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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: Does your crystal ball predict a recession in the next six to twelve months.

Clayton
Read Answer Asked by Clayton on October 15, 2019
Q: Hi 5i team,
Group A: XCV 35%, VVL 35%, VEE 10%, VAB 20%
Group B: VSB 15%, ZPS 15%, XSB 15%, XIU 30%, VCE 20%, XAW 5%
For short term 2-3 years, which group would you pick? or any better idea?
Read Answer Asked by Eli on September 30, 2019
Q: Would you please be able to provide me with sector percentage allocations at this time for a retired couple with both having a pension and CPP and not using funds from our registered accounts until time of required withdrawal in approx .6 years ? We are not completely Conservative -we have been Balanced with a Growth bias. Thank you for your assistance. I have appreciated the learning opportunites with my 5i membership over approximately 5 years.
Read Answer Asked by Elizabeth on September 27, 2019
Q: I have read the Fed is continuing to pump 75 billion daily into the banking system to provide liquidity. Is this true and if so does this mean there could be a banking crisis on the horizon, and or,is there problems with the US economy . Is investing in real estate a safer alternative to the stock market at this point in time.
Read Answer Asked by Ian on September 25, 2019
Q: I am going to add Gold to my portfolio and am looking for your advice. I really like the Franco-Nevada model being that they have royalties and do not own mines, but it seems quite expensive? Thoughts on evaluations etc ? Depending on your thoughts I would like to add FNV and an actual gold miner. The ones I have listed have a larger market cap as I am not interested in too small of gold miners.

With all the things going on in the world right now, how concerned are you of a recession in the US that will drag Canada into it? The flags I am concerned about right now are: 10yr bull market, US balance sheet issues, repos, inverted yield curve, Fed policy (decreasing interest rates), trade war, global slowing. A lot of other countries hold US paper........ It makes you wonder how much more debt the US can endure and maintain a strong dollar.

We all know that there is going to be a correction at some point in the future....but something to me feels different about what is coming. Maybe I am just a paranoid investor...I have to quit watching the prepper shows!

Besides gold what is the best way to protect ourselves in the event that the US has a financial crisis that affects their dollar?
Read Answer Asked by Brad on September 25, 2019
Q: 5-I,

I own CPD plus 5 individual rate reset preferred shares with reset dates ranging from 2020 to 2022. . When I look at the gains / losses I see CPD has been hit much more than any of the individual items over the past year. My question relates to how the NAV is determined with CPD. Is it very similar to that of a mutual fund , ie if many sales orders are received the ETF needs to liquidate, thus causing a drop in NAV? Any other thoughts why such a large performance difference between CPD and individual preferred shares ?

Thank you,

Paul
Read Answer Asked by paul on September 25, 2019
Q: I am currently holding the following investments in almost equal amounts (20-25K per):
AQN, BNS, BCE, ZAG, ZEM. BEP.UN. CU. ENB. FTS, NPI, RY, PEGI. PPL. REI.UN. SLF, TRP. T. FN. TD, VXC. VSP plus $8K cash.

Are any of these questionable in your opinion? Are there other areas that would assist allocation? I am 72 , retired and need the additional income,
Read Answer Asked by John on September 20, 2019
Q: What sectors are best for stagflation?
What sectors preformed best during the 1970’S?
Read Answer Asked by Nino on September 12, 2019
Q: Good morning.
It seems like the markets took a sudden wild turn on Thursday. Since then gold, utilities and reits are being booted out the door at a fairly high rate. Can you offer up a suggestion of what the markets might be thinking? Are they simply dumping equities or are they moving into some other sector?
Read Answer Asked by John on September 09, 2019
Q: The direction of Corporate profits is relevant to investment strategy. I am finding an annoying number of contradictory statements on this matter in the financial press. Case in point: in Saturday's G&M Report on Business, the Chief Investment Strategist for BMO Nesbitt Burns says "However, earnings have been continually beating upwardly revised expectations and are now up more than 8 per cent year-over-year in the second quarter." In the same article, the Managing Director of Guardian Capital says "....there are clear signs of the global economy slowing and corporate earnings growth trends continue to decline markedly." Seems to me this is a matter of fact not opinion. Can you tell me if corporate profits are going up or down? Thanks..
Read Answer Asked by Ken on September 02, 2019
Q: Today, the 10/2 year spread just dipped into the negative territory. What are your thoughts for investors going forward and how do you see this as an impact for the global economy?

Thanks,
Read Answer Asked by Barry on August 27, 2019
Q: Hi 5i team, do you have any advice if US China trade war escalating ? Which Canadian sectors will be less damaging and which sectors will be affected most?
Read Answer Asked by victor on August 26, 2019
Q: If we are headed to zero / negative interest rates, I am thinking of playing this thesis by purchasing XLB to capture the capital gain on the interest rate reduction and XGD should do well in a low / negative rate environment. The balance of the portfolio is VBAL and XEG. What do you think? Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Richard on August 22, 2019
Q: I am retired and wish to structure a conservative portfolio consider the uncertainty of the economy. I favour banks (RY, TD), utilities (Fortis and Algonquin) and Telecoms (BCE and Telus), BrookMiled Asset Management, Brookfield Renewable and Brookfield Infrastructure Microsoft and Berkshire B.

I would lik´to have 40% in bonds and favourCLF, XBB, XSB and XSH. I would move from FTB even though it has a higher yield but a higher MER.

Your comment would be appreciated.

Thank you.

Donald

Read Answer Asked by Donald on August 20, 2019
Q: I have 5-8% (20%total) positions on these utility type stocks; if we enter a melt-up type scenario in the markets? Would it be prudent to reduce my utility type exposure by selling 1/2 positions and invest in growth type names like Vtv, vfv, etc.? Or would it be in my best interest to hold steady and ride the curve and collect dividends, I'm approaching 70 years of age? Thank you!
Read Answer Asked by Pat on August 20, 2019