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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: Hello Peter,
We made our annual contribution to our grandsons RESP. He is 4 years old. We would like to add one or two new stocks to his portfolio. The current holdings are:
ATD.B
CXI
GUD
NFI
PBH
In your opinion what would be some good Additions? Thank you
Read Answer Asked by john on January 04, 2018
Q: I have two young kids with RESPs (5 and 10). I have asked a few questions regarding etfs mostly because available resource in the accounts was small. That said, one is worth about 28K (AVO, DSG, DHX, ENB, HR.UN, KBL, MUX, STN, TSGI), the other, a series of etfs worth 12k (XIC, XIN, VUN). Both accounts have 3-5k in cash, what would you do at this point? I understand this borders on portfolio review, but in terms of sector allocation etc, I would appreciate any advice. With 38K in play, the review is not yet a wise investment. As an aside, an RESP model portfolio would be immensely useful to I am sure many subscribers in a similar spot as I find myself, with small but growing portfolios built over time matched with gvt subsidies. Anyway, thanks for all you do, and a very Happy New Year to you all. I look forward to your thoughts.

Thanks,

Eric
Read Answer Asked by Erichsen on January 04, 2018
Q: I started an RESP for my granddaughter in May 2017 with equal weights of PBH, MX, BNS, SIS, KXS and ZCL. The total return of the RESP is 10% YTD. When ZCL had a poor earnings report in November 2017, I sold those shares and purchased ENB. Going forward, would you suggest any changes to the current holdings, and what would you purchase with new contribution money? My best wishes of the holiday season to the wonderful 5i staff, as well as all 5i members!
Read Answer Asked by Linda on December 21, 2017
Q: Hi Peter & team,

Over the years I have been focused on paying off my mortgage and putting the majority of any savings I have into my RRSP account and contributing into my child's RESP account. As a result, the RRSP account has over 80% of the savings that I have accumulated to this point while my TFSA and non-registered accounts total the remaining 20%. I finally have paid off my mortgage and I was wondering whether I should now be focusing on putting most of my money into the TFSA and non-registered accounts, so that the ratio between the RRSP/TFSA/non-registered accounts become more balanced? Is there such thing as a good balance between the 3 types of accounts?

Thanks for the wonderful work and all the insightful answers you provide.

Marvin
Read Answer Asked by Marvin on December 07, 2017
Q: I am about to manage my grandkids resp. They have about 52000 to eventually cover the 10 and 6 year old. Monthly contributions of 300 are being made with some "top ups" as available. I would like to have them invest about 20-25% in individual stock or stocks and the balance in ETFS. How should I approach the ETF portion and do you have recommendations?
Bryan
Read Answer Asked by Bryan on December 06, 2017
Q: WE HOLD THE ABOVE STOCKS IN OUR CHILDS RESP AND HAVE A FEW THOUSAND TO ADD, WE WONDER SHOULD WE ADD TO ONE OF THE ABOVE OR ADD AN ADDITIONAL STOCK. SHE HOLDS ABOUT 10% OF EACH
Read Answer Asked by Susan and Philip on December 04, 2017
Q: Hello 5i Team
I have about $1100 in cash in an RESP account ( grandchildren are 4 and 2 years old) to invest and unsure what sector / stocks to choose next. Current holdings are ECI, ENB, SIA and Car.un with nice gains in all. I want to diversify of course but banks seem expensive right now. Would you please suggest a few alternatives. I have considered Brookfield companies but unfortunately, I think that corporate set up causes tax reporting issues for the sponsor on the RESP account. If you know this to be untrue, please let me know.
Regards
Kathy
Read Answer Asked by Kathy on November 28, 2017
Q: Hi Peter and 5i team,
we would like to add a new name to our grandson's [age 4] RESP. In your opinion , what would be a good addition.
thanks
Read Answer Asked by john on November 07, 2017
Q: I opened a self-directed RESP for my new born. Do you suggest starting with ETF's or specific stocks? If ETF's or stock, what do you suggest is a good starting investment and dollar amount for ETF or stock given that we have at least 18 years before needing the funds. If ETF's first at what point do we start investing in specific companies? I guess I'm also trying to get an idea of how to build my sons RESP portfolio.

Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Jacquelyn on October 13, 2017
Q: Hi Peter and Team,

In our grandchildren's RESP (ages 15 and 16) I have been using accumulated dividends to 'top up' the above ETFs, as I'm able to do so commission-free through Scotia iTrade. The portfolio is balanced, with the majority of holdings from the 5i portfolios. Can you suggest a strategy as to which ETF(s) I should invest this extra cash at any given time? Since the 16-year-old is in grade eleven, and the 15-year-old is in grade ten, is it safer to use CLF and/or CBO, even though their charts don't look so great, as compared to CDZ and CUD?

Thanks in advance for your valued advice.
Read Answer Asked by Jerry on September 22, 2017
Q: Hi Peter, would you consider Fairfax as proxy to market /financial sector.
would you SUGGEST FFH or buy BNS, SLF, BAM, CSH.UN (in equil weight totalling amount equal to FFH). This would be for RESP with 8 years to go and regular contribution over that time. OR any other suggestions for resp account. Thanks for your great service.
Read Answer Asked by RUPINDER on September 11, 2017
Q: Hi team,
I wanted to get your opinion on the start of my son's RESP.
BYD 30%, GUD 40%, PHO 15%, CRH 15%
I recently added CRH on what I viewed as a value play, however I'm not sure about this move. Would you swap CRH out, and if so for what? Any suggestions or tips are appreciated.

Keep up the good work. Cheers
Read Answer Asked by Ryan on July 28, 2017
Q: I have opened an RESP for my 5month old with 3K in it (2500 plus 500 from govt). I know its small the first year, but I don't want to add a Canadian ETF as they are too oil and gas and financial focused.

I would like to own some good Canadian growth names that will hopefully be worth a lot when she heads off to school in 18 years and would like to keep it small since it is a small account to start. My idea was the following 7: GUD, SHOP, SIS, T, TD, AQN, PBH. I would like your opinion on them. Would you do anything differently?

Once I own all of the Canadian stocks my plan is to add XAW for world diversification.

What do you think of this idea? Which stocks would you add to the account first? I was thinking of starting with either 3 of 1K each or 4 of 750 each. I pay 7 dollars to buy them which isn't too bad.

What order would you add in?

With only 3K per year in the account it would take 3 years to get the stocks and ETF. I could just add another 2500 to the account now so that I can buy more of it now and be instantly diversified. I would not receive the grant on it but would I still receive future grants?

Read Answer Asked by Carla on June 08, 2017
Q: Hello 5i - I am soon to become a grandparent and would like to start a $1,000 portfolio the day the baby is born and continue contributing $1,000 on each birthday for the next 18 years. Which two stocks, or ETF(s), if that would be a better choice, would you suggest starting with?
Read Answer Asked by Sandy on June 05, 2017
Q: Good Morning! I am going to become a grandparent for the very first time in the next couple of weeks!! I would like to build a stock portfolio for my grandchild over the next 18 to 20 years, investing $1,000 each birthday year. Which two stocks (or ETFs, if you think that is better) would be excellent choices to begin a long-term portfolio the day the baby is born, with dividends reinvested through DRIP? Thank you so much for your help!
Read Answer Asked by Sandy on June 05, 2017