Investment Q&A

Q: My wife has some money should would like to invest in eft. Which ones would you recommend.

Q: I have some cash and would like to buy a US TFA that is listed on the TSX what ones would you suggest?
Thanks for your help
Dorothy

Q: Recently you answered my question regarding US dividend WHT on Canadian domiciled ETF issues (Vanguard Canada, RBC Ishares etc) and noted that withholding taxes are owing on distributions since the Canadian ETF is simply holding the US ETF and the taxes would be levied when distributions are paid by the US ETF to the Canadian ETF.

Some follow up questions:
- I am assuming that the WHT would apply even if the Canadian ETF is held within a registered account?
- Does the WHT explain part of the difference in yield when comparing the US ETF and the Canadian ETF? For example - VIG yields 1.69% while VGG yields 1.17%. Assuming also that the higher MER on VGG also explains part of the yield difference??
- Given these factors - the WHT and higher MER - why would anyone choose the Canadian version of the same ETF. Further to this - In another question posed by Jacques - you point out that the Canadian ETF ZSP would be preferable to VFV since it holds the stocks directly and not thru the US ETF VOO....thereby avoiding WHT's for registered accounts. However - when you look at VOO - the yield is about 26 bp's higher than either VFV and ZSP....again why would you not just buy VOO.

Many thanks

Q: Which stocks or ETFs would you recommend for long term to a 25 year old with contribution room of $60K in the TFSA and $8k in First Home Savings account?

Q: In a recent question you stated "Alternatively to VFV, we also like ZSP, which focuses on the S&P 500, and it has some tax benefits given that it holds the US stocks directly." Could you elaborate on the tax benefits? Thanks for your help.

Q: good morning:
if you were going to start buying a etf today that had low costs [mer] in canadian dollars and invested outside of canada and paid a decent dividend which 5 would you look at? can be small cap, european, etc

Q: Most of my TFSA is in Canadian stocks (plus some US CDRs GOOGL, MSFT, AMZN). Now I'm thinking of adding 2 ETFs to my unregistered account. So far, my first choice is VFV, because I know you like it. But you mentioned another one that broadens out from the S&P 500. Not sure about that one: thoughts? But I want one more, particularly with dividend and some growth. If there is a USA one that, like VFV, trades in Canada TSX but pays dividends in US dollars, that might work nicely. Alternatively, maybe a Canadian one that is not too focused on Financials and Energy, one with which I could get dividend tax credit, may work. Between dividend and growth, I would lean toward growth and sacrifice some dividend. Between Canada and USA, I'd like USA, but only if I can buy on TSX. I'd like to stick to just two, but maybe three would work best? What say you? Thank you, yet again, for such a fabulous service.

Q: Hi 5i,

For a US ETF in a non-registered account, would it be more tax efficient to hold HXS because it doesn't pay a distribution, versus ZSP which does? Would you recommend ZSP over HXS for any particular reason?

Thanks

Q: How do you fell about HXQ in a 15+ year RESP?
I have held RBF619 (Science and Technology for 15 years and it has done wonders but it has the fees. Any other ETF's ? ZSP? XIC? OR would you be comfortable with just BN?

Q: Donald Trump is causing so much uncertainty in both Canadian and US markets. Canada might even go into a recession.

I know that you mentioned that we should not react to the Trump threat.

However, if I had to sell all my stocks and ETFs ($400k) and start from scratch today, what would be the top 20 stocks/ETFs ( US and/or Canadian) that that you would invest in.

Would you just buy SPY/ZSP.to/ VGT/ SCHG ETFs in the USA market for safety?

Fyi, I don't like bonds.

Q: Could you please provide a list of top US ETF’s that can be bought (low cost with great management)
a) using a US dollar acct
b) using a CDN dollar acct
3-5 for each.

Thanks

Q: On November 14 , a question asked by Trevor 5i said that IUSG could be a buy and forget ETF .Is this etf also in Canadian currency and if not what would you recommend as alternative?
Thank you

Q: Good day,

I am setting up TFSA and FHSA accounts for an 18-year-old with a 15-25 year investment horizon. The goal is to contribute the maximum annual limit each year, which is $7,000 for the TFSA and $8,000 for the FHSA in 2024, and continuing at those levels in subsequent years. From an aggressive growth perspective, without restricting the investment options to Canadian markets, what would you recommend? Also, do you recommend making an lumpsum investment or spread the purchases over time? If so, how do you suggest I spread the purchases.

Thank you

Q: Hi Gang
Can you give me a your top 5 ETFs that hold top us stocks

Thanks Mike B

Q: I would like to find an etf in Canadian dollars unhedged, for the s&p 500, and any other unhedged etf you might suggest

Q: Hi, I am new (about 1 year) to investing. After being approached from the branch level financial advisor, I figured it might be best at the time. He put all my funds into two items namely:

BMO Covered Call Canadian Banks ETF Fund
and
BMO U.S. Equity ETF Fund. This one had the most funds.

Since that time I have redeemed some funds and opened BMO Investorline account and purchased about 10 different stocks/etf's. The branch level financial advisor never calls or emails any advice period other than to say I am making about 18% and should be happy with that. Really??

2 days ago a lady from BMO investment center calls me and tells me I am paying 1% in management fees and can save ~ 0.66% by purchasing BMO95722 which shows up as BMO U.S. Equity ETF Fund. Yesterday I put in a redemption request for the balance of the BMO U.S. Equity ETF Fund (on my bank account page that name doesn't have any stock symbol) and the funds will be in my bank later this morning.

What I am trying to accomplish right now is to just make enough via investments to pay for living where I am. And hopefully some growth in the value of the investments.

The question I have is, would buying BMO95722 be the right or best choice of investments.

Thank you for any assistance with this.

Q: Could you recommend a few CAD etfs for the US market/SP500/Nasdaq that do not require to be reported on form T1135 for an unregistered account over $100K? Thanks in advance.

Q: Hello,

New to investing and I have about 20K to invest to start...wondering how you would recommend to best distribute that? Looking for long term investments. Ok with some risk.

Q: I currently have ~$170K of VOO in my RRSP, up 45%. I notice that ZSP and VFV have better returns. Would it be worth it to sell VOO and go to ZSP/VFV?

Q: Hello 5I, I am considering selling some of my ZSP(S&P500) ETF holdings, and rake some the profits and buy more Canadian index funds like the BMO ETF ZCN. Many financial experts feel that the SP 500 market is currently unsustainable and over priced.

Your thoughts in this matter would be appreciated.