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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: Can you recommend 2 or 3 bond funds in Canadian $ that would be the least volatile and offer a return for a 3 to 5 year hold? I would prefer one Canadian and one U.S. or international. This would be my sole fixed income holding. Thanx
Read Answer Asked by Steve on February 01, 2018
Q: Greetings Peter and Team:
As i understand it real return bonds have three parts ( ie ) an issue price
a stated interest rate and an inflation factor which applies to the last
two. If they are purchased or sold before maturity the loss in the
value of the principal could exceed the inflation gain if interest rises
very much. Hank Cunningham thinks they are dangerous instruments.
Is my understanding correct? They are also very thinly traded at present,
which may change as rates rise. I am interested in USA Tips. Could you
please advise if they are much the same or can be redeemed before
maturity at par because they are treasury bills, or are they essentially
bonds like real return bonds? Also are TIPS readily available or are spreads wide? Please outline the traps with both but mostly TIPS.
Thanks,
BEN
Read Answer Asked by BEN on February 01, 2018
Q: I have owned shares in VSB for 16 months and as of today my unrealized loss is greater than what I have received in income. If interest rates continue to go up I would expect the unrealized loss to grow. On the other hand I remind myself that all bonds are supposed to mature at face value so in the long run I think I shouldn't really lose money.
Can you help me sort through these opposing thoughts? If I am really likely to end up losing money over a 5-10 year period with VSB I will just sell it and buy GIC's that I will hold to maturity.

Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Morgan on February 01, 2018
Q: Should I just rut all my money in these Bank ETFs and hibernate for the rest of the year. 3 more rate hikes by the FED should be good for US banks and also Canadian Banks as spreads widen ? Any others you like ? RAK
Read Answer Asked by bob on January 31, 2018
Q: Good Afternoon, Curious as to your thoughts on starting a growth oriented TFSA with the following, and your alternative recommendations if any. Thanks
ZLB,XWD, TDB3098,TDB3099. About 20k to start which is why I have not chosen individual stocks.
Read Answer Asked by Lavern on January 30, 2018
Q: You have described XDV as a high dividend payer vs a dividend grower. I prefer to take the higher dividend now rather than later. Can you tell me if the etf earns all of the dividend paid or is there a return of capital factor. In addition, you don't like the high financial sector weighting. In a rising interest rate environment could the overweighting be a positive? Thank you 5i.
Read Answer Asked by Richard on January 30, 2018
Q: I am retired living on dividend income. I am interested in ZWU to increase my dividend income with its yield of 6.30%.
However, I noticed that it's cash distribution has been decreasing since Jan 2017. How is its cash distribution determined? With rising interest rates, will it's cash distribution continue to decrease? What income etf yielding over 4.5% would you recommend in this market? What percent position would you recommend for income ETFs?
Read Answer Asked by Curtis on January 29, 2018
Q: I originally purchased this holding in a registered account when it was an income trust. It converted to an ETF a while back. Since acquiring it this has been a steady dividend payer and I do rely on its income. My cost is greater than its value today. What is your opinion of this stock going forward? Should sell my small position and look to another area>
Read Answer Asked by Ronald on January 29, 2018
Q: Currency question:
I want to buy an emerging market ETF and a US market ETF. If we assume that the American dollar continues to drop, are we better to have a Canadian dollar hedged fund or to purchase in US dollars? Thanks in advance.
Read Answer Asked by Pat on January 29, 2018
Q: I have owned these Bond ETF's for the last few years and have seen the unit prices drift lower with the rising rate environment. If I had bought the bonds directly the maturity date would restore the capital. Does the same thing happen within the ETF's to the same effect? How doe s it play out over time?
Thanks
Paul
Read Answer Asked by Paul on January 29, 2018
Q: In the current interest rate environment what bond ETF would you recommend as a core bond holding in an RRSP. Time frame would be long.
Read Answer Asked by Joe on January 29, 2018
Q: My advisor has recommended the following "best current" additions to my diversified portfolio. I value your opinions higher. ZUB RUF.UN ACR.UN WIR.U. IEMG.
In your opinion are these "best to buy" in their areas, and if not, what are your suggestions for better ones? Thank you for your continuing guidance.
Read Answer Asked by Harold on January 29, 2018