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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: I've been a member of 5i for about two years and your help has been substantial. Thank-you. I currently own a portfolio that closely mirrors your balanced portfolio.

My question today relates to one asked recently about Warren Buffet's wishes regarding his investments should he die. I believe it was somethink like 10% to short term bonds and 90% to the S&P 500. I'm seeking advice regarding what a kind of portfolio a Canadian should develop in a similar situation. My wife has no interest in day to day stock analysis. Should she inherit our portfolio, I'd like to construct a 'buy and hold' ETF portfolio, in addition to our current portfolio, with exposure to Canada, the United States and the rest of the world. This would comprise the equity part of a more complete portfolio. Hopefully, it would have the potential to show resonable gains with little attention by the owner. My question is: which 3 ETF's would you choose to gain exposure to the 3 markets for a Canadian who simply wants to buy and hold? What % would you put into each ETF?
All the best to you and your families for the holiday season.
Read Answer Asked by Les on December 22, 2017
Q: Hi 5i,

I'm a younger guy (mid 30s) who's fortunate enough to have saved hard and basically paid off my primary residence. I'm now looking to redeploy that equity through a credit line, which comes at a cost of prime + 0.5%. Our TFSAs are maxed (aligned with model BE/growth portfolios) and RRSP contributions are healthy, so I'm comfortable with our total equity exposure, but I would like a low-risk income-oriented holding in a new non-registered account that yields enough after tax to offset the cost of capital on the credit segment. Is there anything that comes to mind? Maybe a series of Prefs (neutralizes rate risk assiciated with this strategy) with a few high-yielding equities to bump up the overall yield?

Thanks for your help!
Read Answer Asked by Michael on December 21, 2017
Q: If we are to believe that history is our best teacher, what in your opinion, were the major factors that contributed to the Dow Jones Sell off in Aug 2015 and Jan 2016? Was it mainly global financial events re Greece and China? What are the best tools to monitor the events that could lead to a similar correction? Thanks for your wisdom. Use as many credits as required, as I have 143 left. :)
Read Answer Asked by Allan on December 21, 2017
Q: Milan's question and comments about Warren Buffet's advice to his wife for investing after he passes away makes me wonder: Since DAY 1 (or there abouts) can you tell if he has beaten the market and if he has by how much?

Thank you for your answer; and thank you for a very good year $$$; and best wishes for a merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year ... in every way.
Read Answer Asked by Donald on December 20, 2017
Q: Robert asked about Cannabis and Wine....:
Andrew Peller (ADW.A), Canopy Growth Corp (WEED)
Date: Dec 19, 2017 07:38 AM


This may be of interest from the Financial Post (and in other news feeds):

Canadians are already spending almost as much on marijuana as wine
The $6.2 billion in weed Canadians consume a year is about two-thirds the $9.2 billion beer market and close to wine’s $7 billion tally.

Canadians consumed as much as $6.2 billion of marijuana in 2015, almost as much as they spent on wine, the federal statistics agency said Monday as it gears up to officially track weed when it becomes legal next year....."

http://business.financialpost.com/commodities/agriculture/marijuana-use-may-have-hit-c6-2-bln-before-canada-legalization
............................................................................

"North Americans Are Spending Nearly As Much On Marijuana As They Do On Wine..."

https://www.weednews.co/north-americans-are-spending-nearly-as-much-on-marijuana-as-they-do-on-wine/
Read Answer Asked by Stan (1) on December 20, 2017
Q: Good morning Peter and company,

In his will, for his wife's benefits, Warren Buffett has instructed the trustee to put 10% of the money in short-term government bonds and 90% in a very low-cost S&P 500 index fund such as Vanguard’s.

Would that be a good practice for all retired individuals living off their stock portfolios by withdrawing 4% annually, if they are prepared to live with the market's fluctuations?

Bond values have nowhere to go but down as central banks raise interest rates. Would 10% cash be better than 10% bonds today?

Thank you for your considerate answers to my questions.

Milan
Read Answer Asked by Milan on December 19, 2017
Q: I am a member of American Assoc of Independent Investors (AAII) and subscribe to their wonderful database product Stock Investor. AAII is a fantastic place to learn, search using outstanding strategies and collect investment knowledge through osmosis. But alas there is no Canadian equivalent. Various screeners provided by brokers are rudimentary and do not support well known strategies.

I would urge 5i to create a similar service. They use data from Reuters and so could you. Since Canada is primarily resource based market, many screens may not work as they are. Here is a chance to create a Canadian solution tilting towards resources. 5i could do it independently or even with collaboration with AAII. This service will be completely new idea differentiating you from other advisory services. I hope you will explore this opportunity.

Read Answer Asked by Shah on December 19, 2017
Q: Peter & Team,

I note that you frequently talk about anticipated future revenue growth for certain companies (eg, 2018 projections). I also find that future expectations re sales/eps growth are often an available screening criteria in many online stock screening programs (eg, Finviz). Can you tell me the source of these projections as well as your professional opinion as to how much rigor there is behind behind these estimates? Are they purely based upon company projections and, if so, do analysts ever weigh in as to the integrity of these numbers or lack thereof? Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Greg on December 18, 2017
Q: I'm new to the system, and unable to access your Reports in the Report section. For instance, under your Report category, I typed in the symbol GWO, and clicked on Great West Life. Great West Life appeared in that area ... but when I ran a search, there were no results. If I get a report in your Question area, it's not identical to the reports in the Report area. For instance, I don't see your Ratings in the Question area Report.
Read Answer Asked by Jean on December 18, 2017
Q: I am starting a Growth Portfolio with $100,000 to be phased in over three years. I purchased DOL and SHOP with each 5% weighting, or $5000 each. What weightings should I consider for each of ECN, GSY, OTEX, PHO? (These positions will be in my TFSA and held for the long-term, more than 5 years.) Are there any other positions that I should consider at this time and if so, what weighting?
.PS...I currently hold KXS and GUD in my balanced portfolio.
Read Answer Asked by Tom on December 18, 2017
Q: I believe we are due for a major correction - What do you think are the best ETF's that will hold up the best in
1) Cdn Equities, 2) USA Equities, 3) REITS, 4) Consumer Staples, 5) Commodities,
Read Answer Asked by Ron on December 18, 2017
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