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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: Hi, thanks for the work that you do for the average Joe.

I am about 8-10 years from retirement. Earlier this year, when good Cdn blue-chip dividend payers were "on sale", I started creating an income portfolio in my non-registered account. The idea is that these stocks would form the basis of my income in my retirement as I don't have a DB pension.

I am currently in the highest tax bracket so will pay significant taxes on the dividends that I receive until I retire, in 8-10 years.

I also have funds in my TFSA where I focus more on Growth.

Am I too young to start creating a dividend account when I'll be paying significant taxes? Should I instead focus on Growth stocks now, and convert those to dividend paying stocks when I retire?

Or does it really matter that much?

This is a non-urgent question and can wait until the NY.

Thanks
Robert
Read Answer Asked by Robert on December 30, 2020
Q: Happy New Year and thanks for everything you do. This year has been by far my best year in the markets thanks to the patience i have learned through the daily Questions and Answers. Just a general question re the markets. I get asked by alot of people who can't get their head around that so many people have been out of work and the gov't continuously dishing out money, but the markets keep on chugging along like everything is good or going to be good in the near future in the world. In other words there seems to be alot of disconnect, thanks?
Read Answer Asked by Pat on December 29, 2020
Q: Good morning, as a relatively young retired investor I'm still leaning vs growth. As a portfolio year end adjustment I would like to hike my exposure to materials by approx 1%. Having said that my gold exposure has suffered and now sits at less that 3%. I own LUN at 2%. Where would you add ? In real estate I have a 2% in DIR and 1% in TCN.. Would like to add to maybe 5% of portfolio. Dividends are welcome but not a necessity since I can buy in either my Cash or in my RIFF account. New suggestions are welcome since your expertise gave me handsome results since I've subscribed to your services.

Stay safe,

Yves
Read Answer Asked by Yves on December 29, 2020
Q: I find it quite interesting that there may be a possible correction in January due to tax-related selling. I own most of my securities in a TFSA and/or RRSP so i am not (in the short term at least) motivated by tax implications. Should I sell now and try to pick up shares at a discount in January?
Read Answer Asked by Mike on December 23, 2020
Q: I am getting scared! This is way too many profits in such a short period of time, in a pandemic, the world shut down, how can that be? So many unemployed. I have never made this kind of money, EVER! Fear and greed is setting in. I am fearful of the market, greedy to let it keep moving up even though it does not look anywhere near sustainable. Help us out here, Peter. Have you ever seen increases in prices so quickly, what is going on? P/E, revenue, earnings, sales, nothing seems to matter. A vision of 2000 keeps rolling around in my head when I guess something like that happened and then everything came crashing down, HARD!
Read Answer Asked by Helen on December 23, 2020
Q: Retired dividend-income investor. For the equity portion of a typical income focused portfolio, can you give me your suggested asset allocation for the 11 sectors. Thanks in advance...Steve
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on December 23, 2020
Q: Good morning, The year end once again brings us the many different opinions as to what lies ahead in 2021. I have read several analysts giving their overweight and underweight suggestions and am struck by the fact that some are overweight financials and utililies and others are underweight. With so many different opinions, I believe one has to choose who makes sense and once again, I choose you. In terms of sector weightings what does your crystal ball say? Of course it can vary, whether one is income or growth focused but with that caveat in mind, what do you think? Thanks
Read Answer Asked by alex on December 22, 2020
Q: commonly, all of these stocks seem to be in sectors that are doing well i know there are many more are there any sectors that you might particularly favour this upcoming year?
Read Answer Asked by terrance on December 21, 2020
Q: I am overweight in the Utilities sector and underweight in Materials. I am considering selling some BEPC and using that cash to add to Materials. Is NTR recognized as belonging to Materials in the Portfolio Analytics ? What other suggestions would you have for Materials stocks at this time?
By the way I have found the Portfolio Analytics a great tool for following and planning my investments -Thank you for your great services .
Read Answer Asked by Elizabeth on December 20, 2020
Q: If we were to see rotation into value and cyclical stocks in 2021, which 5 Canadian value stocks and 5 Canadian cyclical stocks would you recommend. And what are the probabilities of such a rotation happening? Tnx
Read Answer Asked by Jacques on December 18, 2020
Q: Hello Peter,
From what I have been reading: The cash positions within pension and other investment funds is at historically low levels. The trend over the past few weeks has been a shift from growth and technology to cyclical and value stocks.
On the flip side, the technology sector generally does well to start the new year.
I have done well with growth stocks mostly in the tech sector and have a couple of holdouts such as DXCM, AYX GH that have not performed. And I am also fully invested.
Should I look to raise cash by trimming my gains, which would be in tech, mostly US except for some CAD such as DSG, LSPD OTEX etc? Or, should I sell the growth holdouts for cash? Should I even raise cash and invest in cyclicals and value such as TT, RTX, US financials or any other you may suggest. Or should I just ride the growth portfolio into January and spring of 2021?
Looking for your magic eight ball answer.
Regards
Rajiv




