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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 am setting up a dollar cost averaging couch potato portfolio with low cost mutual funds (td e-series etc). I will be contributing money into this portfolio every month from my salary. The portfolio will consist of 25% canadian index, 30% US, 30% internatonal, 10% Emerging Market, 5% Nasdaq. My time horizon is 15 years with above average risk tolerance. The question I have is if I need to include bonds in this mix. I feel that stock will do well in the next 15 years amidst an interest rate increasing environment. I am hoping to achieve an avearge of 9% to 10% return per annum over the 15 year period. Please let us know if it is a sound plan. Thanks for the great service.
Read Answer Asked by Ron on January 19, 2017
Q: I previously had brought together several accounts into one and am doing some analysis to figure where I'm at from a portfolio approach. I am looking at the sectors of Financial, Consumer, Materials, Technology, Energy, Gold, Health Care, Utilities, Real Estate, Telecommunications and Industrials. Is that the right list and what kinds of percentages (of total portfolio) are recommended for each one?
Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Maria on January 19, 2017
Q: Looks like us financials are losing steam / as is the US currency against the Canadian $ I have some profit in US financials would you take the $ and run or wait?

Also what do you see for the US $ against the Canadian currency going fwd especially after Trumps comments today that the US $ is too strong ? - I under that this is 2 questions thanks as always for your insight
Read Answer Asked by Terence on January 18, 2017
Q: Is there a way of reviewing the "Member Updates" section -- i.e., the monthly commentary where you make changes in the portfolios, etc.? I'm usually pretty good at keeping those notes, but I didn't for last month, and wanted to review your comments on your portfolio changes. The rationale you provide behind your choices is always of interest. Thanks. (I know what the changes are, just looking at the portfolios, but would want to look at your notes from that time.)
Read Answer Asked by Sylvia on January 16, 2017
Q: Topic: interest rates and income stocks, particularly utilities in a "stagflation" scenario.

I understand your message regarding higher interest rates reducing the appeal of income stocks in a growing economy.

But what about stagflation? If interest rates spike, but the economy stagnates (some us remember the 70's) .... would stocks like the utilities still likely "stagnate" or drop as well?

Would anything do well in a stagflation scenario?

Thanks for any information or guidance you can provide.
Read Answer Asked by Donald on January 16, 2017
Q: Hi Fellow Investors!
For those that haven't read the recent 5i blog on averaging down yet I would like to recommend reading it. It is an important topic and well written.
I would just add that averaging down beyond a normal portfolio weighting can put a big dent in one's longterm returns if things go wrong. In my experience you need a very high degree of conviction to average down and by definition such opportunities will only present themselves very rarely. Most investors cpuld do well to avoid the practice entirely, IMHO.
Cheers
John
Read Answer Asked by john on January 16, 2017
Q: It seems to me Open Text is one of your top technology stock pick now, and I like it very much too. The only problem for me is that the company seems like to be paying too much to stock price and playing trick with the stock price. It has a split last year, and now it is splitting again. This is in stark contrast with companies like Google, Priceline, Amazon, not to mention Birkshire, etc. Is this a warning sign? I mean two splits in less than a year.

Thanks

Shaun
Read Answer Asked by Dong Sheng on January 13, 2017
Q: 1) I am in the process of making a few changes in my portfolios and was wondering if you expect to be making any adjustments in the 5i portfolios in the next month or so ?

2) Is 5i still doing portfolio reviews ?

Thanks to the whole team for an outstanding service !

Read Answer Asked by Alexandra on January 10, 2017
Q: Hi Peter
I am reviewing my so called balanced portfolio.as we head into 2017
Right now this is where its at.
NON STAPLES 10%--STAPLES 9%--FINANCIALS 18%--HEALTH 9%--ENERGY 9%
INDUSTRIALS 11%--TECHNOLOGY 10%--MATERIALS 14%--UTILITIES 4%
TELECOMMUNICATIONS 2%--
AS YOU SEE IT IS OUT OF WHACK--COULD I PLEASE HAVE YOUR COMMENTS ON ANY
SECTOR YOU THINK I SHOULD REDUCE EXPOSURE AND ALSO ANY I SHOULD ADD TO-
IF YOU WANT ME TO ADD ANY STOCKS TO SAY UTILITIES OR TELCOM--WHAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST---I CURRENTLY HAVE AQN-BEP.UN-FTS AND T--I GUESS I COULD ALSO TOP THESE UP----IN THE OTHER SEGMENTS I HAVE AT LEAST 4 OR 5 STOCKS.
THANKS --HAVE A GOOD 2017

PETER
Read Answer Asked by peter on January 09, 2017
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