skip to content
  1. Home
  2. >
  3. Investment Q&A
You can view 3 more answers this month. Sign up for a free trial for unlimited access.

Investment Q&A

Not investment advice or solicitation to buy/sell securities. Do your own due diligence and/or consult an advisor.

Q: Most of the time we are coming out of the recession before they even announce that we are in one.

I am currently fully invested, but I wonder whether there will be a drop once announced.

Anecdotally, I have seen a complete slow down in retail customers at my place of business. It is the slowest I have seen in over 10 years. My suppliers have also slowed considerably, so it isn't just me.

I understand it is best to stay invested and diversified and the markets will correct over time.

Questions:

So, will the markets drop if they announce that is the case and we are in a recession, or is that priced in already?

If the markets do drop once announced are there any trades / hedges / or opportunities that I should be investigating or doing some research in?

Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Colin on November 10, 2022
Q: Wondering if the 5iii team has considered a survey type / sentiment analysis of what your entire membership is in fact holding for their portfolio positions ? This would give us all a perspective as DIY cohort how like minded we actually are !
Read Answer Asked by Brant on November 09, 2022
Q: I was going to include this link in my last question as I thought it was a good read and a good reminder for long term investor's, but forgot. Here it is:

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/04/op-ed-investor-ron-baron-on-investing-during-periods-of-entropy.html
Read Answer Asked by Shane on November 07, 2022
Q: Good morning
When a broker recommends a stock a disclosure is made stating that:

"Broker is a market maker or is associated with the specialist that makes a market in the securities of the subject company"

Can you please explain what this means and whether it is significant?
Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Terry on November 02, 2022
Q: My floating rate mortgage is now approaching 5%.

Do you think it is better to invest in some of the strong companies that are currently at good prices, or to pay extra toward the mortgage?

Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Kevin on October 31, 2022
Q: Good morning, what ETF's would you advise for a new portfolio today. Mid age investor, including sector allocations please. TFSA and Non reg'd accounts

Thank you
Read Answer Asked by L on October 31, 2022
Q: I recently read a short article on CDR’s on the NEO exchange designed, by CIBC, to gain access to American companies without worrying about currency exchange. What is your take on CDRs and how does one access them?
Read Answer Asked by Lloyd on October 31, 2022
Q: When assessing income/dividend stocks, I would like to look at the total return of such stocks over a period of years, say 5 year. Do you know of any free web sites that provide such information? ......Thanks....Tom
Read Answer Asked by Tom on October 29, 2022
Q: Do you have any insights on financial planning/stock tracking software that can track various accounts and stock performance across institutions? ...and with the input of financial variables (inflation, spend etc) provide updated information on meeting long term targets. I struggle with financial providers (hide fees, limit what you can see etc) and cannot get a comprehensive picture of my financials.
Read Answer Asked by Dave on October 23, 2022
Q: Has tax loss selling started? What is your take on Tax loss selling in this most unusual year.?
Read Answer Asked by Guy R. on October 22, 2022
Q: Hello, I hold BEPC, CSU in my Canadian account. I thought it was mentioned in the past that the shares can be kept in the CDN account but dividends can be put in the US Acct to avoid brokerage fees so I called TD Waterhouse and they said it’s not possible without transferring the shares to the USD Acct. Did I misunderstand? Is there another way around this?
Read Answer Asked by Chris on October 19, 2022
Q: Hello 5i,
Please tell me where, on the 5i site, can I find the "Market and Report Updates!" that I am sent.
Thank you
Stanley
Read Answer Asked by STANLEY on October 19, 2022
Q: I have only US$ available and tend to invest only in inter-listed companies (e.g. a Cdn bank, Canadian Oilco, and other large caps). I asked both iTRADE and RBC-DI *NOT* to convert the dividends such companies pay in C$, and instead let me accumulate C$. My understanding is that an investor has the legal right to demand the bank NOT to convert dvidends.

However both brokers I name here claim that to avoid unwanted Forex conversion, I need to ask them to journal the holdings over to the “side” I want.
In your experience, is this normal? Or can one insist the broker leave the holdings in the currency of original purchase? Do the brokers have a legal right to make the above-noted demand?

This issue affects many 5i members:
I had wanted both brokers not to convert because they were applying the worst possible exchange rates. Many of your members will have holdings bought on TSX where the company pays dividend in US$. AQN (inter-listed) is one of several Canadian companies that pays dividends in US$ . I believe you likely have many members who object to the very disadvantageous exchange rates applied by brokers — and certainly many would object to “automatic” conversion, surely.

If brokers are within their rights, are there not laws, rules & regs that require brokers to apply FAIR exchange rates?

Read Answer Asked by Adam on October 17, 2022