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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'm curious how you would adjust your strategy, if at all, in terms of opportunities, signals, cautions or things to watch for, as we head into a 6 month period leading up to the federal election.
Read Answer Asked by Jeff on February 22, 2019
Q: Veronica on BNN mentioned that Market is going to test lows again Also a reputable
money management is telling client to cash out and wait for pullback,my wordings Are not exact but simple language they mean market is over bought and don't buy now,
I have more weight on 5i opinion,please advice of your thought
Read Answer Asked by Nizar on February 21, 2019
Q: Some (including Phil Town) are concerned that this is at or above 30. I believe the historic average is about 15. I am also told that an increased Shiller has preceded market crashes historically. I would appreciate your comments in particular as to whether a market crash is in the cards after such a prolonged bull market - a record at 10 years if I recall. Thanks! (Publish this question if you wish)
Read Answer Asked by Paul on February 15, 2019
Q: Over the last decade, I have kept 50% of my portfolio in a US money market fund which now pays 2.27% (TDB166). It has paid as low as 0.05%.

The rest of the portfolio is in a US market index fund which tracks the S&P500 (SPY).

I am happy with the results that this effortless approach to investing produces but am concerned about the US money market fund since the US dollar is so high. Should I get into a Canadian dollar money market fund? Can you suggest any?
Read Answer Asked by Milan on February 12, 2019
Q: Due to health I have been forced into early retirement (51) with no pension. I need a 5% return to live off of my savings. I am presently well diversified 75% CAD dividend companies and fixed income in my non registered account and 25% of my total savings are in registered accounts which follow your balanced portfolio along with GOOG, TEAM, SQ, BOX for US exposure (prob not enough eh?). My gut is telling me I should get rid of the growthy stocks and stick to safe dividend companies but my experience says I should leave it alone as over the long term the balanced portfolio has done quite well.
I would appreciate any and all input you can offer (don't be afraid to hurt my feelings;).

Brian
Read Answer Asked by Brian on February 06, 2019
Q: I have been reluctant to invest in the cannabis industry as there did not seem to be much understanding of the industry as a whole or little (if any) rhyme or reason as to valuations. While acknowledging that things are still far from stable, I do sense that a greater understanding of the industry is developing since legalization in Canada occurred. I am now seeing some thoughtful reports on potential annual demand, analyses of corporate cost structures, critical discussion of common industry issues and a separation of the better companies from the laggards

Would you agree with this assessment? If so, do you feel that enough solid fundamentals and information are now in place to warrant investing in this ETF?
It is up over 50% in the past month so are we witnessing irrational exuberance and a probable bubble or reasonable expectations based on real growth prospects?

Appreciate your insight.

Paul F.
Read Answer Asked by Paul on February 06, 2019
Q: 5G is a popular investment topic. I would appreciate if you would recommend a company or companies that you feel will benefit from the 5G network. Thank You.
Read Answer Asked by Brian on January 28, 2019
Q: Hello 5i
I’d be interested in your comments on this years January “bounce”. Do you feel it is just a bounce due to tax loss selling or are we likely to move higher after January. I realize this is a market call which is a guess at best but I stil value your opinion and insight.
Thank you
Dave
Read Answer Asked by Dave on January 25, 2019
Q: Hi.

How many times do you think the BoC will raise the interest rate in the next two years ? Im asking this because we're renewing our mortgage soon. Im still leaning to take variable which we are in right now. but a bit hesitant due to continuing rise of int rate.Appreciate if you can give me your input on this.
Read Answer Asked by sunday on January 23, 2019
Q: I’m looking for suggested asset allocation percentages by region. I currently use Canada/US/Foreign/and Emerging Markets
Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Les on January 23, 2019
Q: I have noticed recently that Aapl, Amzn, Brk, Googl and V that the daily share volume has been about 70 % of the 10 day volume and Shop and Sq have been at or higher than the 10 day volume ( the stocks mentioned are some companies in my portfolio). To me this means that the rise in share price does not have wide support and could fall soon.
Appreciate your comments on the support of the rally and are people hiding money in short term instruments until they can verify one way or the other the next direction of the market.
Clayton
Read Answer Asked by Clayton on January 21, 2019
Q: My question is about global debt as a potential factor affecting markets going forward. According to a report in the Washington Post today global debt is now about 318 percent of world gross domestic product.

