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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: Good day!

I am a little concerned over how the markets have gone up over the last year. Especially since November.

Can you comment on general market corrections? Specifically: What is the average time period before we see a 5% and 20% pull back and where we are in relation to a significant correction. Are they over due according to the average time periods?

I know your preference is to invest long term and I agree with this, but "pigs get slaughtered" and I think there is too much exuberance in the markets for such slow growth. Currently I believe Berkshire Hathaway is sitting on 10%+ cash, should we take this as an indicator of things to come?

I did very well last year due to your service and am currently sitting on 20% cash after taking profits and am thinking of selling somemore to increase my cash position waiting for a better point to get back in.

I do not like to try and time the market, but it seems to me that right now might not be the best time to be fully invested.

Thank you so very much for your service!

Gerald
Read Answer Asked by Gerald on January 23, 2017
Q: Great BNN show yesterday Peter! With equity markets near all time highs, how do you think one should protect against downside risk for their portfolio (if at all)? Holding gold companies in January/February 2016 proved to be a bit of a hedge against the overall market decline and I continue to do so for this reason (amongst others). Curious to hear your view on inverse ETFs as well.
Read Answer Asked by Patrick on January 20, 2017
Q: I am setting up a dollar cost averaging couch potato portfolio with low cost mutual funds (td e-series etc). I will be contributing money into this portfolio every month from my salary. The portfolio will consist of 25% canadian index, 30% US, 30% internatonal, 10% Emerging Market, 5% Nasdaq. My time horizon is 15 years with above average risk tolerance. The question I have is if I need to include bonds in this mix. I feel that stock will do well in the next 15 years amidst an interest rate increasing environment. I am hoping to achieve an avearge of 9% to 10% return per annum over the 15 year period. Please let us know if it is a sound plan. Thanks for the great service.
Read Answer Asked by Ron on January 19, 2017
Q: I previously had brought together several accounts into one and am doing some analysis to figure where I'm at from a portfolio approach. I am looking at the sectors of Financial, Consumer, Materials, Technology, Energy, Gold, Health Care, Utilities, Real Estate, Telecommunications and Industrials. Is that the right list and what kinds of percentages (of total portfolio) are recommended for each one?
Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Maria on January 19, 2017