Investment Q&A

Q: I have above stocks in my RRSP I like to drop FFH and trim CSU LMN (i'm up 150% on both), like to add AD.UN DIR.UN or T, trying to increase my income as I'm retired, the idea is to preserve capital, is it a good time to add this new stocks ? thanks

Q: Folks with all the talk about the money system reset , tarif war, extreme national debt in North Amercia. threats to canadian economy, and gold becoming a tier 1 asset; how would suggest a DIY investor protect their assets going forward?

Q: I noticed that in one of your replies you said that most 5i staff have been buying during this downturn. I have bought through other downturns. But, Trump has me spooked. You never know what he might do. You feel that this time it may be different. If you feel free to share it, I would be interested to know what gives you this confidence, what your buying strategy is and finally, wha stocks do you see as particularly interesting at this time
Thanks

Q: I am a 64 year old IT professional, planning to retire next year and live off investment income. What do you think about my current sector allocation: Energy 7.00%, Health 7.00%, Finance 22.50%, Industrials 10.00%, Tech 22.50%, Telco 4.00%, Utility 5.00%, Materials 5.50%, Cons.Def 7.50%, Cons.Cycl. 8.00%, Real Estate 1.00%? I have moderate risk tolerance, the portfolio size is over 5mln, most of it is US and Canadian ETFs, and the low real estate allocation is due to the fact that I own some investment real estate. No crypto, gold, or bonds - I don't want any. I have paid out house, no liabilities, and no dependents. I am wondering if my sector allocation is too aggressive..? If yes, what are your suggestions for the perfect allocation specific for my case? Thanks!

Q: Considering present worldwide market uncertainties ,tariffs, volatility : would you agree with my observation that canadian REIT ETFs actually seem to be at a quite low price + less risky for a dividend investor ? If not ,would you suggest another category of investment ?

Q: Shouldn't investors be proceeding cautiously given the S&P P/E is close to 28 and a couple of red flags were announced this morning (jobless claims above expectations; McDonalds largest US sales decline since 2020)? Or am I being too much of a Nervous Nellie?

Q: A dark 2025/6 scenario would be mild recession in Canada, more serious recession in the U.S., both deepened at some point by a U.S. dollar crisis due to massive deficits and chaotic Trump. How should a TFSA be positioned to weather this? Dividend stocks versus bonds? How much of portfolio in gold stocks? How big a cash allocation? What else? Please deduct points as needed for this speculative question.

Q: I recently read an article saying Goldman Sachs reports their base case for US tariff negotiations to include long-standing percents to be remain in place. As in, the rates may or may not change from their present 10%. I am trying to make informed decisions about expected uncertainty and whether strategic portfolio balancing needs to be done. Appreciating we don’t have a crystal ball, don’t see the sustained tariffs as a likely outcome and would you recommend any responses to higher probability outcomes to this? For example- avoiding high-multiple US stocks emerging markets or others.

Q: Good afternoon,

One of the services I like to check in on for fun does technical analysis video updates for the overall happenings in the markets that can be found on YouTube (and obviously should be met a fair share of skepticism), well today one of the things they’re talking about is a rare Zweig Breadth Thrust signal.

I realize that your wheelhouse is focusing on good companies and in the long run that's what matters most, however I was wondering if you’ve noticed the same signal (ie, did it actually happen)?

Thank you


PS. I submitted the question as private, but please free to make it a public question if you feel it is a good learning question for other members.

Q: I think I just heard that bell that no-one rings at the bottom. I realize that the Tasmanian Devil, Elmer Fudd and the rest of the white house crew will continue to revel in their own incompetence, but still there seems to be some sort of reasonableness (I know, I know) coming out of recent statements about not firing Powel and about China even.

My idea then is to ease back into a somewhat more aggressive, or at least less defensive, posture over the next several weeks, all the while still closely monitoring everything, In general terms does this make sense to you? Thank-you.

Q: I'm considering shareholder yield as a factor for investing. Can I have your opinion of such a strategy and is there a favourable/preferred % when looking at companies? Finally, would you have 5 US and 5 TSX companies that you would choose when considering this approach? Dock me as many questions as you like and thanks!

Q: I am slowly working on reducing my exposure to the US$ given the recent commentary and negative sentiment. I am also questioning bond exposures given the Trump administrations decisions recently and hiccups it has been causing in the bond market. I have ensured the downside risk on long bonds and would like your take on the following:

1) If Trump causes crisis in the bond market which bond market and ETF would be least likely to be disrupted?

2) What is your take on the short and medium term risks to the bond market with Trumps economic non-strategy?

3) Is it a more reasoned decision to reduce bond exposures in favour of investing in shares of stable Canadian or European companies?

Thanks very much,

Dave

Q: Would be interested in your take on The search question. Many are saying Goog has lost its leadership position due to AI - I believe search is still the overwhelming cash cow for the company. It’s Gemini doesn’t appear to be getting much traction?

Q: Trying to decide whether to sell stocks in my TFSA now as they are in US dollars and I might want to purchase a condo in next 4 years. I am worried now that if dollar continues to rise and if stocks go nowhere or even up a little I'll take a big hit. All great, blue chip companies that have done well in past ten fifteen years.. American Express, Chubb, Bank of America, Eli Lily, Nvidia, etc.... Any predictions on how high the CAD could go and how does one figure out a strategy when dealing with currency and declining stock prices. Thank you for your wisdom!

Q: To what degree do you agree with the logic that the USD and US t-bills are being debased as reserve currency, and to what degree to you advise making portfolio changes?
I have assets in short and long term positions-it would be helpful to have input about both.

Q: What should Trump do or is it too late RAK

Q: What do you think market reaction would be on 1) removal of Fed chair Powell and replacement by the man proposed by Pres. Trump, 2) drop of interest rates by the new Fed Chair and whether this drop would overpower the tariff influence, and 3) the liklihood of any lower interest rate euphoria quickly wearing off because of the tariffs?
Thanks a lot for you valued insights.

Q: Just read an article in the Globe and Mail, and other articles in The Economist:

"Investors have bet heavily on the U.S. economy. That’s not a great idea", by Ian McGugan

Given the concerns about the US these days (huge and increasing debt, failure of rule of law, outsized weighting in the world stock market, unhappy bond market, declining USD), should one reduce the exposure to US Indexes in a passive indexing portfolio with a long term horizon (5-10 years)?

If so, where would be a better place right now to put this money? Europe? Gold? Cash? Other?

Thanks in advance for your opinion.

Q: Hello. I work abroad and get paid in USD. I send regular transfers to my Cad dollar trading platform but also have a USD trading platform. In your opinion (not advice) would it be smarter to keep exchanging my USD for cheap CAD dollars for canadian stocks with the expectation that the CAD will eventually rise, or to move directly into my usd acccount for trading in us stocks? or a split? Thank you for your service.

Q: Hi 5i, could you give me some good quality travel industry stocks that you believe might benefit if international travellers divert their travel from US to Canada. Could you please have them traded on Canadian exchange. Thanks