Investment Q&A

Q: Hi. my exposure to HMMJ is about 3%. My position is down about 20%. The fiasco with Canntrust seems to have tarnished the industry somewhat. What are your feelings going forward, buy, sell or just wait it out

Q: It seems someone should be able to put the right mix together in an ETF to earn 4% a year no matter how crazy things get. HRA does look interesting, any thoughts on this configuration, and how would it would have fared in 2008.
Thanks Gord

Q: Came across ZFC - BMO SIA Focused Canadian Equity Fund ETF Series in doing ETF research. Holdings are 100% Canadian ... Top 10 holdings account for about 67% of the fund (AC, QBR.B, CAE, WCN, BAD, GIB.A, CSU, CAR.UN, EFN). MER is on the high side .75 What is the 5i opinion on this for a more aggressive ETF for Canadian holdings ? Thanks as always for your advice, Steve.

Q: What are your thoughts about this water ETF ? Thanks.

Q: I am looking for a short term, low volatility, ETF earning better than the daily interest in my chequing account.

Q: Good morning 5i,
In the interests of simplifying my financial affairs for those who may have to look after them at some point, I have been moving in the direction of efts in my rif accounts on the US side. Up to this point I haven't considered doing the same for Canadian stocks, for two reasons: One is the capital gains that must be paid, as they are in a taxable account for the most part. Second, because of the fear that Canadian efts, like the Canadian economy, concentrate on only a few sectors. I thought, therefore, that I could simply make up my own etf out of individual companies that I buy. I can see, though, that one could suffer a real loss if one of these blew up, something like SNC Lavelan, which had previously been a staple in Canadian portfolios until recently. Also, there is the difficulty of managing these stocks by someone else, not used to doing so. I could approach it over a number of years to avoid some of the capital gain problem. So, I was wondering what you thought of this move in general? Also,I would appreciate your view on the relative dangers of holding Canadian efts? Which Canadian efts would be the best, general market or more focused? Appreciate greatly your reflections on this question.

Q: Could I please have your opinion of this ETF as part of a fixed income portfolio.
Thank You
Gerry

Q: Is VUN considered a tax efficient ETF to hold US stocks in an TFSA account?
If not could you suggest another?

Q: Can you please give me your recommendations for ETFS in the following categories?

US S&P 500
US Total Market
US Dividend

Thanks

Q: Thank you for your Portfolio Analytics feature, I am finding it a useful tool for helping with overall perspective.

Here is a sounding board fixed income ETF allocation question.

In registered accounts I currently have 1% XBB and another 4'ish% spread generally evenly between VSC, CLF and CBO.

For general simplification purposes would it be a better idea to only hold a couple of ETFs or maybe even just a single bond fund?

Possibly keep XBB and choose one of shorter-termed VSC/CLF/CBO products? Would you suggest different ETF(s) instead? Thanks for any ideas and I recognize you are not giving individual advice.

Q: Which would you prefer to beef up US exposer in an RRSP

Q: Thoughts Please, Thank You!

Q: Is CEF and CEF.U a good choice as a holding of gold and silver bullion. I realise there are storage costs involved but can you suggest an alternative that also holds the actual metals in storage. Preferably with lower MER than what Sprott collects on CEF at .73%.
An e.t.f. perhaps? Or just go with a solid producer such as AEM and forget bullion.
The maximum 5% holding is for portfolio insurance.
Thank you.

Q: I currently have 1/3 of my TFSA in a cash position and am underweight in Industrial, Technology, and Consumer Cyclical. What ETFs do you favour that would help me to balance out my portfolio?

Thanks,
John

Q: I am looking to hold some cash for 6-12 months. My broker - RBC Direct Investing - does not allow me to purchase PSA or CSAV. Would you consider HFR to be reasonably safe, or do you have another suggestion? I am somewhat reluctant to change brokers, but maybe I should.

Q: Hi
For 5 G exposure what would you suggest

Thank you

Mike

Q: For safety of income and income, what would be your preference between XUT and a bond ETF? Thanks, Bill

Q: Good morning,
How would the drop in US interest rates effect this Canadian ETF and would this ETF be a good add to my existing XBB VAB for long term stability in an RRSP. I am retired and mostly follow the Conservative ETF portfolio from ETF and Mutual Fund 5i

Thanks
Carl

Q: I am looking for a US dollar bond fund that will hold up well in case there is a pull back in the markets.

Q: After using your portfolio analytics tool I have learned I should make the following adjustments. 1. I need to increase my international exposure. 2. I need to increase my exposure to health care, utilities and telecom. Any suggestions that might accomplish both at the same time? Or failing that, your best overall pick for each sector. I do own VOX which is currently a 1.5% weighting, GWR/Global Water Resources @ 2% and GUD/Knight @ 1%.