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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: Good Morning, I have been watching ZAG and XBB in order to deploy cash. Not sure when is a good entry point? I know we cannot time the market but what would you suggest I should look for (e.g.. off it's 52 wk high, net asset value etc). Which one would you prefer ZAG or XBB. Thank you. Heather
Read Answer Asked by Heather on May 03, 2019
Q: Thank you for your article on Canadian stocks that pay US dividends. A substantial portion of my investments are in US dollar stocks and a US money market fund. Would ZUS.u provide a good alternative to a portion of the money market fund. It pays over 3% but it does seem very large and is relatively new. Can you suggest any other US$ fixed income alternatives?
Read Answer Asked by Ken on April 30, 2019
Q: I was reading an article in the Globe about green bonds. What is your opinion of the above named and would you suggest any others. The yield is important but the safety is primary.
Thank you for insight.
Read Answer Asked by Maureen on April 25, 2019
Q: Hi,

My wife's group RRSP has Manulife AllianceBernstein Canadian Core Plus Bond as one of the options. How does it compare with CLF. Should I instead invest in MAW102 in the group RRSP and buy CLF in her regular RRSP account as part of bond portfolio allocation.

Thanks
Ninad
Read Answer Asked by Ninad on April 25, 2019
Q: HI Guys:
I bought this fund two years ago as part of fixed income side of our portfolio.The distributions have been reinvested in the fund since I bought, the fund currently trades 1% under book value, the fund is 75% bonds and 25% equities, MER 1.04%. Distributions this year look to be around 1.5% if the recent distribution is consistent for the rest of the year. I'm looking at an investment in QLTA which would give me US diversification and is a pure corporate bond fund with a monthly yield 3.1%. I've never been a bond investor usually equities and cash I'm thinking to sell SIF120 and put the money into QLTA for the distribution and a lower MER 0.15%. I realize this may not be apples to apples and higher risk with currency and corporate bonds, would you have a concern with this approach, or any other bond ETF's that are worth consideration the money is in a RRIF account.
Read Answer Asked by Thomas on April 17, 2019
Q: Hi Peter and Ryan,
We received the last portion of our funds in cash from Sun Life today. We are a little hesitant to open new equity positions or foray into bonds. The stock analysis highlights that we need to add REITS but that sector seems to be under pressure this week. The risk and payback seems unbalanced everywhere we look today.
As we are into our early 60's we have given thought to placing 40% of our portfolio that arrived as cash into a temporary safe place. If you were to choose today which ETF's are recommended out of CMR, XFR, HFR to place funds for deployment at a later date.
Cheers
Jerry and Debbie
Read Answer Asked by Jerry on April 17, 2019
Q: Have found the recommendations about investing outside of Canada to be very helpful.
I do cringe when looking at possibilities for adding bonds or fixed income as all of the etf's I have seen suggested have very poor performance, why not just stay in cash? I realize the desire to minimize loss in equities, but have a hard time committing money when the products perform poorly. Any other suggestions?
Read Answer Asked by Lavern on April 16, 2019
Q: As suggested in Portfolio Analytics I need to add Fixed Income to family portfolio. It suggested ZAG or XBB; Defensive CBO or FLOT, Aggressive CPD or ZPR. Which of the three would you suggest to invest in? Also researching them they refer to Dividend Yield. Is it actually dividend yield or interest income? The reason I am asking should the fixed income be in RRSP (I know it is preferable for US$) or would a non-registered corporation account be fine also?
Heather
Read Answer Asked by Heather on April 16, 2019
Q: Will you entertain a bond question, please? I bought the Canada Real Return bond in 2010 @ 1.8958 intending to hold to maturity, and have been waiting for robust inflation ever since. Central banks around the globe say "no, not now", while full employment and a few commodity prices say "right around the corner". The bond has declined to around 1.7927 and will go to 1.0000 at maturity. What would you do?
Read Answer Asked by Fraser on April 15, 2019
Q: Gentlemen
For my fixed income, I am thinking to buy 2 active global broad market as FBND, TOTL or BOND
Your opinion please.
Thanks
Best Regards
Read Answer Asked by Djamel on April 11, 2019
Q: Are preferred shares suitable for the retail investor?
I admit to not fully understand them but it seems to me that:
- value is primarily impacted by interest rates, so constitutes an interest rate speculation
- the positive or negative effect of an interest rate change will vary depending upon the particular issue
- even on a reset date, an issue will not necessarily trade at par
- the characteristics of individual issues varies a lot, complicating comparisons
- thinner market for individual issues, making for bigger spreads
- trading prices are not transparent
- a pref share ETF may be a better choice
Comments?
Read Answer Asked by Carl on April 08, 2019
Q: For those who are looking to park money for short term I suggest that they look at ffn.pr.a or ftn.pr.a they are redeemable in about 9 months and a year and 9 month. Has very good downside market protection of about 30% and over 5% dividend which is better than interest. Their prices have been very stable with about 1% fluctiation. Cannot explain why they are popular with investers. I personally own large amou t of both.
Read Answer Asked by Saad on April 03, 2019
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