Investment Q&A

Q: Canada's interest rate has dropped, and bank GIC and HISA rates have followed suit. The ZLC BMO Long Corporate Bond ETF is offering a 4.83% return. Can this investment completely replace my HISA or GIC? I've previously invested a significant amount in ZLC, and with the recent dip in price, I'm considering continuing to buy more to replace my GIC and HISA ETF. I suspect this might be the last opportunity to buy bonds at a low price. I'd appreciate your insights. Thanks.

Q: I have a cash account with CDN stocks and CDRs. I am retired but will not need to dip into this account for at least 5 years. I am thinking of converting all the holdings into 5 or 6 etfs, all in CDN$, to reduce my time managing this account, while still holding the probability of a reasonable amount of growth.
I have not yet started the switch over but at the moment my list is : XIU and WXM for 30% Canadian; ZSP, XQQ and FCMO for 60% US; and VE for 10% other.
The usual questions about the overall strategy, alternative/better ETFs to hold, or other suggestions.
Thanks
Elliott

Q: Would you support selling VOO for VEU for a better return on investment?

Q: In a response to Bruce this morning regarding HSAV you state: "Note it is not 'guaranteed' in the typical sense." I had thought that holding HSAV was as safe as holding cash. As a holder of HSAV I would appreciate it if you could expand on the risks of holding HSAV. Thank you.

Q: I hold HHL in my RRIF which is primarily focused on income. I am considering switching HHL to
HHLE. This would increase my income by approximately 30% on this money and allow me to keep the same list of healthcare stocks. Does this make sense; any downsides ; am I missing anything?

As an aside , I am at breakeven with HHL as the sector is under pressure from Trump and also United Healthcare has dampened the sector. But with Trump wanting lower drug prices , the companies will be going overseas to compensate for lower US revenue as witnessed by Eli Lilly raising international prices for Mounjaro.
Thanks .Derek

Q: PLEASE SUGGEST A COUPLE OF PASSIVE, EQUAL WAITED SP5000 FUNDS DENOMINATED IN US DOLARS. tHANKS

Q: Hello team
with the Fed govt going into more debt , interest rate pending cut by Bank of Canada
what is going to happen to the bond funds in gneral? I do have XBB, XLB all losing some grounds
If indeed there is inflation due to the tariffs hitting the basic goods and little growth, how does it affect the bond funds?
thank you
Michael

Q: I have $500,000 from sale of house that I need to park until January when I can contribute it back to my TFSA. Given the recent strong markets and the fact we are going I to seasonally weak months I don’t want to be exposed to market risk. Once back in my TFSA I will put the money to work in the markets.
I was thinking of using HSAV as the returns are by way of unit price appreciation which would be taxed more favourably than interest paid out in CASH or PSA. The unit price growth in HSAV is somewhat erratic which is a bit concerning.
Your thoughts or other suggestions.

Q: Follow-up on your answer to the question on this ETF: is this a buy and hold strategy or there is a certain way of using it? Please feel free to elaborate and deduct points as appropriate

Q: What do you think about this fund as an income ETF?

Q: Hello, would like to know for total returns of these ETFs (ZWC, ZWU, CNCC, HCAL, ZSP, VCN, VE, XGRO, VEQT, XBAL) which is your favorite in order for each and in which account type is each best suited for. Also please give me your number 1 top pick of all Canadian listed ETFs for each account type.

Thank you

Q: What is your opinion on the new All In One Income ETFs such as HHIS,FFIX and FCIP. I realize that they are all relatively new but do you think they are a good investment at this time?

Q: What are your thoughts on Hamiltons new ETF CDAY?

Q: Hi 5i Team,

I'm interested in your views of buying something like UMAX using a margin account. It seems like the math works out provided a particular financial institution has a reasonable margin rate. I'm wondering if there's an angle I'm missing here. If not, is UMAX a good option for this idea? Or something else? I need more utilities and industrials in my portfolio so this would also help add to these.

Thanks as always for this wonderful service!
Lisa

Q: When an ETF is sold at a loss, does the loss increase because the ETF had received a Return of Capital as part of the annual distribution and you are supposed to reduce your cost by the annual ROC received? Thanks

Q: Hello Chris/Michael:

Kudos for your YouTube podcast. Great data dense presentation with some actionable ideas! I posed this question on YouTube comments section. Hee it is for all of us, the subscribers.

If 1% position is a reasonable position to take in Cryptos, what would be the "intra group" percentages for ANY investor. I know percentages are personal. Here it is about slicing that 1 % ! More in the ETF than in the "miners?

Also, I remember Peter mentioning that Tom Lee is one of his favourites and he follows him. I don't recall Chris mentioning Tom Lee's Bitmine?

Best wishes to these young men!
Many thanks!

P.S. My Twitter/YouTube handle dovetails nicely with Chris's percentage based approach! My handle is 3P Investor. Investing is P for Personal, P for Percentage based and P for Portfolio/Probability. The three legs of a Financial stool. :)

Q: My search for XRP returns the following tickers: xrp-cad, xrp-us, xrp.to, xrp-cny, xrp-eur, axrp.sw, xrpp.to.

I think I understand some. I do not understand all.

Please explain ticker symbols, investment thesis for symbols, and your opinion on these investments for a new TFSA account at age 19.


Thank you.

Q: Why the difference in results? Since inception, Jan 13 2025 for IBIT.CA 30%, BTCC.B 22%

Q: First Trust Natural Gas ETF (FCG) - not in your system. This US based ETF has a mandate to invest in MLP units among other things like stocks. Does this make it problematic for Canadians to hold as it pays a 2.8% dividend? How does it compare with UNG - also not in your system?

Q: Would you invest some cash in this? BMO ZAAA-NE.