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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: I am new to this forum but have been 'investing' faithfully for over 30 years (what that really means is that I have been funding both mutual funds and the investment advisor buying them - last year that was $9,000 for the investor for me and my husband combined for the mutual funds to earn net 4.4% (the SandP/TSX was at 17.51). I'm tired of the high anxiety fear factor he generates for 4.4%. For the fee, he can earn us between 2 and 4% in coming years and insists this is a good thing.
Why wouldn't I buy Berkshire Hathaway A with the money currently invested in mutual funds and the advisor and invest on my own using a couple of your portfolio models with the money I have stashed? At this stage I am 56 years old so not a big risk taker and want to preserve what I/we have. With thanks, Wendy
Read Answer Asked by Wendy on October 06, 2017
Q: Hi 5i team,

I trimmed a couple of stocks recently from gains (thank you for that) and was wondering if you could give me a couple stocks to buy now for a 5-10+ year hold with medium to high risk? Thanks!!

My portfolio is as follows with pretty balanced positions:
ATB, BNS, KXS, CSU, BYD, SIS, PHO, TOY, DOO, SHOP, NFI, CSH.UN, GUD, SLF, PBH, GSY, SJ, RRX, and CRH.
Read Answer Asked by Andrew on October 06, 2017
Q: Peter and His Wonder Team
I accept the fact that you cannot time the market and that no theory or metric is always right or correct. If so we would all be rich! Ha!Ha! However, I do try to minimize risk by having the odds in my favour. So here is the question ...in your experience what tends to be the worst and best months of the year for stocks? For example I notice that August and September many stocks go sideways or drift down because buyers disappear. On the other hand in February, March and April they seem to do there best and peek. Your observations please! Is there any correlation between large and small cap? Thanks again for your great service!
Dr.Ernest Rivait
Read Answer Asked by Ernest on October 05, 2017
Q: Hi Team,

I am a real estate investor and I have been for the last 15 years. Real estate is my passion and I enjoy it very much. I am trying to balance this with investing in the stock market. I enjoy researching companies, but I don't want stocks to take up the majority of my team. Is it best to construct a portfolio of high quality, low expense ETFs and add to it monthly or quarterly? Or is it better to follow a model portfolio like 5i or invests in particular companies. Less risk of picking a wrong stock in the ETF approach, but potentially also less reward. Real estae is still going to be my focus and I plan to use the real estate to fund my retirement.

Thanks for your help,
Jason
Read Answer Asked by Jason on October 05, 2017
Q: I am trying to clean up my husband's portfolio but am missing some ACB data. Specifically, when I checked his 2000 investment statement, he had Janus Global Equity Fund, but now he doesn't have this holding. However, he has a Mackenzie fund (MFC1055) that he didn't remember buying. I am thinking there was a fund merger at some point. Where can I find information about historical fund mergers?
Read Answer Asked by M on October 04, 2017
Q: I am a relatively new investor and want to understand how the tax loss function works. I have a few questions.

What is the standard taxation rate for capital gains?

How is the tax loss calculated? Is it based on the average cost of purchases or the last purchase or some other formula

I am assuming that you can buy back any stock that you have sold for a tax loss after 30 days. Am I right?

I look forward to your answers
Read Answer Asked by Bob on October 04, 2017
Q: Inflation is low and BOC rates are still at very low rates - money is cheap to get. IMHO the only place to make money is in the stock market, but seniors want low risk and for many decades placed money in high yielding low risk investments - GICs. Recently I applied for and received a 5 year closed mortgage at 2.49%, which means rates will stay low for at least five years. Our population is aging and that segment of investors like low risk, which leads to lower returns.

My question, when do you think or believe interest rates will rise to a new normal and therefore the stock market will see a competition for money from seniors? Therefore, by default lower returns in the stock market.

As always thanks for your comments.

Clayton
Read Answer Asked by Clayton on October 03, 2017
Q: MGM:NYSE, owner of the Mandalay Bay hotel, where last night's massacre took place, is slated to open down 5% this morning. At the risk of sounding insensitive, in your experience, are these declines knee jerk reactions that can rebound quickly? Would this be a buying opportunity to add to my existing position?
My condolences to all victims and their families.
Thank you,
Karim
Read Answer Asked by Karim on October 02, 2017
Q: I recently read a recommendation to sell rate reset preferreds because "the 5 year GOC has moved too far too fast from 0.40% one year ago to 1.80%+ now." They further worried that upside is limited from here, and downside is huge if there are no buyers.

I thought that we seemed to be in a period of rising rates and that a laddered portfolio of rate reset preferreds was a healthy option for part of one's portfolio, given a desire for some income. I'd appreciate your thoughts. Thanks in advance.
Read Answer Asked by Bill on October 02, 2017
Q: I am reviewing my non-registered portfolio for cleanup and cash deployment. I have 29% in a global equity fund and 29% in cash; the rest are contained in 26 equities, for which this question is the focus. Diversification and risk not a concern.

I am looking for your advice as to whether I should sell, maintain, top up, or trim the following end member stocks in my portfolio:
ECN 0.2%
EFN 0.5%
ESV 0.03%
XTC 0.7%
HCG 0.9%
XEG 0.9%
LUC 0.4%
ASIX 0.1%
JAZZ 0.9%
HON 5.8%
MSFT 4.7%
SHOP 3.6%

With the equity fund as an anchor, a typical full position for me would be 2.5 - 3%. To deploy the cash, could you provide me with a list of 5 stocks (excluding SIS, ZCL, GSY, or KXS) you would buy today for growth and/or dividend growth. Based on this I will buy and top up the remainder of my portfolio.

Thanks for your help - deduct as many questions as necessary.
Read Answer Asked by Dale on September 29, 2017
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