Investment Q&A

Q: I am retired and looking to increase my fixed income assets with ZAG. For tax efficiency is it best to hold it in a RRSP or TFSA account? Any comment?

Q: when I put these three on a chart together (Thompson-Reuters feed on webbroker), for a specified period, hxs shows a much greater return than zsp which shows a much greater return than xsp. Five year chart 93%, 77%, and 45% respectively. This charting service does not show total return so some of the difference between hxs and zsp will be the dividend (included in hxs but not zsp). Some of the difference can be explained by hedging of the currency on xsp but not on hxs or zsp. Given the difference in five year returns there must be something else. Suggestions?

Q: Can you please recommend a Canada ETF similar or close to TLT in USA.

Thanks for your great service

Q: I have done quite well holding momentum/growth stocks in the Nasdaq. However, the recent sector rotation into value stocks has hurt my portfolio quite seriously, while the overall Nasdaq was up. To avoid sectoral risk, would I be wise to invest part of my portfolio in general index funds, such as the Nasdaq ZQQ?

Thank you,

Walter

Q: Good Afternoon,
Is there a suggested rule of thumb of when not to buy a mutual fund in a taxable account as we approach year end? I don't want to buy a large chunk of a mutual fund and then be hit with the year end distribution in mid to late December. If I buy it now I only get the benefit of a few months ownership but could be hit with a full year distribution. I'm just wondering once we hit this time of year and beyond is it best to hold off until the New Year?
thank-you

Q: Reading Tom's question on Sept 23rd and your response to read the cost of waiting versus lump sum investing article was quite informative. I try to follow your income portfolio and notice a double digit cash position for well over a year as I also have. I assume your reasons have to do with the frothy market and bear market mentality. As a retired couple living on dividends we are very tempted to not keep waiting for the BIG downfall and put our 12% cash in a reasonable safe etf with low volatility as outlined in the article. Your 5i bal may be too risky, but more like VCIP or XHD or please give us safer alternatives. Even XBB, CBD. would improve on loosing cash to inflation.
Thanks in advance.

Q: Hi,
This is a follow up to another member question/answer from July 26, 2019. "But we would still prefer building one's own ETF with 10 to 15 stocks. Yes, there will be some that decline. But this will ensure proper diversification, eliminate fees, and (likely) get you higher income and overall returns. Owning 15 or so stocks across 11 sectors is not that difficult, but there is a trade off between effort (and perhaps inexperience) and costs. But this would also be the easiest way to balance out the account with no concentration risk, over time." is the portion I'd like more information on. I currently hold XIC:CA for the bulk of my Canadian exposure. If i were looking to "replicate" the XIC ETF with 15 stocks over 11 sectors, would you recommend equal weighting across all sectors and do you have any stand out stock picks to represent each sector in this scenario. Thanks!

Q: Is this the right time to buy any of the above ETF's or will they continue to slide down?

Q: I am retired and hold the above ETFs in my RIF, TFSA accounts. Please advise which ETFs you would hold in this environment and which are duplicated. I am looking for stability and safe dividends. Thanks for your input.

Q: I HAVE BEEN IN THIS ETF FOR QUITE A WHILE AT A COST OF $23.00. IT IS NOW UNDER $13.00. I'M OK TO HOLD IF THERE CONTINUES TO BE SOME GROWTH HERE. AT ABOUT 2% OF MY PORTFOLIO, WOULD YOU RECOMMEND TOPPING UP AT TODAYS PRICE OR DO YOU EXPECT MORE DOWNWARD PRESSURE?
GUY

Q: I have about 150k in an RESP account for my 2 kids ( grade 9 and 12) so next year kid 1 will start withdrawing funds and kid 2 in 4 years. I've maxed out the match up grants so no new contributions. I hold mostly global growth mutual funds and am thinking I should shift to a more conservative dividend aristocrat type of holding. This would maintain equity and start generating some income vs more global growth focus I have used to get to this point. Do you have a suggestion for 1-3 low cost mutual funds or ETFs to generate some income and be good holdings for the drawdown period over the next 8 years.

Q: I currently own CPD in a taxable account at a loss position. With interest rates looking like they are going downwards would it be positive for preferred resets? Would you be okay with a switch from CPD to XBB at this time? I have CPD as part of my fixed income portfolio even though it is kind of a hybrid between equity and bond. Thanks for your insight

Q: Good morning 5i,
I am looking for advice on US dollar fixed income possibilities in this particular economic climate. I have some of the two mentionned and wondering whether I should continue holding them? also, what would be a good buy at the moment?
thanks

Q: Can you name your preferred commodities producers CAD ETFs? Thanks!

Q: Most of my information is supplied by your insightful replies in this form but now require a little more direction.
Need to convert about 105000 from rrsp to rrif .
Am looking for 4 or 5 ETFs that are dividend payers as all our needs are covered with
oas and cpp plus company pension.
We also have tfsa, US and Canadian trading accounts so this would be for discretionary spending.
Thank you
Barry

Q: Could you pls recommend a couple of US Bond Funds ETFs which can be purchased in Canadian dollars. They do not need to be hedged, Thanks

Q: Given a 15% withholding fee for US investments, which S&P based index fund would be the most favourable to hold in a RRSP in Canada. Either HXS, VFV, XSP, ZSP to reduce the yield drag on non-recoverable withheld taxes. Of course HXS has none withheld to date but does have a pending distribution perhaps at year end.

Q: 5-I,

I own CPD plus 5 individual rate reset preferred shares with reset dates ranging from 2020 to 2022. . When I look at the gains / losses I see CPD has been hit much more than any of the individual items over the past year. My question relates to how the NAV is determined with CPD. Is it very similar to that of a mutual fund , ie if many sales orders are received the ETF needs to liquidate, thus causing a drop in NAV? Any other thoughts why such a large performance difference between CPD and individual preferred shares ?

Thank you,

Paul

Q: Back in July, David was asking about CSAV to park emergency fund money in and you seemed to like PSA more because of the liquidity of a larger fund.

It looks like CSAV now has around $300M in assets. Is that large enough to remove any concerns about liquidity? CSAV has a slightly lower MER but their monthly payout seems to fluctuate more so I'm not sure which to choose for emergency funds.

Thanks

Q: Would this New ETF be reasonable to invest as a gold portion of portfolio?