Investment Q&A

Q: Dear 5i
I`m anticipating retiring in a little over a year so as such have a portfolio with 50% fixed income (35% clf , 35%cbo , 15% xhy and 15% cpd )
I'm thinking of following your Outcome Oriented Fixed Income portfolio and thought i would reduce clf and cbo down to 20% then add vsc and zef at 15% each .. I just feel i need a bit more diversification within the fixed portion of my portfolio.
Does this plan seem reasonable or do these changes make the fixed portion too aggressive ?
Thanks
Bill C.

Q: I am currently trying to put together a fixed income allocation for our portfolio. I am using your balanced portfolio as a model. I have a few questions regarding this, though and would appreciate your commentary and suggestions.

Looking at your portfolio I see that you have a mixture of 1. Canadian Preferred Index (CPD) 2. the Convertible Bond Index (CVD) and 3. I shares US Hy Bond (XHY).

You mention that this would be a good model portfolio for dividend investor, which I suppose I am.

But, I was struck (rightly or wrongly I don't know) by the fact that some of the bond funds that are often mentionned on your site are not included. Clf and VSC, for instance.

Would the actual portfolio do the job, or would it be wise to add these two etf's?

Second question. I would like to have a large part of my bond allocation in US dollars. Can you suggest some US equivalents for a bond portfolio? Would an emerging market bond fund such as ZEF be worth looking at? If so, would you know of an equivalent in US dollars?

I know that you concentrate on Canadian stocks, but since you also offer model portfolios which include fixed income etf's, this question might be legitimate.
thanks

Q: Hi & thank you for continued sound advise.

I'm a Balance/Growth Investor with ~ 30% Fixed Income.

- Current Fixed Income: XBB (30%), CBO (40%), CPD (15%), XHY (15%).
- Planned Fixed Income: MMF659 (70%), CPD (15%), XHY (15%).

Reasons for change:
- Tired of poor returns of CBO, XBB.
- Want more diversifies (USA, INT) fixed income securities.
- The ~ 1% MMF659 MER seems worth it based on 6.23% compound return since inception [2005-11-25].

Haven't held a Mutual Fund in 8 years, but... Yours thoughts would be welcomed here. Thank you!

Paul

Q: Hello,
I am in the process of taking over my mother's portfolio and getting her out of mutual funds. She likes the idea of ETF's to reduce risk vs: specific stocks. What would your top 4-6 ETF's be for a sleep at night portfolio that is well diversified globally and covers all sectors, time range 20 years? Starting portfolio value $750,000 cash by the end of January. Also how would you intelligently step into these ETF's as the markets could be positioned for a correction sometime this year?
Thank you

Q: Hi Peter and Team,

Can you advise your top two reset preferred stocks and if they offer minimum resets? Also from a macro point of view is this an alright time to purchase?

Thanks
Chris

Q: Generally one can find a yield of between 4% and 6% for preferred shares and junk bonds. I am leaning towards pref shares for the higher yielding portion of my portfolio. I realize bonds are higher in the order of liquidation but there seem to be a number of higher quality pref shares that yield close to junk bond yields.
1) Do you agree with my thesis?
2) What is the lowest credit rating would you would accept for bonds and pref shares?

Thank You

Paul

Q: Hello Peter, Ryan and crew.

I am retired and rely on investment income of about 4% dividends/interest. Because I no longer wish to take the time necessary to monitor 50 stocks and 10 bonds, I have been looking for some good income funds or ETFs to replace the individual stocks and bonds that I currently own. The ones I have found have distributions that meet my needs, but do not appear to have the underlying earnings yield to justify the distribution yield, so they appear to be paying me back some of my own money every month. Can you recommend some income funds or ETFs that pay out at least 4% and actually earn what they distribute? Like 5i, I am also sensitive to fees.

I have been a 5i member since the beginning and I continue to be impressed by your knowledge and insight as well as the continuous improvements in the service.

I wish everyone at 5i all the best in the New Year.

Thanks

Q: What do you think is best for monthly income/moderate principal protection? Could you explain your position on investing in dividend paying stocks vs bonds/preferds/other options? Thank you

Q: For a retired investor, what % of your total would you deem appropriate for preferred shares and would CPD be a good ETF for this?
Thanks

Q: Your opinions on these ETFs, please.

Q: PIC.A, CPD, HPR - is there a way of valuing these offerings either with respect to NAV or otherwise?

Q: Is it a cause for concern that the monthly dividend keeps slowly being reduced? We are at 6 cents a month now.

Q: Hello, I would like to put some money into an ETF or mutual fund. Would be in for the long term +5 years.
Would these three be acceptable for dividend, stability and small growth? I’am retired and need income, but not interested in U.S. tax filing.
Would you invest in all three? Or do you have a better suggestion with one or two ETF’s ?
Thanks

Q: Hi 5i, I am looking for a relatively safe environment in view of future interest rate increases. Please rate the above list, also can you tell me if there are any withdrawing charges in the Mawers. Perhaps suggesting other ones you prefer. I am 85 year young and like to have safety with some income. Like the new changes, many thanks for your help. J.A.P, Burlington

Q: From your answer to Milan :
A diversifed portfolio of bond issuers (corps, gov, prefs, high yield) will earn a better yield and is more appropriate from a higher income need aspect. Bonds can actually see capital appreciation if rates were to decline, or even hold steady. Cash/GICs would not benefit in this case. Overall, we remain on the side of diversification. Hold a bond portfolio with various issuer types and add in some GICs and/or cash. How you weight these reflects your views and tolerance.
Could you suggest a diversified bond portfolio with various issuer types that should produce more than the 2.75% offered by Tangerine?

Q: Follow up question: as a guideline, with a "rock solid" defined benefit pension, what percentage, overall, of a $200,000 RRSP portfolio should be allocated to fixed income? Of the 4 funds you suggested, as a guideline, what percentage of the overall allocation go into each fund? Retirement 2-3 years away.

Q: This morning I ask a question about fix income and recommended bshort duration bond ladders. You indicated that CLF or CBO would be your recommended choices. What is the difference?

Can you also recommend a short term bond ladder, corporate bond and preferred share ETF to hold USD in?

Thanks again!

DON

Q: Would CPD be classified as 'fixed income'? What would be a recommended short duration ladder bond fund that you would recommend for diversification?

Q: Preferred shares usually have an issue price of $25. Would it be correct to assume that in a rising interest rate environment CPD has a chance to climb towards the $25 range?

Dumb question?

Carl

Q: I note that CPD is included in your Income Portfolio (with a unit cost of $16.19). I purchased a significant holding of CPD in Nov. 2012 (at $17.30), and am understandably upset with the current market price of $14.09 (i.e., down 18.5% on the unit price basis). I have held on to this ETF for the monthly dividend flow (which has continuously shrunk), and with the hope that, when the tide turned in GOC 5-year rates, the unit price would recover. While individual preferred share issues that I hold have shown a marked price recovery in recent months, CPD not so much! I am curious to know why you include this ETF in your portfolio while I consider it to be the worst investment that I have ever made! Do you envision a day when the market price will recover to your purchase price level?