skip to content
  1. Home
  2. >
  3. Investment Q&A
You can view 3 more answers this month. Sign up for a free trial for unlimited access.

Investment Q&A

Not investment advice or solicitation to buy/sell securities. Do your own due diligence and/or consult an advisor.

Q: Hello Peter and Co,
My 20 year old grandson has opened a TFSA with $22000 in cash, and is asking for advice how to start investing. Our suggestion is that he put a fairly large amount into an index fund ETF, such as VFV, and then buy several individual stocks with the rest. They would be small positions (~$2500 per stock) but a good way for him to start learning, and with markets down, the timing seems quite fortuitous.
He is considering the following:
100 shares VFV: ~$7500
40 shares GSY: ~$2500
35 shares BEP.UN: ~$2500
1 share AMZN: ~$2500 (CAD)
7 shares NVDA: ~$2500 (CAD)
200 shares VET: ~$2500
-------------------------------
TOTAL: ~$20000

We had also suggested CSU, SHOP, KXS, PKI, TTD, GOOG, AAPL, ROKU, FB

What do you think of the above approach, and what changes might you suggest? I realize VET stands out as quite risky, but should probably do well long term.
Are there any sectors or stocks or ETF that you would suggest adding/replacing? Obviously he has a multi-decade time horizon.
Thanks for your sage advice!
Read Answer Asked by Ed on March 09, 2020
Q: I started picking away at these names a week ago and bought half positions in each (I'm always too early!!). I'll probably look to buy the other half in each this week if we get more spikes to the downside. I'm a relatively longer term holder (say next 5-10 years at least). With respect to IHI I usually stick to individual stocks but took a look at the top 10 holdings and decided they were all good companies so just bought the ETF. Do you see any issue holding these names?
Read Answer Asked by Richard on March 09, 2020
Q: Are there any US Equity ETF's that are Deep Value tilted ? ( verses Growth )
Read Answer Asked by darcy on March 09, 2020
Q: I sold my business and started a non-registered investment account in November 2019 and currently have no US equity. I am semi-retired and looking for total return, with a 10 year time line. Can you recommend an ETF that I can slowly add to with market dips? ZDY is down about 10% YTD, trading a 52-week low with a P/E of 14.90 and dividend of about 3.25%. But ZSP and ZLU have historically better 3-year returns. I would be grateful for your recommendations. Thank you!
Read Answer Asked by Grant on March 09, 2020
Q: Do you have recommendations on how to possible play the OPEC announcement regarding not cutting production? Is it good for Saudi companies since their per barrel production costs are quite a bit lower than the western world's? Do you see something like KSA being a good buy (its off quite a bit from only 1 year ago)? It seems between OPEC and the Canadian governments apparent intent on crippling the Canadian energy industry, that there's likely no point in buying Canadian energy companies for a while. I do still own ENB for some degree of north American exposure.
Read Answer Asked by david on March 09, 2020
Q: I'm 27 and have invested in my TFSA in 8 growth compagnies so far for long term holding (retirement). I save 10% of my salary in my TFSA for my retirement since I'm 22 as I read in Rich Barber few years ago. I wait until I've got 1000-1500$ and then buy a stock.
1) Other part in my saving is to buy a house with my girlfriend in about 2-3 years. What will you suggest us to invest in for that short period?
2) My girlfriend want to start investing for her retirement. I suggested her to invest in ETF at first and than change for a strategy like Beat the TSX when she has enough money saved. Is it a good strategy? If so, which ETF will you suggest to invest in?
Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Olivier on March 06, 2020
Q: Hi,

I have parked some cash in PSA (CAD) and MINT (USD) for short term until market and economy stabilizes. PSA invests into cash or high interest savings accounts of National, Scotia, CIBC banks. MINT invests into short term high quality corporate investment grade bonds. How safe are this ETfs if interest rates keep dropping and a severe global economic downturn or collapse of Financial markets. How much can the price drop be considering they are yielding close to 2%

Thanks
Ninad
Read Answer Asked by Ninad on March 06, 2020
Q: I own two of Innovator's Defined Outcome ETF's - PAPR and POCT - each with the 15% downside buffer. They have performed as hoped for during the period I have owned them - limiting the upside to approx. half of the index return and similarly buffering the downside by approx. 50%.
On their web-site, Innovator has an interesting article questioning the future of the traditional 60 /40 portfolio. With 10 year bonds under 1% and headed lower, they question future returns from FI and perhaps its ability to act as a ballast to a portfolio in volatile times.
They suggest for the future - 50% Equity ; 30% Defined Outcome products ; and 20 % FI. Talking their book admittedly but interesting . Your thoughts , please.
Thank-you.
Read Answer Asked by William on March 06, 2020
Q: Hi 5i, Another question about your model ETF portfolio.
This one is about VE-T and VEE-T.
They trade on the Toronto exchange, Does that make them like Canadian ETFs?
I mean, are their dividends eligible for the tax credit? Or are they fully taxed, just like US
ETFs?
Many thanks. Shan
Read Answer Asked by Shanthi on March 06, 2020
Looking for more? Sign up for a FREE 14 day trial! No credit card required

We invite you to sign up for a 14 day free trial of 5i Research!
Experience all the benefits and tools we have to offer; stock research, model portfolios, Q&A with our experts, and so much more. Join a community of like-minded investors today!