks.

Q: Lots of discussion and comments regarding small caps today.
My only exposure - about 10% of my portfolio - is VIOO.
Is this a good choice to play in the space or would you have other suggestions.
Thanks

Q: Thank you for those useful articles on all-in-one ETFs. I plan to gradually invest this way​ to make life easier on myself or whoever may be doing the investments in the future.
The problem (and it's not a big one ​as it just needs a bit of math). To have a position of 50%​/50% ​Equities/Bonds I need to have an 80% position in a 40/60 E​quity/B​ond ETF and a 20% position in a 80/20 E​quity/B​ond ETF.

​Is there an all in one 50/50 ETF with a reasonable MER?
​Alternatively, are there similar diverse all-in-one​ 100% equity and diverse all-in-one ​100% bond ETFs where we could just have one of each then rebalanced every 6 to 12 months back holding 50% of total each​? (Makes the math really simple :)

Though I don't tend to use timing​, is there a time of year long term where that rebalance might offer a​ percent​ or fraction of a percent advantage?​ For example, do bonds trade higher or lower at certain times of the year? Similarly equities?

Q: Is XSHD a good medium to accumulate the money needed to withdraw from my RRIF at the end of 2026?
Would it be better to accumulate the required funds in a high-interest account?

Q: Retired, dividend-income investor with a balanced portfolio (in my opinion anyway). I have a small Materials sector weight of approximately 5%....half of which is in Nutrien and the balance is held within CDZ, ZLB, ZWC and RBF646. The non-NTR materials holdings are heavier in the gold, etc. stocks.

I am interested in, if possible, a one-stop-shop ETF that focuses on materials like gold, silver, copper, rare-earths....those that have, obviously, already had a good run but are believed to have more runway to go. I have looked through both the BMO and iShares ETFs and have not found anything suitable.

Do you have any ideas for a few ETFs that I could further research?

Thanks for your help, much appreciated....Steve

Q: Is holding VIOO (only) a decent way to play the potential run up in small caps I read a lot about lately? Any other suggestions!
Thanks

Q: What do you think about SPLV for lower risk investing? I understand the defensive nature of this ETF, but it's practically unchanged since Aug 2024, so I am wondering whether holding one of these new dual-direction Innovator ETFs or simply holding SPY and selling covered calls at +10% and buying puts at -10% is a better strategy here than holding SPLV. Your thoughts/suggestions on SPLV and these alternatives?

Q: I bought VDY, primarily for the dividend, but capital appreciation has been much better than expected. Now I'm looking for a Canadian complement. I note that CDZ also contains financials and energy, but at fairly low percentages, and it seems to cover other sectors well, perhaps a bit better than VDY. Do you think CDZ would be the best complement, or is there another Canadian ETF that would fit nicely beside VDY. Again, the dividend is appreciated, but capital appreciation and low down-side risk would also be very welcome, in addition to sector balance. Thank you for all your great service.

Q: I am getting older and I am trying to simplify my accounts in case my wife or daughter have to take over for whatever reason. I am moving to VBAL and VGRO as all in one type ETFs to make that happen. My question is about taxing: how are these viewed by the CRA?

Q: Hello 5i Guys

I have GIC maturing soon and looking for substitute as rates are too low.

I've looked at ZCS and ZLC as replacement.

I understand Bond funds are not without risk compared to GCI

But do these 2 Bonds funds look like suitable (Low Risk) investments rather than a low rate GIC?

Thanks as ever
Ken

Q: I would like to confirm that income from covered call ETFs is treated as capital gains and/or ROC, and income from preferred shares is treated as eligible dividends. If this is correct, I would see them as candidates for both non-registered and registered accounts.
Thank you.

Q: I'm interested in possibly buying Giax but would like your assessment of this etf. Thanks for your valuable information/opinion

Q: Peter; New ETF - do you have any thoughts on management-does it more assets to make it tradeable by institutions.? is it ok for retail players to? thanks.
Rod

Q: Hello 5i. I'm below on my fixed income. ZAG is almost 7% of my total portfolio but I am looking to increase this to almost 10%. Is this too high for a single ETF, and/or are you still happy with ZAG, or would you suggest an alternative. I'm looking for something fairly safe with a reasonable yield. Thanks again for your excellent service. John.

Q: Is there an international small cap ETF or do I need to combine something like IWM + CGro + ACWX?

Q: Excepting the evidently low growth potential for this fund, why would an income investor not get 4% or so for their portfolio? Is there a Canadian fund that is its approximate equal? Thank you.

Q: Happy New Year! I have held ZQQ:CA for several years and am looking switch to an unhedged fund that covers the Nasdaq 100. Is this a good time to switch or given that the US dollar is under pressure right now should I wait to make this switch? Is there an ETF you would recommend in the same category?
I am also overweight in Technology and underweight in International holdings. I hold DSG which has been in decline over the past year and was considering a swap for EUAD for the next five years. Other considerations you may suggest would be appreciated.
Thoughts?
Thank you
Dan
PS. I may have not pressed submit on a previous version of this question…. !! If so apologies for the duplication.

Q: Regarding the monthly distributions paid by these ETF's, are these subject to 15% witholding tax or net of them since the etf's trade in Canada? Thx

Q: Clarification on my question on copper stocks and ETFs.
I copied and pasted that question. I am not sure how those numbers appeared.
My question was about investing in the metal itself and was not related to a specific stock.
Thank you.

Q: Hello, The Sprott Physical Silver Trust quotes in USD, but when you go to buy on the TSX it converts to CAD. If you don't have a USD account, then the order execution is in CAD funds, etc. Do you foresee this as an issue, or do you only recommend this fund if buying in USD. Is there a separation with the fund for USD and CAD denominated holdings. What is your recommendation on method to buy this fund. I did buy a position already in the CAD converted option.