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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 are your top 3 ETFs for buy and long term hold (10+ year) today?
Read Answer Asked by Kyle on July 15, 2024
Q: I'm looking to set up an annuity type of investment for my retirement using XUS or an equal weight CDN Hedged EFT that tracks the S&P 500. Can you provide some options and their historical annual dividend payments.
Read Answer Asked by stephen on June 27, 2024
Q: My niece is looking to enter the DIY investing world and move her TFSA over to an online self-directed account. Her advisor has her in these high fee accounts above. These look like funds for a retired person looking for income rather than for a 29 year looking to grow a TFSA with the goal to hopefully get a down payment for a condo some day. Could you please give some advice for a beginner investor, ETF's some Canadian and US equities to get her started. She's a bit nervous as all ne DIY investors are. Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Nancy on June 25, 2024
Q: If using your balanced portfolio as my canadian content for an equity portfolio could you please recommend some equity etfs for ex canadian content and what % would be canadian of the total portfolio? I was thinking 40% and 60% outside canada

Thx
Read Answer Asked by blake on June 06, 2024
Q: Hi, I was looking for a US Growth ETF sold on the Cdn exchange that is the equivalent of VUG that I can buy with Cdn dollars.

Thx
Read Answer Asked by Kimberely on May 30, 2024
Q: a sunlife life insurance policy was purchased for grandchildren as an investment for them on the advice of a financial planner- I am embarrassed to say so far $9000 in annual premiums has been paid, with 11 more remaining before the policy is paid in full. If I cancel this policy it will be a loss. However; the dollars which would have gone to sunlife could be used for a better investment. Your suggestions would be welcomed. Thank you- (P.S.- I submitted this ? a moment ago-but my screen went black so I don't no if the ? was sent the first time)
Read Answer Asked by jane on May 29, 2024
Q: Need to increase U.S. and Internation equity exposures in my RRSP. Current exposures are mainly from VBAL (25% weight of RRSP) and a small position in XLU, ZWU and XGD. I am considering adding SPY for U.S. equities. What do you think about this option, and what would be a good entry point? Also, what would be a good addition to increase international equity (ETF or stocks)? Knowing that you cannot provide personal answers I appreciate very much your comments. Much Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Hali on May 24, 2024
Q: Presumably ZSP and ZSP.U are identical except for the currency. Does ZSP.U also pay its distributions in USD? I currently own ZSP. Do you if it is possible to directly convert ZSP to ZSP.U or do I have to through the process of selling ZSP, converting the cash to USD and then buying in ZSP.U using USD? Thanks as always. Your service is great.
Read Answer Asked by Andre on May 10, 2024
Q: I've read your most recent questions on ZSP.U and you stated that this ETF was exempt from US withholding tax but it is a Canadian listed ETF so I'm not sure, could you please clarify. Also could I journal ZSP to ZSP.U. Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Cheryl on May 09, 2024
Q: Morning
Which etf would you recommend for US exposure and why. Please rate them from 1-4
ZSP
VFV
VGG
XUS
Also thoughts on XEQT for all round exposure
Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Michael on April 09, 2024
Q: Hello,
For a 25 year old passive investor with 20K US available , which of the above would you suggest for a long term hold? or would you suggest alternative(s)
Thanks
Carlo
Read Answer Asked by Carlo on March 13, 2024
Q: Dear 5i
I`m sure i`ve asked this question before but i cannot find your answer to this question .
Do you have to include ETF's that are Canadian listed that hold US stocks such as HXS and ZSP as part of my foreign reporting re foreign assets on my taxes ?
Also i have 3 ETF's that apparently have Trust or Partnership income (ZLB,CDZ,ZSP ). I have not received this notification before from my brokerage firm so i'm assuming this is a relatively new structuring of these particular ETF's . That said , is trust and partnership income taxed more or less than other forms of income ? Are you taxed on this income derived from capital gains , dividend or interest income ?
Thanks
Bill C
Read Answer Asked by Bill on March 04, 2024
Q: In a recent question concerning VFV held in a RRSP, you replied VFV is subject to Level 1 holding tax because it owns units in a US ETF. With regards to ZSP in a RRSP there is no Level 1 tax because ZSP holds individual US stocks & no US ETFs. Is this correct. Thanks … Cal
Read Answer Asked by cal on February 16, 2024
Q: There are a number of Canadian based NASDAQ100 and S&P500 ETF's. Which NASDAQ100 and S&P500 ETF would you prefer, or would be "best", for a TFSA account, and why? Would investing within an RRSP or in a non-registered account alter your selections and if so, why would that be? Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Bruce on February 09, 2024
Q: Good morning,

Just trying to add a few ETF's to boost my yield and add to my diversification. I have a nice base of dividend growth stocks and what to offset them with a little bit of ETF's.

ZSP and SMAX....Is there a lot of overlap or can one own both?

Thanks
Jimmy
Read Answer Asked by Jimmy on February 06, 2024
Q: The ETF, HXS pays no dividend. So if HXS was held in a RESP account, can one avoid the US 15% withholding on dividends, because HXS pays no dividend, whereas ZSP held in a RESP account would be subject to the 15% withholding tax, because it does pay a dividend. Thanks … Cal
Read Answer Asked by cal on February 02, 2024
Q: Good morning,

I am looking for the best ETF to hold in my TFSA account that follows the S&P 500 index along with the reasons for your particular preference?

I understand that since HXS does have any distributions, there is no withholding tax to be concerned with which is an advantage. On the other hand, due to the distinct tax efficient structure of HXS, the MER on the HXS is higher than VFV and other similar ETFs that track the same index.

Given that both ETFs track the same index is there a clear winner for a TFSA account?

Thank you and I'll await your sage advice.
Read Answer Asked by Francesco on February 01, 2024
Q: Hi

I hold ZSP in my non-registered account and VIG in my RRSP.

My understanding is that it doesn't really make a difference from a withholding tax perspective where I hold ZSP but that the RRSP is where I should hold VIG.

Do you agree?
Read Answer Asked by Robert on January 30, 2024
Q: Hi Guys

It seems during the last year that the Mag7 have really had their time in the sun. I am wondering if there might be some rotation out of these names. Wondering where you thought the best returns would be over the next few years in a S&P 500 type ETF:

1) XSP - iShares Core S&P 500 Index ETF
2) An Equal Weight S&P 500 Index like Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Index ETF, 3) or or something like the Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF.

What ETF would you think would do the best

Thanks

Stuart
Read Answer Asked by Stuart on January 29, 2024
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