Investment Q&A

Q: I am retired and living entirely off dividend income. Would you recommend CDZ or ZDV for a dividend ETF.

Q: Hi 5i
I like CMS ETF portfolio choices.
One of your ETFs is SPY.
My question: Does it have to be SPY?
Or can I replace it with ZSP or XSP?
If not, can you let me know your reasons?
shanthi

Q: You commented last week to Patrick about TBT.
I think that recent negative returns were related to the latter stage of the long bond bull market. This has been reversed quite impressively since january. Bill Gross was probably right from hindsight in his call for a new bear bond market.
So, as a growth investor, the idea of increasing returns on an otherwise meagre income from the fixed income part of my portfolio is quite appealing, and does not come out of worry on the market, but from seing an opportunity, and using it with reason.
Then, if I want to benefit going forward, like the next 6 months, of the general bearish trend on bonds that I believe fundamentally justified based on trade, currency and other issues, would TBF be a better bet for one holding that view?
Thank you

Q: Your view to adding these items to my TFSA .
Seeking growth in the mid term.
Thanks

Q: I am interested in zwe for the European exposure and the high dividend. However I don’t understand what a covered call etf is or how it works. Can you
explain the mechanics in layman’s terms.

Thanks

Q: in Dec. I added both ZBK and Bank of America to my portfolio...
with the correction, I am thinking of selling ZBK and adding JP Morgan instead...
the concentration will hopefully provide a greater return ( at less cost )!
appreciate your comments on this strategy ( and if you prefer an alternative U.S. financial instead )
ed in montreal

Q: Just doing some more work on ZWE...confused on some beta #s. Globefund has the beta = 2.07. Fundata has a 3 year beta of 0.53. 5iR has it at 0.91. Can you please provide some insight...is it simply different timeframes? I am trying to derisk my portfolio (reduce beta), while at the same time increase dividend income...adding to ZWE seems logical, but the beta numbers are confusing. Thanks...Steve

Q: Would now be a good time to had to my position in CPD ?

Q: Good Evening
Today's decline in the TSX and Dow was due primarily due to the increase in interest rates.
Can you please comment as to why several rate reset preferred shares like slf.pr.i and bam.pr.z declined as well? CPD also declined by .7%. It is widely believed that the increase in interest rates will favour the rate reset preferred shares.
Thank you

Q: I have a half position in ZWE...good time to add to it? My understanding is increased volatility is good for the covered call option. Is there any chance of the dividend being reduced? I am retired.

Thanks...Steve

Q: Last week , with the prospect of a correction and growing speculation (esp. in pot and crypto), I sold many equities to lock in profits (retaining a few gold names) and bought some HVU (double volatility index) as a bit of insurance. It paid off handsomely, with a 68% spike yesterday alone. Looking at the long term chart of HVU, volume is unprecedented and it looks like the period of reverse volatility ran long and deep. I know none of us can predict the future, but does it make sense to hang on to HVU as insurance for awhile in the face of what could be a stormy period in the global markets (even without a geo-political catalyst!).

Q: For someone in their early twenties and has 30K in a TFSA, what would be an appropriate amount of stocks to hold, and what would be some of your top suggestions?

Thanks

Q: Dividend payers have been beat down lately. What would be your suggestion for a low cost CDN etf for dividend paying companies?

Q: With the current volatility in Marijuana stocks would you consider this an opportune time to add to my small position in HMMJ now ion the $16 range?
Guy R

Q: Hi 5I,
Would like to find a technology etf for a long term hold that includes the likes of Apple, Amazon, Shopify, Google. and so on. What would you suggest?
Earl

Q: I currently own BMO Asian Growth and Income GGF734 and wonder what are your thoughts of selling this fund and buying VA instead?
Thanks

Q: Good evening,

Multi-part question.

Had just finished reading ‘The Little Book of common sense Investing’, decide to make the switch, and am beginning to plan my transition to CPD, ZAG, VFV, XEF, VCN, VEE, and XRE, when I come across the new Vanguard products, of which VBAL to me seems the most interesting.

I see the pros of this ETF as being straightforward and dropping from 7 commission fees (re-balancing myself), vs just one trade a year to add money (portfolio currently around $26,000).

Cons: no preferreds or real estate. Less control (e.g they decide the asset allocations).

Do you have an opinion on this ETF?

Not sure the yield on VBAL but am guessing 2.5-3% maybe? Any idea?

Also, If I go ahead with VBAL would you give it some time to settle down (trading looks a little erratic), or is that volatility purely a product of price changes of its holdings already?

Thanks!

Q: Hi:
I'm currently underweight in bonds, and all my current bond holdings are in Canadian dollars. I am considering the iShares TIP. Could you please give my your opinion on this ETF? Thanks

Q: It seems XIT "Don't get no respect" from analysts, yet it has performed well over the past few years and smooths out the volatility in the sector. Oddly, XIT seems to do just as well as ZQQ. Where does 5i stand on this ETF?

Q: What is your feelings about using an inverse ETF such as the above to protect a portfolio against North American interest rate increase over the next year?