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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: I am looking at increasing my international exposure by purchasing ZDH or ZDI. Have some confusion about withholding tax. From prior question relating to withholding tax that someone else had your reply referred to layers of taxation. ZDH basically just holds ZDI. If ZDI pays withholding tax from international investments and pays dividends in Can$ then what would be the benefit of purchasing ZDH over ZDI as tax is already withheld and both pay in Can$?
Read Answer Asked by Betty on May 21, 2019
Q: 2 questions - please deduct as many points as needed.
Q1 - according to Portfolio Analytics, I need to increase my fixed income allocation by $90k. I own 4% positions in XBB, ZIC & PMO005 and 2.6% in CPD. Would you recommend adding to one of these or would you suggest adding another ETF?
Q2 - I need to add $125k to International exposure. Current international holdings include XAW, XMI & XEC at just over 2%. Should i add to anyone of these or add something else?
Read Answer Asked by Rosemin on May 21, 2019
Q: For many years I had held individual perpetual preferred shares, which I gradually sold and replaced with ZPR about 3 years ago. It had a similar yield, was of course more diversified, and could be easily traded if need be. This seemed like a good move, but after some decent gains it is recently moving back towards my purchase price (not counting dividends). I am contemplating selling ZPR and replacing with individual rate-reset preferreds with a floor. My thinking is that the rate-reset feature should help hold up the price when interest rate are increasing, and the floor should do the same if rates are falling. Could you comment on this strategy, and list some the the pros and cons of the rate-resets with a floor. My preferred share holdings make up about 7-8% of my total portfolio, and I am an income oriented investor.
Thank-you
Read Answer Asked by grant on May 21, 2019
Q: Where would you recommend I place $30k in a TFSA today (5 year hold). Only other holdings in this TFSA are $12k in iShares MSCI ETF (XAW) and $3k in Kelt Exploration (KEL).
Where would you recommend I place $60 in an RSP today (5 year hold).
Only other holdings in this RSP are $40k BMO Dividend ETF (ZDV), $10K NorthWest Co (NWC), and $15k Richards Packaging (RPI.UN).
Given the size of the portfolios, probably one or several ETF's, instead of more individual stocks? And probably better non-Canadian exposure? Anything else to be sold here before repositioning?
I guess that's 3 or more questions, please charge accordingly. Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Lotar on May 21, 2019
Q: Hey Guys,
What do you know about this Motley Fool 100 Index ETF? Trades under TMFC, is currently around $22. Looks like Motley Fools best 100 ideas, any thoughts on this one?
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Chris on May 17, 2019
Q: Hello

I am aiming to have about 20% of my equity portfolio in international stocks (ie. not US or Canada). I currently own ZDH (4.3%), ZDM (5.06%), ZEQ (1.87%), ZLD (4.19%) and ZEM (4.15%).

Do these ETFs appear reasonable to you? Do you see any need to change/consolidate, or to reduce MERs? The Portfolio Analyzer recommends VIU, XEF, VEE and XEM. Do you think it is worthwhile replacing my ETFs for the recommended versions?

Also, VEE and XEM do not appear to be as tax efficient as ZEM, or am I missing something?

Thank you for this great service!
Read Answer Asked by Dale on May 15, 2019
Q: Which would you choose, or would you have a bit of both
XRE or VRE?
VFV or XUS?
Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Michael on May 14, 2019