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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 recently out of university and have gotten a full time job with a defined benefits pension plan. I have 25-30 years before I am going to retire and want to start developing my first portfolio. I have lots of room in my TFSA and RRSP. I have a moderate risk tolerance given the pension plan.

I currently have $50K to invest. I would like to build a portfolio with a mix of some of your balanced and growth model portfolio stocks.

A few questions for you:
1) How many stocks would you recommend be a good starting point for me? Or would you suggest that ETFs would be a better approach for me given the amount of money I have to invest initially? From reading the forums I get a sense that I need to ensure a certain amount of portfolio diversity.
2) If I were to invest today, what stocks would you recommend from your BE and growth portfolio for the long term (20+ years in my situation).

Feel free to dock as many credits as you feel appropriate.

Thanks so much for your service. I have learned a lot since becoming a member and look forward to being a member for a very long time.
Read Answer Asked by Justin on July 14, 2017
Q: Can you give your thoughts on CDZ in light of the following Globe commentary (similar to other blurbs I've seen in the Globe):

"And another thing: The way some dividend ETFs weight their individual constituents is a bit nuts. Take the iShares S&P/TSX Canadian Dividend Aristocrats Index ETF (CDZ). Choosing stocks that have raised their dividends regularly, as this ETF does, is a great strategy, but assigning the largest weightings to stocks with the highest yields is a problem. Why? Because a high yield is often a sign of a struggling company whose dividend is unsustainable.

Case in point: At the end of April, CDZ’s largest holding was Aimia (AIM), which at the time yielded 8.8 per cent. But the loyalty plan operator’s shares collapsed in May after Air Canada said it would be parting ways with Aeroplan, and Aimia recently suspended all dividends. CDZ’s top holding now? Corus Entertainment (CJR.B), another struggling company that yields about 8.7 per cent and hasn’t raised its dividend since January, 2015."

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/investor-education/im-still-waiting-for-the-perfect-dividend-etf/article35453106/

Would you recommend a switch to a different ETF for broad-based Cdn exposure in an RRSP? What alternatives do you like that are not over-exposed to financials/materials?
Read Answer Asked by Chris on July 14, 2017
Q: Hi 5i Team
We have approximately $80,000.00 US cash to invest. Thinking of buying XHY for income to cover some of our expenses for property we have in US. Would like your opinion. It would be approximately a 5% position of our portfolio. In the event you think it would be a good idea, do we deploy the funds gradually or take the full position at once, obviously it would be based on what is available for purchase. We would probably us our TFSA account. What would you suggest. Thank you. Heather
Read Answer Asked by Heather on July 14, 2017
Q: I have an average price on BMY shares of $69 having bought near peak price...when the recommendations by other analysts ( not 5i) were extremely positive. After, the company missed expectations with a drug and the downfall began. Now, I am wondering, what factors would you consider in making the decision whether to exit this losing trade and put the $$ into an alternate pharm company such as GUD or an ETF such as some you have recently mentioned IHI.
Read Answer Asked by Joanne on July 13, 2017
Q: Greetings Peter and 5i Team,
I have $100,000 to invest in the fixed income part of my portfolio. All investments will be inside a RRSP. As a retiree, I'm hoping for capital preservation, (safety) with a reasonable return on my investment. Currently, the only exposure I have to fixed income is ZPR. I'm considering adding the investments in your Income Fund (CVD, XHY), as well as HFR to my portfolio.
-Do you believe these investments will provide solid fixed income exposure?
-Do you see any way I can improve my exposure to the sector? i.e. is there any need for exposure to foreign bonds?
- What percentage of the $100,000 would you allocate to each ETF?
As always, thanks in advance for your appreciated support.


Read Answer Asked by Les on July 13, 2017
Q: Good day Peter and 5i Team,

This question is basically about asset allocation. My goal is to gain more exposure to global markets as opposed to the Canadian market. (United State, Europe, and Asian markets). I would like to gain this exposure by investing in, what you consider to be the highest quality ETF'S currently available with exposure to these markets. I understand there are countless possiblites available; therein lies my problem, but I would appreciate keeping the number of ETF'S to a minimum. So, what is your best investment for in each of the sectors for capital gains, some dividend support, and lower fees for overall investment appreciation?
-Europe?
-Asia?
-United States?
Keeping in mind the current condition of the world economy, what percentage of my funds would you designate to each ETF?
Thanks-you for your continued support.
Read Answer Asked by Les on July 13, 2017
Q: The fact sheet for Vanguard etf VIG and VCR mentioned the fund total net assets and the share class total net assets. What is the meaning of those terms?

For Vig the total net assets amount to $30.2B and the share class total net assets amount to $24.4B and for VCR those respective numbers are$2.5b and $2.3B.
What is the reason for the difference between the two number and why is it that the difference is larger for certain ETF?
Read Answer Asked by Monique on July 12, 2017
Q: Hello. My 31 year-old son has been diligently saving for his future retirement, and has a combined portfolio of $80,000 (TFSA & RRSP). The money is mostly divided between Canada (45%) and USA (44%), with a small bit in the International market (11%). Under your advice last year, he sold his Canadian ETFs and bought some individual stocks. The result is amazingly better than the index, so THANK YOU!

Now, I'm wondering about his US portfolio. In the US part of the portfolio, he has several ETFs: VFV, VGG, ZLU, XSP - 42%, ZQQ- 18%, Health - XLV - 12%, and a remaining $10084 CAD cash (28%) that can be dedicated to US equities. What should he do with the money?

Alternatives: 1) increase his US ETFs. 2) buy individual stocks. 3) wait until the dip...
What should be the strategy for this portfolio? I'm interested in buying GOOG for him for a long term hold, but the price is too high for such a small portfolio. Any thoughts or suggestions? Thank you!
Read Answer Asked by Esther on July 12, 2017
Q: Good Afternoon: I am thinking of increasing my exposure to the materials sector (principally North America but am open to international) and would like to do so through an etf. I already have an approx. 7% exposure to energy (mostly Cdn.) and less than 1% each to gold and materials. Would you please recommend an etf that you believe to be a good option for me here. Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Donald on July 12, 2017
Q: I would like to invest n the US healthcare and have been recommended to invest in TMO but since this Would be the only stock in the healthcare that I would invest in I think it might be better to invest in a healthcare ETF and have found IXJ and IHI and wonder if better to invest in an ETF or ok just to invest in one US healthcare stock? If an ETF which one would you prefer?

Thanks
Read Answer Asked on July 12, 2017
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