Read Answer Asked by Rajiv on December 18, 2020
Q: In a Globe and Mail article yesterday, Candice Bangsund of Fiera Capital was quoted as saying "Fiera is overweight on Canadian stocks now because it’s “where we see the most upside potential,” she says. “We expect the [Toronto Stock Exchange] will outperform the U.S. market in 2021, which is a sharp reversal from what we’ve seen.” If I could chat with her I would say "WHAT?".....Me, I thought Canada rides on the coattails of the US....The family is well diversified across Canadian and US stocks. But with new TFSA contribution room for 2021 for 4 accounts, what guidance would you provide with respect to investing new money in Canadian or US stocks or do a combo?
And pop a bottle of champagne to celebrate another good year of  5iR guidance to couch guy like me!!!......Tom
Read Answer Asked by Tom on December 18, 2020
Q: According to a recent report by Statistics Canada, household debt has been on a steady rise since 1990. What effect, if any, do you think this could have on the markets long term? What needs to happen for household debt levels to flatline or reverse? Curious to hear your opinion.
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Curtis on December 14, 2020
Q: Hello Peter & team,

Read a report that stated bank deposits are up considerably. Reason... It appears People are banking funds without having the opportunity to take their annual vacations because of Covid. Vaccines are in the process of being distributed. There will be an end to the lock down eventually, and when that happens people will be biting at the bit to travel. I know I am.

My question... I'm thinking the beneficiaries of this pent up demand are going to be Cruise Lines, Airlines & Hotels. (plus anything else you can suggest) Are you able to tell us - your loyal 5i family - which companies we should be targeting which will benefit once everyone starts being able to travel again? And if you could, please provide your futures opinion on Air Canada which is still down 50% (approx) compared to it's pre-covid highs. I am seriously considering a strong position and would like to know your thoughts.

Thanks for all you do

Gord
Read Answer Asked by Gord on December 10, 2020
Q: Hello Peter and the rest of the 5i Team. I have been investing on my own for about the last 5 years and have done ok primarily sticking to well managed, established companies. In the last year or so, I have added some more "growthy" names, which you guys have suggested and have worked out very nicely (thank-you). My concern now is trying to hang on to what I have made. I hear a lot about the market cycle and money rotating out of one sector into another. I am also picking up on future inflationary concerns and how now is a good time to start buying gold stocks. Also, interest rates are so low and really have nowhere to go but up. Government debt levels are mind-blowing? What does this all mean for the market? I know that having a balanced/diversified portfolio is important and it is difficult to time the market, but based on where we are in the cycle, is there historically a preferred sector that I should be moving some of my money into? Gold, resources, financials, real estate? Or is it time to take some profits and increase cash positions? With interest rates so low and eventually moving up, does it make sense to buy bond funds/ETFs? Can you please help me make sense of all this and suggest a few names to consider?
Hopefully my question makes sense. Thank-you.
Read Answer Asked by Antonio on December 10, 2020
Q: could you name 3 0r 4 canadian cimpanies that have increased there earnings by 20 per cent or more over the last 3 years thanks
Read Answer Asked by terrance on December 09, 2020
Q: Good morning 5i
thanks for the prompt answer to my question yesterday. I need just a bit of clarification on the answer, though. I was keeping companies like Alphabet and Microsoft along with etf"s because I thought they might have an outsized upside in the future. You say, thought, that all these stocks can be found in a typical etf and then go on to suggest another handful of stocks. I am not sure if you mean that because Alphabet, Microsoft etc, are so well represented in the etf's that I don't need to hold them separately and focus instead on stocks similar to the ones mentionned?
thanks
Read Answer Asked by joseph on December 08, 2020
Q: Hello Peter,
Please watch this link....it's only 1min. This is very worrisome. Pierre Poilievre suggests "lock away your money". What would you suggest? If decide they want to go after ou savings (which BTW I think it's very possible), what would they "grab"? How would they go about doing this assault?....Do you think they could go after trading accounts? Or maybe the cash on trading accounts? Maybe savings accts., GIC's, etc.
How do protect ourselves?
As you may know, Trudeau w/NDP (which represent majority) are in agreement to tax on the equity of your home (principal residence) when you sell it. Also, they are planning (maybe they've already done it, don't know) on taxing inheritance to pay for all the free money they are giving away.....BTW Canada apparently has the highest debt, by far, of the G20.
Thank you very much!
Silvia

https://www.facebook.com/PierrePoilievreMP/videos/4692225587515077/



Read Answer Asked by Silvia on December 07, 2020
Q: Hello:
We are hearing a lot of chatter about the switch to Value stocks; away from growth stocks.
What are your favourite Value stocks ETFs in Canada and the US. Both for small caps and large caps.
Read Answer Asked by Savalai on December 04, 2020