Investment Q&A

Q: Despite higher fees, RIT.UN seems to have substantially outperformed over the long haul. (I don't mind paying if management brings a demonstrable advantage.) Your thoughts on this being a good diversified choice within the sector? Basically, what is a solid REIT to add in CAD if adding a single ETF (or stocks) to a portfolio to get sector exposure? Thank you!

Q: Hi, why is ZPR down about 14% when interest rates have been going up the last year.
Thanks,
George

Q: I am constructing a new equity portfolio 60% US & 40% CND. On the US equity I am using the following ETF's:
HXS @ 15%
IWO, XMH,XSU @ 10% total
VGG @ 20%
HXQ @ 15%
I also want to limit taxes, dividends and any US reporting on form 1135.
Could you comment on this set up. Thank you for your service

Q: Hi
Please help me understand this. What is the net difference between $1 in dividend from an eligible Cdn. company ( eg. ENB) vs. $1 “ dividend “ ( dividend and ROC) from a pure play Cdn. ETF ( eg. ZWU) ? Assume a non- Registerred Account that pays no tax.

Q: I typically use ETF's rather than trying to pick the right stock. I notice that there are comments about ETF's in the questions section but I have not been able to find ETF Portfolios for various investment strategies, such as Income, conservative, growth, aggressive, Cnanda, USA, World and so on. Have I been missing something?

Q: Hi, I have my portfolio distribution
10% in a short term bond (RRSP)
50% in XUS (Registered)
25% in HXS (TFSA)
15% in my Non Registered Account (HXT).

Is it time to move to a more definsive strategy. I am thinking of shiftin about 30 % in the likes of BCE and another 20% to short term bonds. Would you be ok with this?

Thanks

Q: I hold HPR and the Dynamic preferred yirld fund. In light of the recent correction in preferred share,, do you advise to hold, buy more or is it time to reduce the positions held.

Q: This is for a taxable account. If ZDB has a current yield of 2.1 and a one-year GIC offers 3.1 and no fees, am I better off choosing the GIC route?

Q: Hello 5I,
I will be retiring in 3 to 4 years and I would like to know if the following ETF would provide a suitable diversification while reducing volatility and providing a monthly income to compliment my pension.
50% CND: CDZ/XTR/XEI/PDF/ZRE
30% United States: ZWH/ZDY
20% Intl: ZWE/ZDH
Feel free to add/remove ETFs as required
Finally, would you limit the exposure to each ETF to 15%?
Thanks
Sylvain

Q: I have recently paid off a sizable chunk of consumer debt, and now have a few thousand bucks at my disposal each month. I want to invest most of this in my TFSA so that I can catch up to my lifetime limit, and thereafter invest at a monthly amount equivalent to the annual limit. I've been thinking of investing most of this money in ETFs, but am a bit confused about the advice I see online. In your view, what is my best strategy here? Invest in one or two solid ETFs? If so, which do you recommend? Often, the ETFs I see experts recommending don't seem all that appealing. They hover at the same price for years and years and typically don't have much in the way of other types of yield. Anyway, I'm a bit confused and just wanting to have a basic plan for moving forward over the next year or two in my TFSA.

Q: From your answer on November 23rd:
No, an individual would still need to hold global exposure to the US, europe and emerging markets as well as fixed income. In terms of Canadian exposure, we would be pretty comfortable with the portfolio as a more growth-tilted proxy to Canada but an investor may want to overlay one Canadian broad ETF just to smooth out the volatility a little, depending on portfolio size. This, or adding a selection of larger company stocks, would help overall diversification.

Can you suggest % or guidelines on each type of exposure to have a well-diversified portfolio? (US, Europe, emerging markets, fixed income, Beport, one Canadian broad ETF or larger company stocks).
Thank you

Q: Greetings,

1. In my RRSP account I hold XEC (TSE listed) and VWO (NYSE listed) and I only want to hold one ETF.
2. XEC has only one holding and that is IEMG (NYSE listed)
3. 5i Model ETF holds VEE.

I thought that RRSP, rule of thumb for tax efficiency is to keep all my U.S listed stock here so why does it XEC exist considering it only holds a U.S listed ETF?
Are you able to help me decide which of the three options could choose?
VWO seems to have the lowest MER and best 3 year performance history.

Many thanks!

Q: Hi,

My portfolio is light on fixed income and it's not a sector that gets me excited to educate myself about it...What is the best way to get exposure to fixed income at a decent yield? Any ETFs or mutuals you can recommend? Or should I buck up and educate myself and buy some Bonds?

Cam.

Q: I am down 25% on this Robotics and Automation ETF. After learning more about ETF's I feel it is small, and wish I would not have purchased it. What are your thoughts for a 5 year hold?

Q: First year of my subscription. I am single, rent, retired and am 66 years old. Besides CPP and OAS (fully clawed back) have a DB pension which covers my daily living needs so I treat it as my bond portfolio. Have a non-registered account from the proceeds of my house sale and collapsing my RRSP. Account objective is dividend/growth and not to lose money.
Looking at my Oil & Gas holdings I have HSE and XEG, the latter underwater by 20%.
Other energy-related holdings are ALA, BEP.un, ENB, FTS, H, IPL, SPB, and RNW all of which are underwater from -2 to -53% in this market.
I have owned a TFSA since 2009 and made full contributions every year mostly from savings from pension income. It holds AQN and IPL in the energy related sector.
Thinking of switching XEG for OIL or ZEO today in non-reg and booking the tax loss against previous 2015 capital gains. Is it a reasonable switch and are there any tax implications; i.e. trx not subject to 30 day rule?
Bill

Q: Which ETF ex North America, would you recommend for global exposure?

Q: I have a question about VFV and index ETFs generally. If equity markets are facing headwinds in the next year or so as some analysts believe, would this be the wrong time to sell individual stocks in my investment account and go to index funds? My goal is to simplify and de-risk my portfolio and reduce some volatility. Thanks for your help, Ron

Q: This ETF has shown on May 31,2018 95 million Outstdg shares. On Nov 1 they had 99 million shares. which in my opinion diluted the value of my shares.??
I called them and they said, that they had to issue new shares as Institutional clients asked for it.I said why they did not come on the open market and bid up the price. He said it doesn't work that way. I said isn't it like a Central Bank who just prints more money.Can you clarify who is right? Am confused.Art

Q: Can you suggest a couple of low cost, US financial ETFs in CAD for me to follow up on? Thank-you.

Q: I am setting up a fixed income portfolio for 5 -10 years with little need for income. HISA @ 15%, HTB @ 5%, HBB @ 5%, PYF @ 5%, HFR @ 20%, MFT @ 50%. I would increase the Horizon's ETF percentages, but liquidity is low. Would you please comment on this set up. Thanks for your service.