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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: What is the most tax effective way to hold US stocks? I’m 32 with a good income, and have a full balanced tfsa holding Canadian stocks and etfs. I’m interested in building an account to hold US dividend aristocrats/Kings set up on auto deposit/drips as a set it and forget it style account. From everything I’ve read the dividend aristocrats generally have returned better than market average with good security and fairly stable growth, would you agree? I own my own companies so my income is structured to be very low tax, so I don’t need the break offered by the rrsps but I do have quite a bit of contribution room there. Would you recommend rrsp for US holdings for tax reduction, or is there a more efficient way?

Thanks
Read Answer Asked by david on July 23, 2018
Q: In the near future I will be making some TFSA investments. My understanding, from commentary I have heard, is that it is wise to not invest in US stocks as the US government withholds dividend payments inside such an investment vehicle.
However, my thinking is that this does not necessarily mean that buying US stocks inside a TFSA is an absolute no no as this negative should be balanced against the positives with a given US stock. If the company is a fast growing US tech stock, for example, that doesn't pay a dividend then the withholding of dividend income is a moot point. Please comment. Thanks very much.
Read Answer Asked by Murray on July 23, 2018
Q: Since writing covered calls and cash-secured uncovered puts has the same risk/reward profile why is only covered call writing permitted in registered accounts? Is that a government regulation or an individual bank decision?

Thank you.

Milan
Read Answer Asked by Milan on July 11, 2018
Q: I have done well with ADW.A and am considering reducing this stock to a full position and adding BAD. My TFSA holdings are ADW.A, DSG, ECN, ECI, EIF, IPL, GUD, LUN, OTEX, PHO, RRX and TOY. Could I have your thoughts on this move or any other suggestion?
Thanks
Roy
Read Answer Asked by Roy on July 11, 2018
Q: Is there as maximum percentage of US investments allowed in RIF and TFSA?
I am doing my own investments in TD Waterhouse.
Thanks
Margita
Read Answer Asked by Margita Elisabet on July 10, 2018
Q: I hold AQN in a cash and Tfsa account. I would like to have the dividend kept in US $ as we often need US $. I presume the dividend would still qualify for the dividend tax credit? I would just have to convert it to Canadian in the cash account. The other account wouldn’t matter if I convert it too? I would have to know the Canadian $ value if I took it out?
Thanks for you insight into this.
John
Read Answer Asked by John on July 09, 2018
Q: What are your BEST 5 ideas for a TSFA account. Thanks Valter.
Read Answer Asked by Valter on July 09, 2018
Q: I am a 67 year old male pensioner with a limited income stream from CPP/Old Age and non-reg. and RSP funds(about 20 equity positions and a 27 % cash position).

At present I am very under invested in my TFSA and am about to transfer available non-reg. cash funds into my TFSA in order to maximize my contribution room. What would be your top ideas be in 'risk' and non-risk/safer equity positions?

Thanks so much,
Read Answer Asked by Dean on June 28, 2018
Q: My 25 year old son has some money to invest (equivalent of a full position) in a self directed RRSP and I am looking for some advice on this as well as a little TFSA portfolio maintenance.

His TFSA has 10% in Cnd banks, 10% in EQB from previous employment, full positions (5% each) in CSU, ECN, KXS, MRE, PHO and SHOP and 1/2 positions in SIS, TOY, TECHY, BYL, CHE.UN (keep???), and CXI.

I am thinking he should sell his EQB as his Cnd Banks are likely a safer way to play the Cnd mortgage market at this point in the cycle - do you agree? Should he move on from CHE.UN as well?

This would leave him with the equivalent of 20%+ to reinvest - 10% in his TFSA and 10% in his self directed RRSP. Should he top up current positions (if so, which ones) or add a couple new ones (if so which ones). Your advice for investing these funds is most welcome!

Many Thanks
Scott
Read Answer Asked by Scott on May 28, 2018
Q: I'm opening a new TFSA account. What 5 stocks would you recommend for a 10+ year investment today, emphasis on growth.
Read Answer Asked by John on May 25, 2018