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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: Hi 5i Team: In an anticipated rising rate environment I am leaning towards adding more ZPR in my preferred share segment of my fixed income portfolio. Am I correct in thinking ZPR is (no pun intended) preferable over HPR at this time? Or should I take HPR as a little diversification as I only hold rate resets in my preferred share portfolio at the present time.
Read Answer Asked by Dennis on March 16, 2017
Q: My Father has finally caught on that paying the RBC +2% for their mutual funds is eroding his returns and asked for some help. He doesn't have the knowledge or temperament to jump into stocks so I am suggesting he move some investments to ETFs. He is 70, has a teachers pension and 250k of RSP "fun money" to play with. Since I view his pension as his fixed income portion of his portfolio I dont see any reason to get him into any fixed income ETFs or match your model ETF portfolio. I plan to suggest he move about 25k each into xwd, cdz and vgg for a start to get his feet wet. Then once he is comfortable move the rest into those same 3 funds ( assuming they are still on your suggested list at that time).

Any recommended adjustments to this approach in terms of ETFs or my equal weighting.
Read Answer Asked by Tom on March 15, 2017
Q: Hi 5i, I'm moving money from my broker (40+ stocks, 500K) to a few ETFs (Equal Weight) , I'm considering the following ETFs: XIC, IWO, CDZ, SPY, FDN, and FIE; would you please help me choose four or five ETFs from the list, I'm looking for moderate growth, and of course preservation if capital.
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Fernando on March 15, 2017
Q: I'm trying to get my wife's rrsp some international exposure with an ETF that pays a decent dividend for income.Aside from it's small size[ 11.42 M ] but a nice 6.02% div, is there any down side in your view. If so, your alternatives?It currently has XHY and 22 other income and some growth stocks each about equally weighted.
Secondly, a suggested CDN ETF with US large cap/financial exposure that as pays a 3+ % div.
Read Answer Asked by Henry on March 14, 2017
Q: Hi 5i,great information. Only wish I had found you sooner. I am a 60yr DYI investor, I inherited 100,000 and decided to invest with a CIBC financial advisor in a balanced ETF.
Now seeing your great site I am thinking to move my money, into one of your suggested model portfolio's (save on fees & diversify).
My personal investments are both ETF & stocks I am heavy in financials & precious metals. I have just recently started the google app which is helping me to identify where I am heavily weighted.
What are your thoughts to have mixed investments? Or move ahead doing all investments on my own? Looks like a lot of work to initiate but once engaged perhaps not so much work?

Thanks

What are your thoughts?
Read Answer Asked by Paulette on March 14, 2017
Q: I am a 66 yr. old, dependant on my investment portfolio for almost all my income. I often hold equity positions for much too long and have suffered 60-100% losses in some stocks like Guestlogix, Paladin Energy, Avion/EDV Gold. Currently my largest holdings are: CSU, IPL, PSK, VET, H, TD and HR.UN. I am looking to replace some of the previous with the following names: SLF, MRT>UN, TCL.A, ENF, and FIE or FIE.A
Could you please RATE the positions held vs. the possible relacement positions and please provide colour on 'best' between the FIE's.

Thanks and fell free to consider as many credits as warranted.

Dean
Read Answer Asked by Dean on March 13, 2017
Q: Hello:
RE: XLE Energy Select Sector SPDR (ETF)
(This ETF does not appear in your dropdown menu).

With the price of oil dropping today to the $49 level,
my position in XLE is down 10 % since I purchased mid Nov 2016.
I also hold SPE & PXT in my TFSA; my total Energy exposure is just over 4.5% of my total holdings.
What are your thoughts on XLE with regard to having it as a core holding in the energy space ? Would you recommend a Canadian energy ETF instead (i.e. ZEO) ?
My risk tolerance is medium to high, am looking for growth.
I purchased this ETF after Nov 8th and researched the "Trump" factor.
Appreciate your input ... thanks, Steve.

Read Answer Asked by STEVEN on March 10, 2017
Q: Hi Team,
As you mentioned Sprott made a bid for Central Fund of Canada yesterday and CEF.A stock went up 3.1% by the close. I understand this is a hostile bid. Do you think there will be a competing bid or any more upside to CEF.A? Coincidentally, I was planning to sell my CEF.A holdings next week and replace them with PHYS. Do you see any reason to hold off on that? Thank you, Michael
Read Answer Asked by Michael on March 09, 2017