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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: Have owned these for a very long time.Haven't done too bad just looking to maybe change things up.What's your opinion on these ones?Also can you offer a couple of ideas to replace these two.
Read Answer Asked by adam on February 03, 2020
Q: Hello,
I recently asked a question regarding a substitution for vea. You mentionned that a high dividend might be a good approach currently, and you suggested vidy.ca. I was wnting to do this in US dollars, however, and i cannot seem to find the US vanguard equivalent of this etf? Is there one?
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by joseph on February 03, 2020
Q: Good morning 5i
In a recent question asking what regions you might underweight you mentionned that you were agnostic on Europe. I have been concerned about Europe myself. But, i need to increase the foreign content in my portfolio and this is where it is lacking. How would you approach this under current conditions. Thanks fort he great service, as always
Read Answer Asked by joseph on January 31, 2020
Q: Here is a multi-part question regarding gold ETFs, please deduct as many credits as necessary:
1) If one were to choose one of the following gold ETFs to hedge their portfolio, which one would 5i recommend (or would you recommend another), and why? CGL.C, IGT, HUG, HGY. What is your opinion on the covered call strategy employed in HGY?
2) What is the difference between GLD and GLDM? What are the pros/cons of owning one versus the other?
3) How are gold ETFs taxed in Canada? Is there any taxable component that is payable even if the ETF is simply held and not sold?

Thank you very much!

Walter
Read Answer Asked by Walter on January 30, 2020
Q: I would appreciate your opinion of the two ETF's above. They seem to be doing very well, but not a large Market Cap for an ETF, and very small average volume. I am looking for an Emerging Markets ETF with monthly income, and good returns. FDE fits the bill, but I am not sure about the volume and Market Cap. I would appreciate your insight. Thanks for your help.
Read Answer Asked by Donna on January 29, 2020
Q: My wife has this mutual fund with a 2% MER, very little growth and a small dividend. Would you kindly suggest a couple of replacements (ETF or Index fund or Mutual fund) with a similar risk level and sector coverage but without the high MER.
Many thanks
Read Answer Asked by TOM on January 29, 2020
Q: what are your favoured Precious metals ETFs and you favoured CDN Dividend ETFs?
Read Answer Asked by john on January 29, 2020
Q: In finance or investing media there is often reference to portfolio insurance. I did not know such a thing even existed. The discussion often makes a passing reference to “... buy the VIX.... “ If this is correct, how would one do that? If insurance--- I assume that means mitigating risk--- is unrelated to VIX , is portfolio insurance even buy-able (OTHER than by use of options)? If options are the only way to mitigate risk, do you know some reliable sources one can go to? If I am going to pull my hair out worrying about “toppy markets” (a favorite phrase of some market commentators) I would like to be able honestly to claim I did make best efforts before the said hair-pulling.
Read Answer Asked by Adam on January 29, 2020
Q: I am concerned about the concentration of FAANG stocks in the S&P 500 index. My understanding is that the concentration of the top 10 holdings in the S&P is near historic highs.

Do you feel this is a real risk? Would you recommend switching from a market capitalization ETF (e.g. VFV) to an equal weight ETF (e.g. EQL)?

Your advice is most appreciated. Thank-you

Read Answer Asked by Dale on January 28, 2020
Q: I have positions in each of these ETF's inside my RRSP. Am I paying witholding taxes on any of them? If so - What is the tax treatment if I held them in my TFSA? Also what would the tax treatment be for each if held in my non-registered account?
Read Answer Asked by Reg on January 28, 2020
Q: Hi there, I'm new here and joined after hearing great interviews on Build Wealth Canada. I have a question and am really hoping you can help. I have decided to invest in Asset Allocation ETFs. 60% equities, 40% bond. For both the equity and bond portion I would like equal split of Canadian, US and international (no emerging markets, developed markets only). I need one asset allocation ETF with dividends or interest to buy with my TFSA & RRSP accounts. I need another with no dividend/interest to buy in my non registered account. I am new to this and overwhelmed with how to pick the 2 asset allocation ETFs for me. Can you please recommend 2 that meet my needs? Thank you so much!! Deborah
Read Answer Asked by Deborah on January 28, 2020
Q: I currently have about 20% of my portfolio in ETFs which track the MSCI EAFE index (XEF & XFH - about 10% , ZDM - about 10%) . I noticed that Vanguard's international developed fund (VI) tracks the FTSE developed all cap index.

I am wondering whether it would be beneficial, for diversification purposes, to sell ZDM and replace with VI, so that I have a better balance for my international core funds. These two funds seem to have similar compositions, so I am wondering whether this would really make a difference.

What is your view?

Thank-you for your excellent advice
Read Answer Asked by Dale on January 28, 2020
Q: Hello. If I were someone who:

1. Wanted to take my time researching and selecting stocks to purchase (perhaps weeks or months between each purchase), and
2. Doesn't yet know how much I'll be investing in Canadian stocks and how much I'll be investing US stocks, and
3. Will be exclusively investing in registered accounts (TFSA and RRSP).

Is it a sound strategy to simply buy one or two dual-listed, broad-market ETFs (like HXS and HXQ) in order to just be in the market while I take my time selecting stocks? This gives me the flexibility of selling the shares in either currency when it comes time to make another purchase, avoiding hefty currency exchange fees.

Or should the increased expense ratio of these dual-listed ETFs versus the cheaper alternatives like IVV and QQQ be a concern? Are there any other flaws with this strategy and/or is there a better strategy suited to this scenario?

Thank you!
Read Answer Asked by Laxmyharan on January 28, 2020
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