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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: With dividend paying stocks that I plan to hold for at least five years, what is your opinion regarding signing up for the DRIP program?
Read Answer Asked by mitchell on December 29, 2017
Q: HI there 5i
Along with portfolio reviews, does 5i have financial advisor services?
Read Answer Asked by Barry on December 28, 2017
Q: Hi everyone.
I have several questions so please take as many credits as needed.
1. Can you recommend an ETF for Japan? Several experts have recommended diversifying out of NA and into Japan.
2. Do you foresee a relative shortage in copper supply in the near future? If so, can you recommend a natural resource company that would benefit from the increased copper demand.
3. Do you know of an American equivalent to BNN?
Read Answer Asked by Teresa on December 28, 2017
Q: When companies are spun out as VMD was from PHM it takes several days for the changes to appear in a trading account (Neither PHM nor VMD appear in my account, just a "placeholder"(?)). In a situation like this can we typically trade our shares even though they do not appear in the account?

Royal Circle has a "more than one hour" wait at the moment.

(You list the name as Viamed but others list as Viemed).
Read Answer Asked by Peter on December 27, 2017
Q: Although this company is not on your radar as it is too small and high risk, can you briefly explain in layman’s terms what this means for the company?
Azincourt Energy Corp. (“Azincourt” or the “Company”) (AAZ.V) announces it has granted an aggregate of 1,410,000 incentive stock options to directors, officers and consultants of the Company and shareholders?
Have a great Christmas everyone!
Read Answer Asked by Martin on December 27, 2017
Q: Hello 5ir,
I own AGU which will be merging wit POT. The effective day of the merger does seem to have been established. I have sold the April 20, 2018 call option as a covered write. What happens to the option if the effective date of the merger is before the option expiration date of April 20, 2018?
My broker did not know and neither did their option desk?
Cheers, HD
Read Answer Asked by Hans on December 27, 2017
Q: Peter and His Wonder Team
How are annual portfolio returns calculated? I thought I knew but now am not sure. I thought Dec 31 was the date that everyone did there mathematics...measuring the difference that occurred during that year. Are there other ways? For example can you just use any day during the year that your portfolio hit its high and use that number? In other words is there accounting consistency between the financial institutions and retail investors or is there a little manipulation for marketing purposes? Thanks for the clarification.
Dr.Ernest Rivait
Read Answer Asked by Ernest on December 22, 2017
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