Investment Q&A

Q: Hi team, really appreciate the advice. Recently I have altered my portfolio quite a bit to focus on growth stocks. Currently I hold AAPL, STN.TO, CSU.TO, CMG.TO, HCG.TO and VG.TO. Do you think I am diversified enough? If not, what are some sectors and specific companies that I should look into moving out of / into?

Q: Hello Peter!
On 15th.October I started my $100K Portfolio partially based on your Model Portfolio and also on my own ideas as follow|
ACQ-13%
CSU-13%
AD- 13%
BAD-12.5%
AYA-7.7%
STN-7.7%
BYD.un-9.2%
MG-9.3%
ESL-6.5%
RRx-6.5%
Please give me your opinion on my portfolio and what would you change. Thanks Andrew B.

Q: I have held a Man AHL hedge fund MCC101 in my RRSP for a number of years. It did well in the market crash. I think it would do well in a market up turn but in an up and down market like we have had it does nothing. Is there any point in holding on to this? I think if I just followed your model portfolio I would do (a lot) better.

Q: The S&P500 has been going vertical since Nov 2012, except for the mussing about QE easing. Profits have been slowing and the multiples are expanding. When do you expect a pull back in the US market?

Q: Hi team:
I have some XTR in my RRSP as part of the income portfolio
I came across CBD, ishares Balanced Inc core portfolio;
it has some exposure to US and Cdn equity and about 40% in fixed income, morning star gave it a 4 star rating
What do you think of putting 1/3 of my RRSP in CBD and 2/3 in XTR ?
Thanks!

Q: This is more of a followup to the question about selling in view of the mess in the US right now. I am also up allot due in part to your great advise. I did bite the bullet and sold to protect my gains. My reasoning is that the potential upside is far less than the potential downside. I would rather be a scared chicken than a dead duck at this point. Something to think about.

Q: I would like to know what the percentage breakdown in sectors would make a good stable portfolio. IE Financials/Energy/technolgy/Health care etc.
Thanks!

Q: Still not sure what to do. Sell or Hold my stocks. You said earlier that they would settle the Dept.Ceiling but it's getting very close now. I'm hoping i'm not asking this to late to get a answer. Would need to know by noon Oct. 16th. If they don't settle should I be selling my stocks. I'm up quite a bit so i'd hate to lose it. Hope I can get a answer soon. Thank You Very Much For All Your Help. Andy

Q: Considering your model portfolio, would you continue to deploy new cash into it and spread it out evenly amongst the stocks (or just the winners?) or wait for the debt ceiling thing to get resolved?
thanks. Really appreciate the service.

Q: Hi Peter and team

I am concerned about the possible default of the U.S. Should we take some defensive measures to protect our portfolio?

Hope you are enjoying your well-deserved vacation.

Joanne

Q: I'm not to sure how it all works. But on oct. 17th. The US National Dept. might come into play. A friend of mine told me maybe we should be selling ALL of our stocks. Ever since we've been listening to you guys were boyh up. Him about 25% & me about 35% we really don't want to lose our profits. So do you think we should be selling or holding on. We really appreciate all the help we've received from you. We'll be waiting for your advice. Thank You Very Much. Andy

Q: hi guys, thanku for all the good advice. i'am making money in canadian stocks and a few american stocks, but am anxious for american stocks to start moving. my question is what is your best guess on american stocks to start moving. thank dale.

Q: Peter; I own FEZ for Euorpean coverage. With the German election Sunday should I sell it now and wait for results ? Thanks. Rod

Q: Hi 5i people. This is a follow up question to one asked by Ray regarding QE. No one seems to be worried about the consequences of QE. It's a party, let keep going! The FED's balance sheet is now above 3 trillion (with a T). Could we please pause for a moment and ask what happens when they unwind that or how are they going to do it? Are we not at least robbing Peter (tomorrow) to pay Paul (to-day)? Henry

Q: I'm 81, my wife 65. We are not rich but have assets of over a million dollars in our cash, investments and residence, ample to last us the rest of our lives. However our pensions are modest so our investments are 100% in 30 dividend paying equities. The mix is about 22.5% oil, 17.5% pipelines, 12.25% power, 8.25% telecom, 20.8% banks, 5.4% other financials, and 13.2% industrials. We are not greatly concerned about growth but still add almost half the dividends to purc hase stocks. Is this a reasonable course to set given our age? I should add that the funds are in the BMO Investment plan and, at $9.95 a trade, I do not hesitate to dump a laggard, and I have relied on your advice to a very considerable degree for purchases. Thank you so much for this great 5I program.

Q: Allow me to be the first to ask, the Fed is not tapering Bond buying, good or bad for equity? Most seemed to have $10-$15 billion 'priced in' so the obvious initial reaction is that stock will rally (they seem to be doing so as I type this question), however, the fact they are deciding to do nothing makes me wonder, just how bad IS the US economy? Should this really be considered a good thing for equities?

Thanks!

Q: Approximately 15% of my holdings are in convertible debentures (eg HR.DB.D) purchased some time ago with interest payments just under 6%. With one small exception these dropped to around their purchase point of 100 with the recent interest rate scare. These were purchased by my full service broker before we parted ways. I have now found that they are extremely illiquid and may be hard to sell at the price shown on my screen as the last sale may have been weeks ago. They form about 50% of what I consider the fixed income part of my assets but their price actually tracks the common because of the convertible nature. Am I right to consider them fixed income and do you have an opinion on the wisdom of keeping them?

Q: Hi Peter and the Team,
I would like to have your opinion and advise on my plan for my RIf. 200K and I do not intend to withdraw more than the legal annual requirement about 7%. My goal is to protect my capital therfore expect a 7% annual gain.

Cnd. Equity 40%: TD Cnd. Index 16%, Mawer Cnd. Equity 12%, RBC O'Shaughnessy All Cdn Equity 12%.
US Equity 20%: VUS 10%, O'Shaghnessy US growth 10%.
Global Equity 20%: VEF 10%, Mawer Global Equity 10%.
Fixed Income 20%: CBO 10%, VSB 10%.

I would like your views on the composition of this portfolio, my expectations and my choice of investments.

Thank you so much for your excellent service.
Regards

Q: What is your opinion on selling "cash covered puts" as a way to generate additional income? Thankd

Q: I believe the direction and level of the US 10 year treasury bond yield is frequently used as a portfolio weightings benchmark. I recall the quant/strategist Peter Gibson (formerly CIBC and SCM) used to say he would shift weightings in stocks as this 10 year rate approached 3.75%. (do you know where he woks now by chance?). Stocks still seem to have the heaviest weightings but as treasuries have moved rapidly toward 3%, I was wondering what rate do you think a shift into a heavier fixed income weighting in a balanced portfolio should occur. Thanks for all you great work.