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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: RBC Canadian Dividend Series A mutual fund has been a double for me but the mer of 1.78% is quite high compared to that charged by etf funds. Could you suggest some etf products that would work as well as the mutual fund but are cheaper?
Thanks,
Dave
Read Answer Asked by Dave on November 01, 2014
Q: Hello Peter- I have a lot of US dollars earmarked for the fixed income portion of my portfolio. I realize that 'safe' investments pay less than two percent (if that). I am trying to get 4-5%. I realize that I will have to take a little bit of risk to do this. My two choices are IShares Emerging Market Bonds EMB-N (this pays 4.4%)or the other option is to buy individual rate reset preferred shares. I believe that they work pretty well the same as the Canadian ones and they reset at Libor + 3 to 3.5%. BAC and C both issue these shares. I think that it is better to buy the resets as opposed to the perpetuals. Do you have any comments on this or any alternative suggestions?
Read Answer Asked by RANDY on October 31, 2014
Q: Hi. your response to Gervais re United Health Group versus the etf VHT, indicated that VHT held only 21 securities. Vanguard's
website indicates 307 companies. Pls clarify.Thanks T.
Read Answer Asked by Terrance on October 31, 2014
Q: Due to recent maturing of some bonds and GICs I now have about 15% of my substantial RRIF in cash. I will not need this cash as my bond ladder will cover the next 5 years of withdrawals. I originally planned to use such cash to extend my bond ladder but do not want to be tied to current low interest rates for 6+ years. Can you recommend an etf, or individual stocks that offer good income and low risk for a long holding period.
Read Answer Asked by Preston on October 30, 2014
Q: Can I get your opinion on this dollar hedged ETF. I have enough US dollar denominated investments in my portfolio but I want exposure to the US Financial sector. Is today's price a good entry point as well?
Read Answer Asked by Rob on October 30, 2014
Q: I have held a one-third position in this ETF for a few months and am down 17%. Should I hold or sell and perhaps but First Quantum. It is my only stock in the metals/mining.

Ray
Read Answer Asked by Raymond on October 29, 2014
Q: As part of my US portfolio I hold Peritus HYLD. Over the past month or so this high yield bond fund has dropped about 6 percent. Is it time to get out of high yield bond funds. Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Ray on October 29, 2014
Q: I have Canadian oil and gas stock, pipeline, and power company representation. But I can't help thinking solar is an increasing part of the future, and fear I may be holding too much "old technology" investments, even given some of them have a small part of their income in windpower.

What do you think of Solarcity as a way of rounding out my power investments? Would there be an ETF that would capture solar that would be more appropriate?
John
Read Answer Asked by John on October 28, 2014
Q: Hi team:
I owned the above and my US exposure is relatively low as most of my equity is in the Canadian market
I would like to add the above as I have some cash
Would you say that it is safe to put 1/3 of my money in and wait for another 2 months to add another 1/ to see how the market would be ?
I am holding it for 3-5 years period, thanks Team!
Read Answer Asked by Michael on October 27, 2014
Q: I have a sum of new money to invest and would like to invest 20% of it into the 'bond side' for balance. Ignoring what I may already hold in bonds, could you suggest an ETF or ETF's that would be an appropriate purchase? Would the ETF's in your income portfolio be appropriate?
thanks
Read Answer Asked by Joe on October 27, 2014
Q: I want to buy above US index in Canadian $.Please advise how(mutual fund,ETF etc) Thanks a lot. Looking forward to seeing You on BNN"s Market Call on monday morning
Read Answer Asked by Peter on October 27, 2014
Q: If I hold ZUH in an investment account(non-RRSP or RIF) am I correct in assuming that the U.S.withholding, tax which is minimal on a $0.11 dividend,is the only detriment in holding the above ETF outside a registered account? Thank you. Don.
Read Answer Asked by Donald on October 24, 2014
Q: I'm looking at ETFs for a "couch potato" approach to my RRSP acount so I can focus on my much larger non-registered trading account. I tend to follow the latter and forget about the RRSP account so it always underperforms. I want to have exposure to the S&P500 mainly for diversification and I'm looking at Vanguards ETF VFV. Do you think this a good fit or should I be looking at a different product(s)?
Read Answer Asked by SHANE on October 24, 2014
Q: One of the key items I have learned since subscribing to 5i is the importance of diversification. With that, I have a couple questions related to this:
1) I have approximately 25 stocks in my portfolio. I know it's difficult question without the names, but is this generally too many for the average investor?
2) Being in Canada, I constantly hear that most portfolios simply cannot be diversified without going abroad. Do you think this is true? If so, are there some recommended ETFs (in Canadian dollars preferably) that contain sectors we cannot get in Canada and provide a more balanced portfolio? (ie. not energy, financials, materials)
Read Answer Asked by Mike on October 23, 2014
Q: Hi 5i
I currently hold both model portfolios with SLW & G for 3% combined and FM for 2%. Do you believe that my position in gold is enough or would this be a good time to add XGD with it under $10 for a 2% position.
Thanks for your help
Kevin
Read Answer Asked by Kevin on October 23, 2014
Q: I'm interested in income with growth if it happens, but not a major consideration. For the 10% utilities holdings I'm looking at equal amounts of VNR and ZUT. What would you suggest if you don't see this as a good idea. Thanks.....
Read Answer Asked by Tim on October 20, 2014
Q: Due to fiduciary resposibilities, I am looking for ETF's that invest exclusively in investment-gade Canadian debt instruments, which could include quasi-debt such as preferred shares. Do you have any suggestions?
Read Answer Asked by Carl on October 20, 2014
Q: hello, for fixed income portion of portfolio do you consider bonds as a better bet or stable low beta low risk utility/toll collector type stocks - ie BEP.UN, BCE etc. if bonds then which you recommend in current environment - XHY or cbo or chb or cab. if other category, then which ones you rec. thanks.
Read Answer Asked by RUPINDER on October 19, 2014
Q: How does this look to you at this time? I will have some money to invest about mid-November and have presently very little US exposure.
Read Answer Asked by Blanche on October 17, 2014
Q: Hi Peter and 5iResearch team,
Can you please advise regarding the security of a purchase in ishares gold trust, IGT or SPRD Gold Trust, GLD relative to purchase of gold bullion itself. Do you think its a good time to purchase at these valuations primarily as a form of insurance. Also, do you think the recent increase in OPEC oil supply (and corresponding cheap selling in asian markets) in response to US production will continue longer term. Or is this a good buying opportunity?
Read Answer Asked by Linda on October 15, 2014
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