Investment Q&A

Q: Hi gang, would it be safe for me to buy the whole portfolio ETF from canadian MoneySaver. ( Model portfolio) 2-3 years time line . Or some changes? I have $150,000. Cash for conservative investing. Thanks. Alnoor

Q: Would like to create a 2 etf portfolio in the 500k range for my elderly parents, considering VBAL for the TFSA account and VCNS for the unregistered account. They will likely never have a need to access these funds but of course are risk adverse at their age. Thoughts on this approach, better options for ETF's ?

Q: Hi,

Looking to add some Gold/Silver/Metals exposure to my portfolio which I do not have any exposure at the moment.
Which ETFs (Canadian or US) would you suggest ?
Any advice on venturing into this sector in the current times ?

Thank you,

Q: Hello 5i Team
Comparing gold sector ETF
In previous Q&A, you stated it is more preferable to purchase Gold Bullion ETF in US$ as the gold trades in US$ (June 30, 2020).
1 – Is it better to purchase Canadian dollar denominated gold miner ETF vs US dollar denominated gold miner ETF?
Comparing the Major gold miner ETF, please compare as follows:
2 - iShares S&P/TSX Global Gold Index (TSE:XGD) vs iShares MSCI Global Gold Miners ETF (NYSE:RING);
3 – iShares S&P/TSX Global Gold Index (TSE:XGD) vs Sprott Gold Miners ETF (NYSE:SGDM); and
4 - Sprott Gold Miners ETF (NYSE:SGDM) vs iShares MSCI Global Gold Miners ETF (NYSE:RING).
I searched the question database and there has been no questions for the two Sprott Gold miner ETF (NYSE:SGDM and NYSE:SGDJ) and for iShares MSCI Global Gold Miners ETF (NYSE:RING).
Thank you

Q: Good Morning! I have a new great granddaughter and I am in the process of setting up an RESP for her. Obviously, a long time horizon! Could you recommend 2-3 stocks/ETFs with growth in mind?
Thanks for your help, Michael

Q: RPAR is newish ETF. Conservative. My interest is to protect capital in expected volatile markets as part of L/T barbell strategy. Would grow initial position to 3+% over time. SWAN in same category.
Would you advise either or another for some growth with capital preservation in mind?
Thanks for advice.

Q: Looking for the best of both worlds ... income and some growth.
AND not finding bonds very compelling due to low interest rates.
AND as part of my holdings in the financial sector.
Would it make sense to buy and hold ZEB (4.7% yield) and ZWB (6.65%) ?
My thinking here is ZEB would capture more capital gains once interest rates start to move up and bank shares rise in value; while ZWB captures a higher yield in the meantime?
Of course I am also open to a better suggestion.

Thanks for your help.

Q: Please give me the good and the bad on PHYS:CA. It seems like a proxy for holding physical gold. There has bee much talk about the "paper" gold market and how it may not be the best option during times of upheaval (up or down, worse down?).

Q: Hi 5i - I recently sold the last of my mutual funds, Capital Group Global Balanced. Can you suggest alternative investments that provide similar total returns and provide international (non-US) exposure? Thanks.

Q: Hi gang, any ETF in canadian $$ with USA & canadian technology stocks you would recommend or international stocks. Thanks. Alnoor

Q: I own both of these ETF's. Are there duplications of companies and with the US election coming in November is it a good time to hold health care stocks or should I rotate to another sector?

Thanks
Dave.

Q: Good morning 5i,
With the European green deal and Biden's plans to attack climate change, should result in solar panel and wind power installations, and with so much money being allocated to infrastructure projects, which companies could benefit from these two investments by Governments..
Thanks you for your much appreciated help.
Carlo

Q: Can you suggest etf’s for US industrials, US consumer discretionaries, and the russel 2000. Ideally in Canadian dollars. Thank you

Q: Just a suggestion to Joanne's question re. investing in Chinese internet stocks.
The Emerging Markets Internet and E-Commerce ETF - EMQQ - provides exposure to the larger , well known Chinese stocks mentioned ( it is over half China ) as well as similar stocks in the space in other emerging markets.
MER is .86% if this is a solution she might be interested in.

Q: Hi gang, is there an ETF with only canadian technology stocks? Thanks. Alnoor

Q: I am looking for a place to park wedding funds for a couple years where I can get a reasonable return and capital preservation. I understand the risks associated with a shorter window, but wonder what your top 3 options may be. Thanks

Q: Hello Peter, I just noticed that numbers comparing the TSX Composite vs the Venture Composite Indexes are striking. In the past 3 months, the Venture is up 48% compared to the broader index's 9%. And over the past 6 months, the Venture is up 30% compared to the main index's negative 7%. Do you know of an ETF or other way to invest in the Venture? More importantly, would you be inclined to make such an investment (as a smallish portion of a 60 year old's portfolio)? And if you would be more or less inclined to do so NOW, please let us know. Thanks!

Q: Can you suggest a US ETF for high tech exposure for a young person initiating a position. thanks

Q: I would appreciate your views about the benefits of specific factors. I have read a number of articles which claim that over time, dividend growing stocks do better than stocks with no dividends or stocks with overly high dividends. Similarly, there are research articles which claim that "quality" stocks outperform the indexes. Increasingly, I see articles which appear to indicate that other factors such as momentum, women-led companies, socially-responsible firms, etc. also have improved performance. The ETF industry is now offering a wide variety of funds based on these factors (with higher fees than the broad based index funds).

Which factors, if any, do you see as offering outperformance of the broader based indexes over long-term time frames? Are ETF investors better to look for low-cost broad index funds, or should they seek specific types of factor ETF funds recognizing the slight difference in fees?

Thank you for your advice and insights.

Q: At age 50 and have about $60,000 in a (diversified sector) RRSP and just starting a TFSA with $8000 in it, what ETF's or stocks would you recommend starting with?
Thanks for your reply.