Investment Q&A

Q: I don't have any US exposure and would like to add 10% of my portfolio to ZWH in my Cash account (non registered). Are the dividends eligible for the dividend tax credit? Are they paid in US funds and would there be any withholding tax? Do you have a better suggestion to get US exposure with a decent yield.

Q: Hi,
ORT stopped trading a few months back. I have a small holding left in this. Is there any possibility of this stock trading again and if not what is the procedure to have this removed from your account?

Q: Hello
Need some advice please. 62 and recently retired. RRSP's are almost maxed out but only a few k in TFSA account.
As my income is now at its lowest point (CPP),I'm
thinking I should start moving some RRSP funds to my TFSA?
I'm considering a mix of ETF's such as VAB,VCN,XAW or perhaps some of your Income stocks and funds such as CPD,XHY,BCE and BNS.
Note that I do hold most stocks in the balanced portfolio.
Thanks for your great service.
Gary

Q: I own XTC, which is currently down 15% in my portfolio. I'm considering locking in a capital loss for tax purposes, then purchasing MG, which has shown a much better trend and better earnings results. Do you think locking in a loss in XTC (possibly to re-purchase after 30 days), and purchasing MG would be a reasonable move at this time?

Q: Hi Team, Thanks for answering our non-stock related questions. Here's a link to share on T1135 form for those holding US
stocks.
http://www.mondaq.com/article.asp?articleid=614998&email_access=on&chk=2148090&q=1533092

Q: In your response to Stephen you state that ZWH in a RRSP incurs a non-recoverable US withholding tax on the dividend - I hold ZWH in a RRSP and receive $0.095/share/month, the same amount as stated on the BMO website. Am I missing something here?
Thanks

Q: Good morning, If I sell ZWH, VGG and VIG in taxable accounts and replace with ZWA and VGH (both hedged and in Cdn dollars), will this trigger the disallowed tax loss? i.e. are they too similar to replace within 30 days? If so what would be a better solution? What would be your suggestion for US representation at this time?
Thanks for your never ending help.
Ted

Q: Hi 5i,

I'm thinking on adding ZWH 5%-10% to my RRSP to cover my US exposure. This is for a income portfolio.
My portfolio now consist of 50% GIC's and
5% in each of the following stock.. BNS,EMA,ECI,ENB,SRU.UN,BCE.
10% in CDV.
Can you suggest another ETF that would fit better then ZWH? Or would you consider ZWU a better position. I see 5i income portfolio doesn't have any US equity holdings.
Would the US dividend be tax excempt within the ETF?

I look foreward to your answers.
Thank for all the excellent info!!

Q: A couple of years ago a guest on BNN stated that when a Canadian citizen has over $100,000 IN U.S. stocks, they have to inform the U.S. government. I this is so how does one go about telling the correct U.S. government department ? Thanks.

Q: Comment: If it's not "fair" to pay taxes when you withdraw from an RRIF, it's not fair to avoid the taxes in the first place. The trouble we all have in calculating our net worth is we forget about the taxes! The tax deferral just doesn't work as well for those of us with high incomes in retirement. I expect there arr many who think that's a good problem to have!

Q: Have a family member that needs to supplement her monthly income. She received $60,000 recently.Should she use a investment brokerage account buy dividend payers, collect monthly income she derives from that and pay the occurred taxes, or since she does not have a TSFA open one and then (can she) withdraw the monthly dividend from the tsfa tax free on an on going basis. There is investment knowledge in the family to assist her. Thanks you for all your help

Q: Being 73, I saved most of my life to an RRSP which flipped to a RRIF @71, with mandatory withdrawals. In the process of doing estate planning, and with the RIFF, being taxed @50% of withdrawals which is a difficult pill to follow. Initially I was withdrawing cash, however after further consideration, this year I transferred loss position "Crescent Point".
1. Would it be best to try and tsf everything before you expire and pay the tax.
2. When you tsf, is it best to tsf your losers initially, and then the winners.
3. I assume there is no other means of elevating the tax on RIFF.

For sure, RRSP are great during your working years, but never considered the tax burden after retirement. As an example if you have a 1 million RRSP after taxes $500,000.00 Does not seem fair
Look forward to your rely and thanks for your service
Rick

Q: Re my previous question of Mawer funds in a TFSA, your answer seems at variance with the advice from Mawer.
Mawer advises that:" Mawer mutual funds are structured as a Canadian Mutual Fund Trust.Foreign holdings inside the fund are not classed as foreign holdings for withholding tax purposes"

Q: Hi Team,
When selling to open a put option position that expires in Jan 2018, is the premium received to be reported in 2018 tax return assuming it expires worthless in 2018?
Thank you.

Q: I would like to place some Mawer fund that is mostly in foreign stocks into my TFSA. Are there any withholding tax implications?
Thanks for your answer. HD

Q: Hi,
Further to your reply: "ENB pays its dividend in Canadian dollars. You could buy it in the US, in a US account, and dividends would be converted, but you would incur exchange fees.
Rather than looking at this strategy, we might instead holding some US exposure in general, for general diversification, and avoid trying to predict currency movements"

Since I'm seeking USD income, I'm looking for the biggest bang for my buck (so the Dividend Tax Credit is something I would want to take advantage of). Would my strategy work with something like a ENB.PR.U (USD preferred)? Or does the same currency conversion issue occur. Thanks again.

Q: If i own this in a tfsa will I have to pay tax on the interest?

Q: I apologies; I mis-phrased my question. The DRIP investments would be in addition to the TFSA and RSP investments (in different securities). As I understand things, a DRIP with a company sponsored plan such as TRP thru Computershare cannot be held inside a registered account. Is this correct? If so the $5k position in the non-registered (DRIP) account would not amount to a $25k per stock concentration and I believe the dividend tax credit would be useful since the account is non-registered. Thank you for your suggestions and service. I like your suggestions but a little surprised that a utility such as FTS was not recommended. Is there a reason you would not suggest a utility DRIP for a long term hold? Jim.

Q: Re Jim's question 26th June about his daughter's RSP & TFSA.
Don't think she can get the dividend tax credit if shares are held in these accounts. Did I miss something?

Q: I am considering making a rather substantial (for me) investment in Energy Transfer Partners (symbol ETP). I am however concerned about the fact this is a USA Limited Partnership. I'm wondering if the distributions might be subjected to any withholding taxes or if I might find myself needing to file one or more USA Income Tax Returns, in the states within which the limited partnership operates? The investment will be made within either my RRSP, my LIRA or my TFSA account. I am considering investing up to $50,000.00 in this entity and so would very much appreciate any advice you may be able to offer regarding potential tax or regulatory hurdles I might face today or in the future, as a Canadian citizen making an investment in a USA domiciled Limited Partnership. Thank you.