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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: My portfolio is based almost entirely on your balanced equity but I have two international ETFs, ZDM and ZUE. (only about 7% of the portfolio, total). I have two Canadian ETFs, ZLB (has done reasonably well, +32% in two years) and HAC (up but not really spectacular). It strikes me that I am missing an opportunity to diversify further internationally by moving the two Canadian ETFs. If you agree, can you recommend any to consider? I
Read Answer Asked by Fred on May 24, 2017
Q: Hi 5i: I find the behavior of Bond ETF's quite mysterious. I bought CLF some time ago, in the belief that a short term ladder protected to some degree against the effect of rising rates. Canadian rates have not risen and those in the US have gone up only a little. Nevertheless, CLF has gone down steadily (linearly until recently) over the last two years. The chart suggests they may recently have bottomed. It may be that the decline in price is because the underlying bonds are bought at a premium. If so, is this effect likely to be negated as rates go up? Bottom line: what can I expect of CLF over the next couple of years? Thanks for your always valuable advice.
Read Answer Asked by Roland on May 23, 2017
Q: Hi,

I'm currently only holding XEF(1.5%) and VEE(1%) for international and EM exposure. I'm looking to increase it a bit more maybe to 5%, as the rest of my portfolio is in US or CAD equities. I know you have talked about VXUS as a good international ETF to hold and the expense ratio of 0.11% is hard to beat. When I look at the regional allocation for VXUS, 19.3% is EM, so if we just hold that, would we even need to hold VEE? What do you think would be best to hold to have international and EM exposure? How about VI and VIU (exposure excl. North America)?

Was looking at one or two good quality ETF's to hold. Your thoughts on how they compare?

Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Keith on May 23, 2017
Q: Last night I watched an Australian money manager talk about the benefits of Smart Beta ETFs. He mentioned the following which I expect are traded on the Australian exchanges but might also be traded in N America.

Yield shares high income, ishares FI balanced risk, Vanguard dividend appreciation as examples.

Are these the same as low volatility etfs we know about here - or are they another type of etf?

If so, what is your opinion on this type of etf for safety and likely better long term returns?
Read Answer Asked by Donald on May 18, 2017
Q: My wife and I, retirees, are considering adding a real estate ETF to our portfolio, to hold in TFSAs. You commented that ZRE has an equal weighting in REITS and is more diversified than XRE (that has a 30% weighting in RioCan and H&R). ZRE has a slightly higher distribution % that appeals. My question is on safety of capital. I perceive Rio Can and H&R to be high quality REITs versus say an Artis or Cominar that have a higher weighting in XRE. Which of the two ETFs would you consider safer, or is it a coin toss between the two? Thank you for your comments
Read Answer Asked by Edward on May 17, 2017
Q: I am planning to move some of my U.S. holdings gradually to an etf style. Below you will see a 60/40 split that i found on an american site. It looks good like a good mixture of growth and safety to me. I was wondering what your thoughts would be. I noticed that a few of the symbols don't work, so i would have to find equivalents. But, this gives an idea of the sector breakdown. Thanks again:
All Century Portfolio
20 percent total U.S stock market (VTI) Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF
5 percent U.S. REITs (VNQ) Vanguard REIT ETF
5 percent U.S. small cap value (VBR) Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF
15 percent Pacific equities (VPACX) Vanguard Pacific Stock Index Fund
15 percent European equities (VEURX) Vanguard European Stock Index
10 percent U.S. TIPs (AGG) iShares Barclays Aggregate Bond Fund
10 percent U.S. high yield corp bonds (VWEHX) Vanguard High-Yield Corporate Fund
20 percent U.S. total bond market (TIP) iShares TIPS Bond
Read Answer Asked by joseph on May 17, 2017
Q: Hello 5i
When i look at the yield for both VE and ZDM in both Morningstar and in the ETF Newsletter i`m getting significantly different values . The ETF newsletter says Yield while in Morningstar it always gives the 12 month yield . Shouldn't`t the figures be the same ? Isen`t any stated yield generally refer to a 12 month time period ?
Thanks
Bill C.
Read Answer Asked by Bill on May 16, 2017
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