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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: 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
Read Answer Asked by Carlo on August 07, 2020
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.
Read Answer Asked by William on August 07, 2020
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!
Read Answer Asked by James on August 06, 2020
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.
Read Answer Asked by Dale on August 06, 2020
Q: I am considering setting up a 2 etf portfolio for my elderly parents, the plan includes a 60 bond/40 equity etf in a non registered account and was thinking a 50/50 in the TFSA, I realize that is a perhaps alot of eequity exposure but they have more than enough income to live off and will likely never acess these funds. Thoughts on the plan and ETF ideas please. The combined portfolios would be in the $500000 range so I have to be mindful of foreign ownership rules, any other rules I should watch for?
Read Answer Asked by Charles on August 05, 2020
Q: I have positions in several ETFs trading on the TSE. I like to keep up to date on major holding changes and weightings within each ETF. Is there a good (one stop shop) source of updated information, other than going on to the separate ETF company websites?
Read Answer Asked by Edward on August 05, 2020
Q: Dear 5i,
Do you think the CRA will have any concerns with Horizons change from a Total Return Swap structure to a Total Return Corporate Class structure implemented in Nov. 2019?
I understand that Horizons changed all their Total Return Swap ETF's to this new structure late last year. I would like to avoid any future CRA tax issues if I purchase one of these Total Return Corporate Class ETF's. Your thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Ian on August 04, 2020
Q: Currently have 25% of my portfolio in XUU. I am interested in increasing my US exposure up to 30% though. My question is do you have any problem with 30% XUU or would you possibly split it in to two? Eg ZSP and something else? Note - I would prefer a Canadian listed ETF but if you think there is a better American option I'm willing to listen.....
Read Answer Asked by Jeff on August 04, 2020
Q: Dear 5i,
I would like to spice-up my portfolios with small allocations to some small/mid-cap/thematic/sector ETFs. The Active ETF's can be sold on a US or CDN exchange and the holdings can be in any country. Can you suggest as many as you can so I can do some further research. (ie ARK products look interesting to me)

thanks for your suggestions
Read Answer Asked by Ian on July 31, 2020
Q: I listened to a commentary where the analyst was suggesting one have a bond fund, in this case US, which receives income in a foreign [non-US] currency and then the fund converts that to USD. As the USD depreciates from QE relative to other currencies [if this happens in reality] the inflow to the bond fund will be worth more in USD. Is that a logical approach and would Vanguard’s BNDX be an appropriate? Even if the above is a stretch would holding some of one’s bond allocation in BNDX be prudent?

Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Ronald on July 31, 2020