Investment Q&A

Q: I have been following your advice of slow buying. For recovery plays with a one to 3 year timeframe (US election and possible normalcy returning post-COVID) is Canada or US better positioned? If all things are equal I favour Canada to avoid the nuisance of Norbert's Gambit etc. But if there is a compelling difference I'd like to use that to my advantage. I have some XIT, AC, SU and LNF and I am finding it hard to wait for the slow buying due to FOMO. How slow is slow enough? Thoughts appreciated.

Q: Hi
I hold stocks of Starbucks, Parkland, Parklawn, TC Energy.
I would like to get your outlook on these companies going forward in this volatile market. Do you see them as having good fundamentals and re-bounding back in 2021?
With the US election taking place in Nov 2020 and if Biden is elected, how will this affect overall market and will we see the stock market on the downside again?

Thanks
Kristelle

Q: It looks like the corona virus numbers in the states are rising. The fears of a second outbreak seem to be happening. Would you be trimming any of your winning positions right now?

Q: This is a big picture question about the current "incredible" rally.

What percentage would you attribute to
a) Fed's fiscal input including printing money and buying all kinds of bonds,
b) Short covering by both big and small investors
c) FOMO by Institutional investors (smart money) and
d) FOMO by retail investors (dumb money)?

Is there a place or articles one can access to get an idea about these variables?
Many thanks.

Q: OECD is in the news predicting the possibility / likelyhood (??) of historic global recession. What might we see to refute / support this dire scenario?? Thanks, Jim

Q: Hi, my question concerns slow repositioning of an actual 100 % dividend etf and stocks portfolio , for long term and retirement . Concerning the fact that various economical factors are now present for a future inflation (and then future interest raise in maybe 2 or 3 years ?): 1) what sectors will be safer, or even stay "safe" for dividends 2) what category of bond etf could be added to this portfolio , if indicated ? Many thanks ! JY

Q: 5i Office straw poll: What % cash is your group holding in their personal accounts.

With the rebound I am pulling the trigger on a few sales out of managed products I hold ( as part of my shift to ETFs) and am pondering keeping a larger position in cash as protection against a second wave/dip. I typically keep minimum cash.

Q: With 40,000,000 American loosing their jobs I note that on line gaming has picked as has on line movies.
What about on line equity trading. Has there been a move for those at home to open up trading accounts at Schwab, or Ameritrade and other financial institutions. I notice the huge moves in Airlines and Cruise ships and I am wondering if there are a lot of NEW players entering the Stock Market . RAK

Q: Would you acquire a larger cash position anticipating some bloody quarter 2 results? Quarter 1 results seem to only contain the beginning effects of COVID.

Q: Hi 5i Team,

We've just moved my sprite 87-year old mother's $72,000 from her broker to Questrade. It's a non-registered account and we are trying to make decisions on where to put it with special consideration to taxation.

One option I've discovered is Horizon Corporate Class Funds (a company called Purpose also has them).

It's suite of around 15 funds which include a few different equity types (TSX index, Euro and international stocks, and sectors like financials and energy) a few different bond types, and things like dividend and preferred share funds. As I understand it, one can buy and sell within this suite without triggering a taxable sale.

Beyond that, I don't know much about the tax structure so am turning to you. I wonder if you see this as a good place for this money.

Also curious about your opinion on preferred shares in general. They strike me as a good option for my mother's situation but my financial advisor considers them a thing of the past.

Thanks as always for your wisdom on this site. I'm delighted I bought a subscription.

Kevin

Q: Hi, If one is anticipating another market downturn , could you please suggest some investment ideas in CAD ? Thank you

Q: I really value your knowledge and experience. I would be very interested in your thoughts on the difference between the value of tech stocks today and those of the "dot com" bubble of the late 1990s. Thanks again.

Q: I recently asked a question regarding switching strategy from etf to individual stocks and i appreciate your answer very much. My question was generated by the response that you gave to James regarding investing in a diversified portfolio. At that time you gave him the follwoing names: TEAM, MSFT, GOOG, ROP, PG, BIIB, VZ, SBUX, COST, JPM.

Just a followup clarification on that suggestion. I wonder, because of the tax advantage for Canadian dividends and the predominance in the TSX of Banks and Telecoms, whether one might be better to replace VZ and JPM by Canadian names? I know that the question asked, I think, specifically for US names. But, just wondering if one held both Canadian and US, whether this might be better? Also, do you think that say, ten like this, is enough diversification on the US side?
thanks

Q: Hi Group appreciate your comments on Gold dropping like a anchor and the strength of Cad dollar I own several gold stocks+ ETfs FSV + GLD appears to be hit the worst. I hold 8% of my portfolio in gold any reason to reduce my exposure. On the currency side what's the outlook for the US dollar seems like its getting hit hard against other major currencies including the Cad $ Thanks

Q: I'm a little concerned about the trade tension, possible 2nd wave of the virus, protesting, economic risk, etc.
Do you think we need to do something in case the market crash?
Currently I hold the above 4 stocks plus 20% cash. Are they safe? Any other stocks that you recommend?
Thanks!

Q: Hi Peter & team
We went from about 95% cash just before the crash to 45% today. We've been expecting a drop to occur from Q2 results and thus are not fully back to where we were before Covid began. But we are also seeing the markets continue to float higher (tech, financials). We'd appreciate any guidance you can offer on the pros and cons of going back in more fully now or waiting 2-4 more months. Do you sense there is still a lot of cash waiting for another quarter to pass?

I read a statement that said, "Wealth is good provided everyone is wealthy". You are decisively helping that advance ...
Many thanks

Q: Hi guys,

Regarding Ronald's question today, what percentage of a balance portfolio should be in technology?
Thanks,
Jim

Q: What sector of the TSX would you invest new money and why?

Q: Hi
Would it be a wise to replace the 4 mentioned above with ITOT in my RRSP.

Thank you Mike.

Q: The Certified Financial Planners’ Guide (https://fpcanada.ca/docs/default-source/standards/2020-pag---english.pdf) provides long-term projected guidelines for Canadian, foreign-developed, and emerging markets (as well as for other assets). Unfortunately, it does not break out the long-term projected guidelines by country, and it lumps the US market with "other foreign-developed markets".

For example, I expect that the long-term growth rates will differ between the US, Japan, EU and UK. Similarly, the growth rates in emerging markets will vary tremendously by country (e.g. China versus Ukraine).

I am looking for more detailed projections to assist in my financial planning. Are you aware of a credible source which provides long-term projected financial guidelines by country, or as a minimum by region?

Also, the Certified Financial Planners' Guide forecasts Canada to have the lowest projected equity returns of the geographic regions. I would like to better understand whether this is a broad-based concensus.

Thank you for this wonderful service.