Investment Q&A

Q: Good morning Peter, Ryan, and Team,

I submitted this question about a week ago, but guess that it must be "floating" in cyberspace! Here it is again:

There was an article in the July 18th Globe & Mail called "It’s time
for investors to reassess their rainy-day funds". The author
believes that too many investors keep too much money in low-
interest bank accounts and money-market funds. Instead, he
states that "intermediate-term bonds, over the long run, are
superior not just to cash but to long-term bonds as well. So when
thinking about where to invest your fixed income assets,
remember Goldilocks: The best place to be is not too long and
not too short. The place to be is what is essentially a large “sweet
spot” between short and intermediate. That’s where the reward-
risk trade-off is at its greatest."

Assuming that one agrees with this thesis, what fixed-income ETFs would you recommend that could fit the bill?

Thanks as always for your valued advice.

Q: I'm looking at these two ETFs for the short term, as they are near a 52 week low and have fairly good liquidity. Which one would you recommend the most, or would have a better suggestion ? Thanks

Q: Now that the Brexit vote uncertainty has diminished a bit, would it be a good time to add to European market exposure? Presently hold ZWE for income. Would you add to ZWE or open a position in another etf? If so, which etfs would you recommend for income? Which for growth? Possible ZDI ?Looking at 2-3 year time frame. Many thanks for the terrific service.

Q: Please suggest an emerging market infrastructure etf priced in Canadian dollars. Thank you.

Q: Looking to initiate a 3 to 5 year position in either xmm or xec. Which do you prefer and why? Thanx.

Q: Hi,
My son is taking a break from active stock picking and has gone with this ETF model: VUS(15%), VBU(5%), VCN(22.5%), VAB(5%), VI(22.5%). His investing horizon is very long (10-20 years). Your thoughts on the individual ETFs? How about sector & geographic diversity? Any other concerns?
Thanks!

Q: XT-N
iShares Exponential Technologies

I am looking for an ETF that follows emerging new technologies. One that seems to fit the bill is iShares Exponential Technologies (XT-N). What do you think of it? Is there another you would like better? Are there any traded in Canada?

Q: HI TEAM :
I own ZWE and like it could you give a current assessment on it as well as a list of similar ETFS that offer geographic diversification out of US and Canada. Thanks
Yossi

Q: Total return index ETF; is it good ?

Q: On the fixed income side of a portfolio 5i has included both conv. debs. and prefs. Do you see them as having a similar risk profile? With new money would you choose CVD or CPD? and why? I am having a hard time finding CDs that are worth the risk, yet the rate reset pref. market seems like a "bargin" assuming rates go up in the next 5,10,15 years.

Q: I notice that the CDNX is in the process of what seems to be a dramatic turnaround since January of this year moving from 468 to its current level of 763. What is the preferred instrument for taking advantage of this index?

Q: What are your thoughts on this new ETF? Global Momentum Factor ETF (VMO)And the momentum strategy employed vs a plain vanilla index as the global portion of one's portfolio?

Q: Peter; I read a Globe article by the Avenue Group regarding the massive amounts of money flow into bond ETF's. Their main point was, if the bond market goes to a " no bid" situation, then the resulting problems with accurately pricing the Etf's could cause havoc if investors tried to exit. Today Larry Berman suggested buying his ZCS short term corp.bond
as a place to sit and wait for a pullback he thinks is coming. I realize that trying to time the market is pointless but first could you comment on the " no bid" scenario and second do you think buying some ZCS would be like a hedge if anything did develop?
Thanks.

Rod

Q: Wisdom Tree high international dividend fund hedged. This is a new Canadian fund and I cannot find info on constituents,total mer,dividends,etc. Can you help and what are your thoughts? Thanx.

Q: Good afternoon. Could you please recommend a CDN dollar ETF that holds U.S. online shopping companies, such as Amazon. As well as, a CDN dollar ETF that holds U.S. technology companies. Thanks very much. David

Q: Hi, I am considering replacing my IWo by IJR or SLY ( S&p 600 small cap growth). I was reading David Swensens book "unconventional success". Brilliant book. He talks about how Russell 2000 is not a well structured index as compared to S&P 600. Which has a better structure and therefore results in better performance. What are your thoughts on this. Also what portion of a portfolio would you suggest for small cap growth based ETF like this. This is for an otherwise diverse and aggressive portfolio. Your advice is most valuable. Cheers, Shyam

Q: this question is about i shares silver trust etf, slv:us, just in case your section above does not pick up the stock again!
Do you think this is a good way to invest in silver, my understanding is that it holds the actual sliver. also the forward calls on this product seem to have a very reasonable spread, as far as risk reward goes it seems like a good way to get some torque on a 3 to 6 month trade on silver, realizing of course your call premium could expire worthless.
thanks TOM

Q: BMO US Put Write(ZPW)
BMO Europe High Dividend Covered Call Hedged to CAD(ZWE)
PowerShares Preferred Portfolio(PGX:US)
BMO Laddered Preferred Share Index(ZPR)
BMO US High Dividend Covered Call(ZWH)
BMO Equal Weight REITs Index(ZRE)
iShares S&P/TSX Canadian Preferred Share Index(CPD)
iShares S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index(XRE)
BMO Covered Call Dow Jones Industrial Average Hedged CAD(ZWA)
iShares Convertible Bond Index(CVD)
BMO Canadian Dividend(ZDV)
Above are ranked as to yield - high to low. Can you rank as to risk - high to low?
Thank you for considering my question
G. Reynolds

Q: I am looking to add some diversity to my rrsp holdings and value your opinion. I would like to add a position in xmm,emerging markets,low volatility and one of xmw or xmy,which is $Canadian hedged. What would be the reason for the discrepancy in nav between xmw and xmy(hedged)? I realize that the latter are newer etf,but which might be the better choice for a 2 to 4 year hold? Also,Vanguard just initiated vvo,another global etf. Have you had a chance to view and could you give your opinion? Thank you for your great service.

Q: My take on the TSX Venture market is that the index has been pretty much straight up year to date. Would you agree? Any thoughts on why? Can you recommend the best ETF to follow the Venture index?