Investment Q&A

Q: Hello 5i team, I am slowly reducing my exposure to equities for two reasons: position my portfolios ( US + CDN) for a possible recession or slowdown and also, I am 66 year old and my portfolios are 80% equities.
I have taken small positions to above bonds ETFs.. May I have your comments and also, would you recommend short/long or medium bonds and treasuries? As well, do you have other recommendations for someone my age? Thanks CR

Q: Within fixed income today, is it wise to move from longer term bonds into floating rate bonds...seems the longer bonds are beginning to slide while floating rates bonds are holding firm. both pay similar yields. thanks as always.

Q: With respect to Larry's earlier question about ZST, I was surprised that you did not mention HFR as a better alternative. Althought ZST has a lower MER than HFR (0.17% vs. 0.4%) and a better distribution (2.9% vs 2.4%), its value has declined consistently (-15%) in the past eight years unlike that of HFR (0%). I see no reason to recommend ZST in preference to HFR so why would you?

Q: I am looking to hold some cash for 6-12 months. My broker - RBC Direct Investing - does not allow me to purchase PSA or CSAV. Would you consider HFR to be reasonably safe, or do you have another suggestion? I am somewhat reluctant to change brokers, but maybe I should.

Q: 2:00 PM 7/14/2019
I expect to be parking a lot of cash in our 4 TDWaterhouse accounts... two RRIFs and two TFSAs
I want to be sure the money is covered by CDIC insurance
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The CDIC site states :
Eligible deposits are insured separately in each of seven categories:
in one name
in more than one name
in a RRSP
in a RRIF
in a TFSA
in trust
for paying taxes on mortgaged properties
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From the CDIC website :
We insure eligible deposits at each member institution up to a maximum of $100,000 (principal and interest combined) per depositor per insured category.
Eligible deposits include:
1. Savings accounts
2. Chequing accounts
3. Term deposits, (such as GICs) with original terms to maturity of five years or less

Uninsured financial products include:
1. mutual funds (including money market funds), stocks and bonds
2. term deposits, such as GICs, with original terms to maturity greater than five years;
3. foreign currency deposits (e.g., U.S. dollars);
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The question is just what specific securities are eligible.
Do the :
1. TD "savings" account TDB8150,
2. and the Purpose High Interest Savings ETF PSA.TO
3. and the Horizons Active Floating Rate Bond ETF Common HFR.TO
all qualify or are they considered to be "Mutual Funds"

So it looks as though just <5 yr GICs, and cash sitting uninvested in these accounts actually qualify

Can you please clarify this issue and tell me just what savings vehicles actually do qualify?
Thank you.

Q: Hi Peter and Ryan,
We received the last portion of our funds in cash from Sun Life today. We are a little hesitant to open new equity positions or foray into bonds. The stock analysis highlights that we need to add REITS but that sector seems to be under pressure this week. The risk and payback seems unbalanced everywhere we look today.
As we are into our early 60's we have given thought to placing 40% of our portfolio that arrived as cash into a temporary safe place. If you were to choose today which ETF's are recommended out of CMR, XFR, HFR to place funds for deployment at a later date.
Cheers
Jerry and Debbie

Q: looking ahead the next 6 to 12 months and with safety of principal in mind, how would you rank these fixed income etf's? thanks.

Q: I currently have no fixed income. Looking to build this portion using an ETF and GIC's. My thinking is the the ETF could provide a base (liquidity and slightly better yield) with the GIC's providing stability. Considering either HFR or FLOT as the ETF. Which would you prefer or is there are more attractive one in your view? Thanks as always.

Q: ..given growing expectations of a Canadian recession, i'm thinking of moving away from utilities into fixed income. how do you expect XBB, XSB and HFR to perform in comparison to ZWU if a recession occurs. thanks, great service.

Q: Hi There,
I am interested in purchasing an active fixed income ETF.
Can you help list what you believe are top tier fixed income sub-advisors/managers/companies in Canada that I should consider.
[eg Marrett, PHN, Leith Wheeler, Fiera etc?]
Could you also list some active fixed income ETF's that one might want to consider adding that you believe are worth the MER.
thanks

Q: I already have XBB, TIPS, HFR , would TLT be that much different from XBB other than having the currency exposure. Was thinking of buying TLT for more protection against poor markets or if interests rates stop going up. Could I just add to my XBB position to achieve same results.

Q: Would you please advise on how to get the best return on cash I am holding in my Canadian registered, non-registered, and TFSA accounts.

Q: These ETFs are described on their websites as active floating rates bonds with very similar timeframes. HFR has more US focus thought. However, their yields are drastically different; FLOT~5% and HFR~2.3%. Can you explain why the big difference. Which would you recommend?

Q: I've been comparing these two funds and while they appear to be essentially taking the same approach. HFR has Canadian & US holdings and FLOT has exclusively US holdings. Yet their is a substantial difference in their yields. But FLOT yield is 4.3% and HFR 2.3%. I don't get it.
Yield is nice to have but I'm more concerned with capital preservation through the end of this business cycle. Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Q: I am setting up a fixed income portfolio for 5 -10 years with little need for income. HISA @ 15%, HTB @ 5%, HBB @ 5%, PYF @ 5%, HFR @ 20%, MFT @ 50%. I would increase the Horizon's ETF percentages, but liquidity is low. Would you please comment on this set up. Thanks for your service.

Q: ..HFR is beginning to slide, what do you think about moving out of it and into the above ETF's. in your view, what is the best bond ETF mix to be in for the next 6-12 months. thanks.

Q: ..what is your view on interest rates....with trade wars and the next presidential election now fully in sight, all the good news seems baked into markets. would you raise fixed income and/or utility allocations. what about moving into longer term bonds....thanks as always.

Q: Good morning,
In your response to Marilyn on Friday you replied that you "have no concens seeing it (CPD) as part of an income allocation" and "one needs to decide how it fits in"
My recent experience is that any so-called fixed income that I purchase loses money even including distributions. My current cash allocation is therefor 20% earning nothing, with another 20% in CBO, CPD, XBB, XHY, and a few preferred issues. I can look for a DIS account but could you expand on "how it fits in" and perhaps suggest the ETFs we should currently be using in this environment and a possible allocation range for each. Thank you for the ongoing excellent service in a difficult environment.
Ted

Q: Is this a decent place to park some cash for 6 - 12 months?
If not, what would you recommend that has a safe return?
Thanks

Q: Given a fixed income portfolio consisting of CBO (28%), VAB (28%), XIG (28%) & XHY (16%) do you think it is necessary / prudent to swap CBO for a floating rate product like HFR?