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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: Middlefield is proposing to make Aeu.un a mutual fund company. Is it best to sell now or to go with the change?
Read Answer Asked by Philip on January 30, 2017
Q: Hi Peter and Team:
I am interested in some comments about both FFN (North American Financial 15 Split) and PIC.a Both trade on the TSX but act like a mutual fund with a small 'mer'.
FFN pays a monthly dividend of 0.10 and its yield is about 13.07% at a trading price of $9.18
PIC.a pays a quarterly dividend of 0.20319 and its yield is about 11.30% at a trading price of $7.20.
I really like high paying dividends, as we all should but,,,,
I have been invested in PIC.a since April 2004. This has consistently paid quarterly since that time. It was a DRIP until a few years ago. Now it strictly pays Cash. This cash is 'Return of Capital' and as such has no tax implications in my regular investment account???, I think. Is this a good or bad thing???
I own about 17% of my overall portfolio in PIC.a Some of this PIC.a Div cash is paying out into a RIF withdrawal, with minimal effects on the Capital in the RIF.
Now I am looking for your thoughts on FFN as I diversify a bit more and of course feedback on PIC.a
Thanks. Ken .....
Read Answer Asked by Ken on January 26, 2017
Q: WANTED TO BUY THESE ETF'S NOW. DO YOU THINK THEY ARE GOOD TO BUY
NOw? WOULD YOU RECOMMEND JUST GOOD COMPANIES INSTEAD.
THANKYOU.
PAULINE
Read Answer Asked by Pauline on January 19, 2017
Q: I am looking at moving a significant chunk of our retirement money into either/both the Tangerine Equity Growth Portfolio and the Tangerine Balanced Growth Portfolio in an attempt to follow the 'one fund solution'. What are your thoughts and are there alternative index funds you think may be a better bet. This is my first question (membership was a Christmas prezzie from my dad)!
Read Answer Asked by Chris on January 17, 2017
Q: It has been suggested to me that a high percentage of one's investments should be made outside Canada as this is what most pension funds do since Canada is such a small part of the world's capitalisation. Do you concur with this belief re investing? In Canada, in particular, and in the US, to a lesser degree, I have a wealth of information about specific companies. In the rest of the world it is difficult to obtain good information and to buy except through ADR's. Thus my best way to invest is through Mutual Funds or ETF's. It seems to me when I look into Global ETF's that none that I could find matched the long term performance of MAW150. Since I tend to hold an investment for a long period of time, short term fluctuations in value are of little concern. My biggest concerns are the MER of 1.74% per annum and the possibility that Mawer will not match future performance with past performance. Is there an ETF that has a good track record or a different Mutual with a low MER that matches or beats MAW150? If MAW150 is the best, then based on your response, I may purchase up to 25% of my assets in it. With this change in asset mix approximately 50% of investments will be outside of Canada. Thank you. I value your opinion very much.
Read Answer Asked by ED on January 17, 2017
Q: Hi,

Can you provide your opinion on this close ended fund. Based on the investments within the fund I can't wrap my head around how they get the +8% yield. It appears they use some leverage and possibly part of the yield is return of capital but even if that is correct it seems high. I currently own XTR and it has met my objective of steady income. If you think this will perform similarly I'd be happy. Will invest in this inside an RRSP. Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Clinton on January 11, 2017
Q: Hello 5I Team
I own Maw150 and Maw106 in my RRSP as part of my portfolio, Maw105 i did very good this Year but Maw150 i had a negative return .My question is do you thing the Maw150 will rebound this year and have a better return and do you think Maw106 which is the Canadian Equity will continue to do well or have a softer year in returns ?

Thanks
Claudio
Read Answer Asked by claudio on January 03, 2017
Q: Hello 5i
Have allowed MAW150 to become a heavy weighting in Portfolio.
Are you able to comment on potential sources for its lack of performance through 2016? I am a little surprised to be down on the year.
A recent article on MAWER indicated they have likely run out of good investment ideas and their previous choices have run out of juice.(Top award winners in Mutual Funds regressing to moderate performance)

Would you just let them do what they are paid to do (MER= 1.74%) or would you choose to reduce (MAW150: 74% International allocation-Oct 31) by shifting capital to US oriented ETF - XMC?

Portfolio Geographic allocation for International vs USA are about equal currently.

If something else comes to mind as you consider this questions please feel free to add.

Thanks
Dave


Read Answer Asked by David on December 20, 2016