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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: Hello,
can you recommend an etf that is asia ex Japan - preferably that trades in CAD?
there is no rush to respond.
happy holidays
Read Answer Asked by Mary on December 31, 2024
Q: Which of these three ETFS do you prefer if I was to pick one? I have 25% of my portfolio in USD Equity ETFS so already have some currency diversification.
Read Answer Asked by Carla on December 27, 2024
Q: Which would you recommend, investment account or TFSA.
Read Answer Asked by James on December 22, 2024
Q: Hi Peter and all at 5i. Wishing you the best of the season!

Peter, first of all, I really enjoyed your last article in the National Post. Your financial stories were highly entertaining.

I manage a RRSP for my daughter-in-law. She has approximately 24K in cash due to a GIC that recently matured. (She got 5.16% interest).

She has these commission-free ETFs: CEW, QQC.F, XHC, XIT, and XST. She would have to pay a $10 commission on the following stocks and ETFs: BCE, BNS, FTS, PBH, SLF, WSP, ZIN, and ZRE.

Question 1. In what order would you suggest she uses the cash to purchase more of the commission-free ETFs?

Question 2. If there are compelling reasons to do so, in what order would you suggest she uses the cash to purchase more of the stocks and ETFs where there is a $10 commission?

I’m hoping that this question can be answered before Christmas if possible. Please use as many question credits as you see fit to provide a comprehensive reply.

Thanks as always for your valuable insight.
Read Answer Asked by Jerry on December 22, 2024
Q: Happy holidays…. Tax loss selling….. proxy for TLT, VDE, EMXC, OXY, PICK, LLY, NXT, ZBH, AMD, -Thanks
Read Answer Asked by James on December 22, 2024
Q: I understand that VGT and XLK are extremely popular US technology ETF's.
I also understand that many popular US exchange ETF's are extremely tax efficient If I held these in my taxable account will there likely be capital gains/losses declared annually? If so, where can I find this historical information?
Would my broker provide this tax information annually to help me prepare my tax return?
Read Answer Asked by Ian on December 21, 2024
Q: hi 5i!
and happy holidays to everyone on this platform!
I am considering adding a US dividend ETF with $CDN hedge. can you give me your top picks based on 1) past performance ( long term but up to 20 years at most ) 2) "guess-timate" of future performance including fees ( and your reasoning ) 3) Net $$ assets 4) daily trading volume 5) dividend yield and 6) dividend growth.
take as many points from me as you need.
all the best
Chris
Read Answer Asked by chris on December 21, 2024
Q: There is an ETF, that invest in the canadian market, which does not pay out any dividend to investors, instead it is capitalized onto the NAV. I think it was a Harvest ETF. They used derivatives instead of holding the shares. The problem is I cannot find it now. Do you have any suggestions.
Tank you and merry Christmas.
Read Answer Asked by francois on December 21, 2024
Q: Hi- I’m looking for a long term, somewhat diversified CG hold for my TFSA. What do you think of FEQT. Do you have others you prefer?
Thanks,
Guy
Read Answer Asked by Guy on December 20, 2024
Q: Hi 5i!

A question for a friend looking for a new investment instead of csav and cash as interest rates are reduced.

He already have XQQ and ZSP.

1. He is looking for an etf of canadian dividends stocks, do you have a suggestion?

2. What would you propose now for lower risk tolerence?
Read Answer Asked by Francois on December 20, 2024
Q: Recently you answered my question regarding US dividend WHT on Canadian domiciled ETF issues (Vanguard Canada, RBC Ishares etc) and noted that withholding taxes are owing on distributions since the Canadian ETF is simply holding the US ETF and the taxes would be levied when distributions are paid by the US ETF to the Canadian ETF.

Some follow up questions:
- I am assuming that the WHT would apply even if the Canadian ETF is held within a registered account?
- Does the WHT explain part of the difference in yield when comparing the US ETF and the Canadian ETF? For example - VIG yields 1.69% while VGG yields 1.17%. Assuming also that the higher MER on VGG also explains part of the yield difference??
- Given these factors - the WHT and higher MER - why would anyone choose the Canadian version of the same ETF. Further to this - In another question posed by Jacques - you point out that the Canadian ETF ZSP would be preferable to VFV since it holds the stocks directly and not thru the US ETF VOO....thereby avoiding WHT's for registered accounts. However - when you look at VOO - the yield is about 26 bp's higher than either VFV and ZSP....again why would you not just buy VOO.

Many thanks
Read Answer Asked by Gary on December 20, 2024
Q: I own HHL and LIFE (two separate accounts). They aren't looking too healthy lately. What are the likely reasons? Trump, cover calls, interest rates, time of year, etc?
Thank You, Merry Christmas
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on December 20, 2024
Q: Good morning
Sorry for the error in my previous question for income purposes what would be your choice between Hmax and Bank (evolve) and why .
thanks in advance Georges
Read Answer Asked by georges on December 20, 2024
Q: With the recent declines, in what order will you invest in the above mentioned companies and why
Read Answer Asked by Satish on December 20, 2024