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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: Could you please provide some information on Brookfield Select Opportunities Income Fund (BSO)? How does this fund work, and for whom would it be appropriate? For instance, would it be a fair assessment to use it as part of Fixed Income portion in a well-diversified portfolio? -- and to use it as a full position (in this case being around 5%)? I'm assuming it trades just like any other equity? Thanks for all your great service.

Kudos to Peter, also, on a great show on BNN last night. A superb explanation on what's going on at Concordia ... which should quell all the questions for a while. : )
Read Answer Asked by Sylvia on August 05, 2016
Q: Hi 5i Team, at 63 I know I should be in Bonds........but can't get myself to, especially if they go Negative. Hence, I'm looking for 1 or 2 good companies that pay a good/safe dividend. CHR pays almost 7%, and their Air Canada contract is good until 2025, so low risk of the dividing slumping & using the Rule of 72, my $ should double in 10 years. Can you please comment &/or offer an alternative? Thanks!:)
Read Answer Asked by Austin on August 05, 2016
Q: I have a large portfolio of 1.3 Mil in value. They are accross all sectors. I will be adding another 200k shortly. I have no precious metals in my portfolio as I was not comfortable with the volatility. What would you suggest for percentage amount of precious metals and what companies, ETF's
would you suggest. Is holding physical gold less volatile that companies?
If so, is there an ETF that holds physical gold.
Read Answer Asked by Ric on August 03, 2016
Q: I currently hold BPY (up 50% over cost) and H&R in my portfolio 4% and 3% respectively.
I am considering swapping BPY for BEP for the additional income. Your thoughts?

I also plan to crystallize my capital losses and purchase the following ETFs:
Non registered:
ZPW – US Put Write
ZWE – Europe Covered Call hedged to CAD.
ZWH – US covered call
CPD – CAD preferred
XRE – Capped REIT

Registered (RRIF):
PGX:US – Preferred.

Each would constitute 2% - 3% of my portfolio. Diversification is my intention, but risk and surety of income is the primary consideration in all of the above noted.

Again, your thoughts.

Thank you for considering my questions

Gail
Read Answer Asked by Gail on August 02, 2016
Q: I am thinking of adding US financial services to my diversified rsp portfolio. I am ideally looking for a CDN dollar etf that invests in/takes advantage of value priced US financials at close to book. Bank of America, Citigroup are examples. Time frame is 7 to 10 years. Thanks as always
Read Answer Asked by Harry on August 02, 2016
Q: Hi, I have been comparing low-volatility developed ETF options traded in Canada with the options (to my knowledge) being ZLI and XMI. My analysis has sided with ZLI and I want to layout the logic here to hear your thoughts. Positives for ZLI: Smaller market cap while not too small offers better opportunity for alpha, Fewer holdings so more opportunity for alpha, Not based on major index (MSCI) so less opportunity to be front-run, BMO has a good track record for other similar funds (e.g. ZLU). Positives XMI: Longer operating history , Slightly lower MER, more resources for investment research(?). Thanks as always.
Read Answer Asked by JONAS on August 02, 2016
Q: I am looking for general advice on the fixed income side of a portfolio. Where should I go to find fixed income that has a decent return? Or should I not worry about that, and concentrate on dividends from stable companies.

I have about 10% cash, and 10% altogether in ZPR, CVD, CSU.DB (all three obviously not fixed income). BTW, retirement in ten years or so.
Read Answer Asked by Richard on August 02, 2016
Q: I am considering purchasing a preferred ETF. Perhaps, one of CPD, ZPR, PPS or HPR. I notice that HPR has the lowest yield and highest MER but over the past 5 years it has done appreciable better; i.e., lost quite a bit less, than the other three. Is this attributable to its 'active' management or is there something different about its diversity of preferred shares?
Read Answer Asked by richard on August 02, 2016
Q: Good day 5i Team, I have a diversified registered stock portfolio loosely mirroring 5i's balanced leaning toward growth stocks (with Europe & US dividend etf exposure). I am long term with this but am looking for hedge against any broad market declines. Can you briefly explain and recommend inverse etf's as a suitable hedge against this.
Thank you for your valued advice
Read Answer Asked by Harry on August 02, 2016
Q: Hi 5iResearch Team
I am reviewing the tax treatment of distributions for companies I hold shares/units in and I am having trouble finding information on the tax treatment for the distributions from kwh.un, acr.un, apr.un and xhy.
Can you help me out?
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Gordon on August 02, 2016
Q: Thank you for providing a great service. Your recent comments on the Canadian Preferred Share Market and iShares CPD are greatly appreciated.
Please comment on
1) Please comment on iShares US Pfd Stock ETF (PFF) which trades in US$.
2) Is there any merit in holding a portion of a fixed income portfolio. PFF is about 5% of my total portfolio. Considering the recent upswing I have done well with PFF and have enjoyed the distributions within a registered RRSP. Should I consider holding it?

Thanks

Stephen
Read Answer Asked by J Stephen on July 29, 2016