The breakdown is reported like this: Government debt has tripled from $20 trillion in 2000 to $65 trillion in 2018, rising as a share of GDP from 55 percent to 87 percent. Household debt has increased over the same years, from $17 trillion to $46 trillion (from 44 percent to 60 percent of GDP). Finally, nonfinancial corporate debt rose from $24 trillion to $73 trillion (71 percent of GDP to 92 percent).

Do you think growing global indebtedness is a serious risk factor investors should be aware of?

Link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/with-booming-global-debt-were-entering-unexplored-territory/2019/01/16/8896c5e2-19bb-11e9-88fe-f9f77a3bcb6c_story.html?utm_term=.f9c7f2e8f264

Thank you. Michael
Read Answer Asked by Michael on January 16, 2019
Q: David Rosenberg today indicated that the recent rally in the TSX is very similar to the December rally of 1931 and further said that this is not an investors' rally but a trader's rally. Is the current rally a sucker's rally?
I will greatly appreciate your comments.
Thanks
Terry
Read Answer Asked by Terry on January 14, 2019
Q: Hi. 35 years old, currently sitting on 100% cash in TFSA and in RRSP. Looking to get back in with a long term outlook.

Planning on the following: TFSA: 40% modeled after your Balanced Equity Portfolio (or potentially Growth Portfolio), 50% in a mix of a few broad ranged ETFs, and 10% cash for now. RRSP: 20% in BTSX, 20% Dogs of DOW (USD), 20% Growth Portfolio (or BE), 20% mix of ETFs (will diverse geographically), 10% bonds, and 10% cash.

1. Comments to the overall strategy?
2. Any recommendations?
3. I know you can't time the market, but does it make sense to just buy in all at one time?

Appreciate the help!
Read Answer Asked by Chris on January 10, 2019
Q: Good morning,
I'm 70 years old and with yet a new year upon us and a review of the holdings in my non reg equity portfolio, I'm concerned that my $650K non reg equity portfolio has slowly grown into a "hodge podge" of miscellaneous holdings that need to be trimmed, better concentrated (minimum 5% per holding) along with the addition of a few additional names in sectors that are not currently represented. My current holdings are as follows:
AQN (3.3%),BCE (11.6%)BAM.A(3.8%),CU (4.5%),DIV(2.8%),EMA (2.4%),KEY(2.2%),XIU(5.2%),XIC (33.2%),XDV(18.4%),SLF(3.6%),T(2.9%),T(2.9%),MAW120(3.1%)MAW102(3%).
I would very much appreciate your suggestions on how to best to adjust my current non reg equity portfolio to make it easier to manage and follow. I'm open to adding an appropriate mix of ETFs or Mawer equity funds as need be. My RRSP and TFSA are pretty much all populated with a mix of relatively low MER Mawer equity funds which have performed well over the years. I thank you in advance and look forward to hearing your sage advice and recommendations.
Francesco
Read Answer Asked by Francesco on January 09, 2019
Q: Good morning and HNY
My wife and I have several investment accounts ( two individual, one joint, one RIF, one RRSP, one LIRA, two TFSA). We recently retired and transferred from an advisor to self managing. My first question is how to allocate both sector and type of investment ( equity, prefs, bonds etc) given the different types of accounts. Should we look at the aggregates or each account individually. Second question. We have roughly 20% of our total worth in GIC’s, largely held in our RRSP/RIF/LIRA. Safe, for sure, but it seems we are just parking our money which is galling in retrospect as our advisor charged his normal fee for said parking. Are we better off with pref shares versus GIC’s. Our prefs have suffered recently with the interest rate increases and they are more “risky” than GIC’s, but having so much money parked is concerning. I would appreciate your suggestions. BTW, we have followed your service for the past year to gain confidence as has our neighbour.Thanks for providing an integrous platform.
Read Answer Asked by alex on January 09, 2019