Investment Q&A

Q: Good morning, I have enjoyed and benefitted from my membership to 5I for many years. I am no longer in a position to actively manage my portfolio on a continuous basis and have been considering moving the core to an all-in- one balanced ETF like ZBAL or VBAL. The simplicity and ease of these types of ETF's appeals to me as I age. What are your thoughts on these ETF's and their place in an Seniors portfolio?

Q: Most of my portfolio is split 60% cad 40% usa. Do you have suggestions for ETFs outside of these regions that you think can outpace these regions or add beneficial diversification? Can either be regions or sectors.

Q: Hi Peter and Team,

Our Industrial holdings are too high, considering their vulnerability to the “Trump tariffs”, as you suggested in a question today from Shirley.

In what order would you reduce or sell any of these stocks? This is a daunting task, as I like them all, and they are among the “cream of the crop” in this sector.

I’m planning to use the proceeds to buy some US small and mid-cap ETFs and would appreciate any Canadian domiciled ETFs that you could suggest.

Thanks for your insight.

Q: What is your opinion of this ETF? The performance history is really good beating the S&P and others over the last 10 years. They have had a couple of splits in the past and hold about 235 stocks in total. I looked at the top holdings and they are almost the same as the VOO /VFV. Would this be a good sub for the VFV or VOO? The price per unit is low

Q: Please recommend a couple of lower risk ETFs for the European market. Both in Canadian and US$.
thank you

Q: From a tax perspective, which of the above ETFs are best suited for:

1. TFSA
2. RRSP

Q: Ethereum has dropped from a high of $4100 to below $2600, could you please explain why, also when Bitcoin has generally stayed in the $100k range? Is this a buying opportunity? If it is, is there a Canadian ETF to put money into? Thanks in advance. Also, many thanks for your answer on my previous question on BTC, it was extremely detailed and well thought out.

Q: Please list your favourite base metals etfs.Thanks.

Q: I realize the higher the yield the higher the risk but I would like 5i's opinion of a few products. As a result of the American President's threats of tariffs which I feel are coming in thirty days I have been rebalancing . Canadian ETF's to American ETF's as well as the sale of tariff risk Canadian stocks . RRIF cash position currently { 30% } .... I would like to take some small positions in some greater than 10% covered call ETF's ..... These would be short term positions as I believe it will be 1 or 2 quarters before Mr Market realizes tariffs are a really bad idea ......

So which do you like better in a Trump world of tariffs ? A covered call bond ETF, a covered call treasury ETF, a covered call stock ETF ? I've been eyeballing HPYT for the simple reason that it appears to be at a low with a very high yield but I would like 5i's opinion. Could 5i list four or five ETF's which you feel would be good choices to play this theme ? It's okay if some of your choices are sub 10% ......{ I already own HYLD.U 6.9% position } And which sectors { bond, treasury, stock } would be the best choices in a Trump tariff world ? .... Thanks for your terrific service ......

Q: Could you please help me understand the Capital Gains process for VBAL and how it affects my holdings. Actual amount is 0.337068 /share or 1%
"These amounts are for the year-end capital gains distributions only, which will be re-invested and the resulting units immediately consolidated, so that the number of units held by each investor will not change."

Thank you,
Mike

Q: So I am looking at a high yield Canadian issued ETF with distributions in USD. Growth is secondary to yield as it it is to partially offset the increasing costs of wintering in Florida. Is the price of HYLD.U.CA ( $14.75 ) in CAD or USD ; likewise what currency is the distribution ? I understand this ETF has 1.25 leverage.

Would this ETF met my goals of high income from stocks representing the broad US market?
Are there other products that meet my goals ?

Thanks. Derek.

Q: I am looking to invest in these 4 names for my father after he sold his house. He is 92 so I would like something as 'risk-free' as possible, just income needed. Thinking 100k for each, just wondering about any risks involved aside from interest rate risk and inflation risk.
Thanks!
Scott

Q: If one believes that the market is reaching its peak and may trade down or sideways for the next year or two, what do you think of this ETF. Conversely, how would you expect it to perform in an up market? Thanks!

Q: I would appreciate your comments on these ETFs [plus Capital Group Growth which did not register- CGGR] - my earlier question was too broad. How to go about assessing them one against the other. Would appreciate guidance on which ones are keepers for long-term hold. How would you evaluate them. Thanks

Q: Part of our total portfolio is invested in ETFs [non-registered accounts] and one-third is in Canadian-based and Canadian-dollar denominated US ETFs. Another third is in US ETFs - spread among Large Cap Value, Blend and Growth, and SMID. The final third is in Special US ETF - IAI ZBK AIRR PAVE SHLD PPA SMH UTES AND HXX. Your advice is requested as to which ones to over-weight, underweight or sell. Please rank each category, if you would. My lean is less tech/ M7 as already own most.

Q: Morning troops. Am hearing a lot about Buffer ETFs these days. Can you explain the downside protection please? I hear about "15% downside protection" - does this mean that any losses are capped at 15%? Do you have any CAD Buffer ETFs that you would recommend? Cheers.

Q: How does an ETF like PSA pay 4.3% yield when interest rates are so low?

Q: ETFs or Mutual funds that invest in stocks only, outside of North America, unhedged. What would you recommend for broad exposure.

Thank you

Q: This T Rowe Price ETF is a US equity only .31% MER broad based ETF spun out from a Lipper and Morningstar award winning fund that was approximately 60% equity with a variety of fixed income holdings making up the remainder. David Giroux the manager is highly respected. Could you look at the holdings and the long record of the fund that gave birth to this ETF and provide your critical review. I would like to average in to at least a 10% holding as I see this as a strong long term sleep at night well managed reasonable cost candidate. Thank you.

Q: What are your thoughts on this etf.
Yield is high as are the mgt fees. I think the beta would be low and the investments relatively safe