Investment Q&A

Q: Hi 5i,
I have 200K invested on these ETFs as follows:
XEC: 10% VUN: 25% XQB: 35% XEF: 10% XIC: 20%

My time horizon is 5 years, How can I change my current setup to make it more rewarding, These are outside RRSP.

thanks
Fernando

Q: Hi 5i,
I just read an article explaining how oil exploration has been at its lowest point in 60 years for the last 2-3 years. With demand forecasted to continue growing it would stand to reason that this will lead to a shortage and price increase. Beyond broad market etfs, I don't have any energy exposure. What would you recommend as a good long term way to get this sector into my portfolio?

Thanks!

Q: Hi Peter, Ryan and Team,

CLF offers a better rate of return than GICs, about 3% from what I can determine. What are the risks of parking a lot of cash in that ETF, more than 100 000$?

Thanks for the great service.

Q: Hello 5i team, Iam planning to convert a LIRA into a LIF in the coming months. I was thinking of using a fixed-payout strategy of just using the distribution's as income and staying within the LIF rules, using one or a combination of the following ETF'S = XTR,FIE,XEI,do you see any problem's here or can you suggest any other income vehicle or ETF'S
Thank's once again, James

Q: I hold Harvest group closed end funds HBF.UN (Brand Leaders Plus) and HHL.UN (Healthcare Leader) Only a total 3% of overall portfolio and fully for div income and diversive purposes into firms I couldn't hold individually. I just received notice of their plans to change over to a ETF for each of these close end funds. These are the only closed end funds I hold and I am wondering your point of view on this move. They of coarse say its to our advantage for Liquidity and growth potential. These are small funds and I wonder what kind of notice they really would receive in an already crowded ETF market and if the management team is really acting in our best interests here. I am not so sure they can maintain their current div yield of 8%ish either it seems high for an ETF. As always thank you for you good honest work on our behalf

Q: There is lots of chatter these days about this being a good time to invest in Emerging Markets. Can I have your thoughts and recommendations for an EM ETF.

Thanks, Michael

Q: Hi Peter and Team,

What are your thoughts on XIC?

Thanks.

Q: Morning - I am a long time member and have done well over the years with a few of your small cap recommendations. I am curious if you can recommend a small - cap ETF for both US & Canadian markets (one for each) that you like?

Q: Hi Thank you for your wonderful service. Natural gas seems to be entering a period of seasonal strength. The commodity seems to be trading at secular lows. Would you advise buying the commodity in the form of an ETF? Could you recommend one? Or would you suggest an individual Natural Gas stock. Thanks again.

Q: My advisor has recommended switching from Pfizer to a global diversified
healthcare ETF-iXJ.Is this reasonable in view of the fact that I own
nothing in the global market at all?

Q: HIU-T This was recommended on BNN as a way to off-set downside. Could you please explain in detail how this would work and would you recommend this method rather than holding cash in todays market with a bearish outlook? If you had $100,000 cash would you put it all into the HIU? What would be the down side?

Q: my teenage daughter has just registered her tfsa. She has a small amount of $ (4000) to start. she is thinking for simplicity and risk sake at this point in her life to go with the global couch potato. Which 4 ETFs would you recommend for her. she needs a CAN equity, US equity, INTER equity and a bond ETF.
Do you think this is a good idea or would you recommend she stick to specific company stocks instead?
thanks
michele

Q: Please comment on these income funds, including the effect of management expenses.

Q: Would you consider VFV buyable at today's price with a 1.46% dividend? Thanks, Bill

Q: I am in my early 60s. I have 46% of my portfolioin fixed income. All in CBO average cost $19.15. With interest rates in US likely going up a little in Dec. Should I reduce CBO and re-enter TD followig BMO better than expected results.

Q: volatility is low right now,but I am expecting this to increase.
Is there a way to play this in the market with some kind of etf?
and what is your opinion of this

Q: Hi 5i!

New member and I have found your wealth of knowledge very helpful in providing guidance for a relatively new do-it-myself “Core & Explore investor” and have prompted me to make some changes to my investment strategies and portfolio. My question is “Core Portfolio” management based and specifically regarding switching to Index ETFs from Index Mutual funds. I’ve been a regular monthly contributor to my RRSP built up and directing most of my funds towards a TD Canadian Index Fund TDB900 – e series and a lesser amount to the same e series TD International Index Fund TDB911 as they have very low MERs of 0.31% and 0.51% approximately. My strategy, since I dollar cost average into the indexes, is to continue to contribute to these TD mutual funds monthly but then funnel from them to ETF index funds so I can take advantage of the lower MERs of the ETF. Could you recommend ETFs to replace my current TD mutual funds? Would you also recommend adding a DOW Jones Index or another US index? What ratios would you consider appropriate for a portfolio? Any other thoughts are welcome and I’ll save my “Explore portfolio” questions for a later date.

Cheers!

Q: just read Peter's earlier question on CBO. I'm in the same boat. Over the past year CBO has returned exactly 0.44%. The distributions have almost been completely offset by the decline in CBO's unit price. A return of pretty much 0% is not what I expected from this one, especially since CBO was/is highly recommended by 5i.

Q: Is there an oil services ETF in Canada that would be similar to OIH on US markets

Q: I have held the etf CBO as part of the fixed income element for several years it is now off over 3%, please provide your opinion on this and should I move to other bond like units.