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: Hi Gentleman,
I currently have a portfolio that I do not need to access for 10 years. Currently I have MFC4644 - $100K, XWD - $160K, ZLU - $190K and VGRO - $220K. Would you make any adjustments or other suggestions to my current holdings.
Thank you,
SF
Read Answer Asked by Steve on April 27, 2020
Q: IF and that is a big IF we have all missed the bottom on American larger caps should I be now focusing on US small caps and International markets? When I look at SPY and VIG all th money has jumped into American large caps and more or less erased the huge loss and pairs back some of my gains from 2019...so huge collapse gone...for now. I've topped up some VIG but missed on SPY. When I look at US small caps they are lagging and I assume this is due to the higher risk and lower volume, Same story for Europe, International and emerging markets. So my question is should I be shifting to adding IWO, XEF, and VE. I need to add some international content to my portfolio anyways as I am a bit light at 12% international ( developed) and 10% emerging markets. If you agree or don't strongly disagree what ETFs do you recommend right now ( I already hold the one mentioned). I am leaning toward a bit of IWO and larger positions in VE and XEF.

5 year window, high but slowly lowering risk tolerance, Balanced portfolio follower ( shifting slowly to income follower), overweight canada (40%) and US(40%) ,
Read Answer Asked by Tom on April 24, 2020
Q: Hi 5i,

Thank you for the great work. Gold seems to be emerging as a key theme right now. Currently I have a full position in Franco-Nevada. Looking to add further exposure and wondering if you would:

1. Add to FNV
2. Add position in any miners you recommend
3. Add XGD

Thank you in advance!
Read Answer Asked by Greg on April 24, 2020
Q: Hi,
I am wondering if there are any any tail hedging strategies available to the common investor. As an example Universa has an insurance product which uses tail hedging strategies where one invests about 3% of their portfolio which practically produces a zero return during normal times but during times when unforeseen events or sudden crashes happen they produce phenomenal returns..I believe such products are only available to institutional investors. Thank you very much. Regards,
Shyam
Read Answer Asked by Shyam on April 24, 2020
Q: Due to the current pandemic situation and how medication to treat infected people and a future vaccine, do you see biotech as an area of investment opportunities? If so, can you suggest an ETF that represents the companies involved.
Many thanks
Read Answer Asked by Francisco on April 24, 2020
Q: Is the only difference between these funds is one is hedged and the other non hedged.

Why do you prefer non hedged and if so what are the reasons?

And is the a BMO product similar to hxq?
Read Answer Asked by Thomas on April 23, 2020
Q: My daughter is 27 years old and is looking to invest around $35,000 as her first investment. She is considering investing 40% in Canadian equities (ZLB, PDC, and XRE), 50% in US Equities (VUS and DXU), and 10% in International Equities (FCIQ and VEE).

As an initial investment, does this balance seem reasonable or would you have other recommendations? Is this sufficiently diversified or are there too many funds?

Thank you!
Read Answer Asked by Geoff on April 23, 2020
Q: Good afternoon. Buy and hold investor. Currently hold 20% XUU, 15% VIU, 5% VEE in portfolio as my non-Canadian equity holdings. What would the pros and cons be of selling them and putting it all in to XAW, and would you recommend such a move? I only re-balance once a year as it is. Thanks for your reply.
Read Answer Asked by Jeff on April 23, 2020
Q: Hello team,
please help me on this, compare these two ETFs, with size spread; returns; fees; and so on.. if only one to go with, which one and why? please confirm they are NON Hedged, as I DO stay with US currency

Thanks
Read Answer Asked by LEI on April 23, 2020
Q: Is there any Etf for groceries industry in Canada or USA that you would recommend. If none do you recommend any stocks in Canada.

Thanks for the great service
Read Answer Asked by Hector on April 23, 2020
Q: Hi Team
If you had 180,000 to invest in ETF’s right now
What would they be?
Great job team
Thanks Mike B
Read Answer Asked by Mike on April 23, 2020
Q: Hello 5i,

I have about 30k in some terrible mutual funds (don’t ask) but would like to keep it simple and put this into one ETF without concern to sectors or risk. I know they are very new but are you able to comment on DXN or DXW? I’m also looking as DXG and DXF. And an advisor recommended moving some money into DYN800 – is there any good reason for an investor to put money into this fund? Please take as many credits as you see fit.

Thanks for this great service.
John
Read Answer Asked by John on April 22, 2020
Q: I have most of my wealth in an unregistered account and would like to invest in the safety of Bonds or GIC's but I don't like that they get fully taxed. Are there any ETF's or funds you would suggest that use derivatives or some other wizardy to turn Bond/GIC income into dividends so they are taxed more favorably? All without giving the advantage back through high fees or MER?
Read Answer Asked by Morgan on April 22, 2020