Investment Q&A

Q: hello
can you recommend what types of bonds should be held in a rising rate environment and can your recommend some ETFs?
thanks

Q: Hello,

I am concerned in a rising interest rate environment CBO (5.0%), CPD (1.92%), XHY (7.4%), VAB (4.13%) are positions that need to change in my portfolio. Portfolio Analytics recommends holding 35% in fixed income. I currently hold about 18%.

Should I be selling some or all of these positions and then re-investing in other fixed income vehicles given the rising interest rates?

I would appreciate your feedback/suggestions on current position. Thanks again for all your great service.

Q: I need to raise some cash which one can be trimmed today? Thanks.

Q: Thanks for the great work in educating and helping us. Currently I have no exposure to Debt and all Investment is in Equity Stock or Pref. I was trying to use Preference shares as a proxy for Bond. Is that a wise strategy? Want to move some fund to Bonds/Debentures. With a long term view of 10 + years in a registered account can you recommend 2 bonds and 2 ETFs. Thanks

Q: Hello,
I am nearing retirement. I have CBO, CPD, VAB and XHY at 20% of my fixed income portfolio. All these ETF's exist in my unregistered account. I wanted to add XBB in my RRSP account. Any concerns about too much overlap by adding this position? This will add 7% to my fixed income position. Portfolio analytics recommends a 30% position.

Thanks for all your help.

Q: Good morning,

Two general questions:

1. I am fortunate in that I have now maxed out my TFSA contribution. Could you give me an idea of what sort of investments I should have in a TFSA vs. a cash account? 

2. According to portfolio analytics I am underweight in Fixed Equity. Underweight, in that I have none. Could you give some direction as to what to include for the fixed equity portion of a portfolio and provide some suggestions. 

Thank you for your help!

Q: In my RRSP I would like to take a long term, very low maintenance approach. For this reason I have it all in index funds. I have a 30 plus year time horizon. Which funds would you recommend here? I currently have $60,000 invested in VFV, VUN, VGRO and XAW. Looking to front load these with $2000/ mo for the next 3 years and then stop contributing as I will be "semi-retiring." I'm 29 for context

Q: I am one that is not very fond of Bonds and with their present performance I have decided to sell ETF XBB .
What would be a best ETF as an alternative to XBB in a RRIF account over a five year time frame?

Q: Hi,

In my RESP's fixed income/cash allocation, I hold CMR, CBO and HFR.

With a rising rate environment I'm thinking of switching the CBO share into HFR (although the laddered aspect of CBO mitigates problems a bit). And with CMR stopping their distributions, I thought of switching out of that too. Does this logic make sense or would you prefer having both CBO and HFR for diversification purposes? Thanks!

Q: As a follow up to my question on fixed income, would you suggest I hold both XBB and CBO or pick one and if so, which one please? Similarly, hold both SHY and TLT or choose one and which one?

Thanks.

Q: Please take as many credits as required. I have created a fixed income portion for my portfolio. Please take a look at it and pick it apart for me. I'm looking for capital preservation and even with this diversification, it's taking a beating in certain areas and markets. Would you remove or add anything? Thanks.
Name/Currency/Symbol/Percentage
BMO PREM YIELD ETF / CAD / ZPAY / 10%
DYNAMIC ACTIVE U S DIVID / CAD / DXU / 5%
DYNAMIC ACTIVE TACTICAL BD / CAD DXB / 5%
DESJARDINS ALT LONG.SHORT / CAD / DANC / 10%
DYNAMIC ACTIVE / CAD / DXW / 5%
FIDELITY GBL CORE PLUS BD / CAD / FCGB / 10%
ISHARES 20 PLUS YEAR TREASURY / USD / TLT / 10%
ISHARES TRUST / USD / SHY / 10%
ISHARES 1-5 YR LADDERED / CAD / CBO / 5%
ISHARES CANADIAN UNIVERSE / CAD / XBB / 5%
PENDER CORPORATE BOND FUND / CAD / PGF550 / 10%
PICTON MAHONEY FORTIFIED / CAD / PFIA / 10%
VANGUARD TOTAL INTERNATIONAL / USD / BNDX / 5%

Q: Hi!

I used to own these ETFs for my fixed income exposure. I went to 0% fixed income during the downturn last year, instead using the proceeds to buy stocks that were crushed. I'd like to slowly start to build a position again in my RRSP. Am I too early? It seems like rates have started to rise and where they go is anyone's guess, but if bonds have an inverse relationship to rising rates, aren't I setting myself up to lose money? Does a laddered approach negate that somewhat? Maybe its best to start with CBO since its Corporate credit and laddered? How would you rank these in general and in order of which I should accumulate first. I realize XHY is riskier than the others.

Thanks,
Jason

Q: As a follow up to my earlier question, where in you mentioned "if the focus is on bonds....", last line. I am looking for opportunities in fixed income investments. So where should the focus be, other than fixed deposits . Thanks for the excellent advice you have consistently provided over the years.

Q: I need some fixed income suggestions for my RRSP. Anything you particularly like at this time? I know its fixed income but I do have some risk tolerance and a 17 year investment horizon so open to something that pays more than .0000012% interest. Appreciate your thoughts :)

As always.. amazing job team!

Q: I have allocated 20%-25% of my portfolio to Fixed Income. Would XBB and CBO be sufficient to cover the fixed income component? (say 50-50).

Thanks again for the great advice as always!

Q: Do bonds rise when interest rates rise? If so, can you recommend a few dividend paying bond funds for a RRIF.

Q: Hi, I currently don't have any bonds and would like 2 etf's you recommend to start with for fixed income. Currently a few years from retirement.
Thanks for all the help!

Q: I intend to increase the "very safe part" of my portfolios with fixed income ETFs, is a mix of corporate and government bond ETF a good choice with this objective or any other suggestion ? I suppose that longer term bond ETF would be more risky if rates do increase ?

Q: I have a taxable corp account, 94% equities,(28% US, 6% cash. Just read an article that bonds even at 0% expected return would help off set losses in this and upcoming volatile market, even though interest would be fully taxed.
Would you suggest;
1. sell some winners or tax loss some losers and buy a bond fund, ?CLF. ?CBO-or another one you might recommend. What weight percentage would you suggest?
2. use the cash to buy the same bond fund or a combo of the above two or your alternative
3. buy a preferred corporate share or shares? suggestions or preferred ETF ?HPR or another suggestion
4. Would you suggest a US Bond fund, ?suggestion
5. do nothing
Thanks and deduct what you see fit

Q: What are the best government bonds for a retired 70 year old, that presently has no fixed income????