Investment Q&A

Q: My question is what to do with my legacy fixed-income holdings.

I've been holding the above ETFs after being advised by 5i's portfolio analysis services to increase fixed-income holdings. Holdings are in registered accounts at a 25% weight combined.

They have all lost capital value over the past 5 years, however with distributions, they have returned approximately zero or flat over the last 5 years, I view this as a loss due to the inflation over this time.

What would 5i suggest I do with these fixed-income holdings moving forward? Should I hold for ballast or sell and move funds into dividend growers like Utilities or Pipelines eg. FTS, ALA, GEI, TRP, etc.)? The bond investments have put a drag on my investment returns.

Please advise your thoughts and wisdom, Thank you.

Q: Dear 5i team.
As I read through the recent Q's on the merits of owning laddered bond funds vs long bond funds (CLF/CBO vs XBB/XLB) couple of f/ups for you. Assuming rates have peaked, and downward is the consensus:
1) What is the upside for CLF vs XLB for example. How much of a move in bond prices would you estimate for each 50 BP move? (can you do same exercise assuming rates move higher?)
2) Since you like both XBB/XLB for long bond exposure, can both be owned, or should one be sufficient?

Many thanks for your help to understand the risk/reward here.

Q: Hello
I have equal amounts in CLO and CLF. Wondering if it might be a good idea to swap one of these for the longer term XLB Bond Fund to hopefully play the downturn in interest rates? If so which would you swap and why? Is there a safer trade with equal potential with less risk then XLB?
Thanks
Jeff

Q: Hello
I hold these two bond funds which are down. Do you think they will rebound if interest rates start to drop?
I certainly could be putting the cash to better use.
Thanks
Jeff

Q: Hi- retired investor.
Bought these a while back for fixed income and am down 8% and 10% respectively. Could you explain why these have decreased while bond yields have increased?
Should I dump these and just convert to a 5% GIC or is there a light in view?
Thanks
Jeff

Q: Hello 5i
First, thank you for your excellent service and guidance! I am retired, looking for income and growth. Following are my questions.

1) What do you think of VCNS? Could you suggest an alternative. I presently have a half position in VCNS.
2) At this time would you still recommend a 4.5% position in ATZ?
3)I am down about 30% with MMM. Is there a better place for these funds?
4) I am down 11% with CLF. What has to happen( with interest etc.) to recoup this loss?

Thank you, Bill

Q: Hello 5i
We currently hold CBO, CLF & XRB at 25/25/50% all as long term holdings in a slight loss position. I believe we are currently at (or very near) peak interest rates. Do you have any suggestions to bond replacements that might be better positioned to capture rate reductions for these holdings. (not accounting for the bonus of tax loss selling)
Again many thanks
Les

Q: I am looking at adding a 15 to 20 percent bond component to my portfolio. From the mix of laddered, aggregate, short/long term and high yield ETF’s listed. Which would you recommend and why? Please let me know if you have other possible suggestions? Thank you

Q: I have been a multi year holder of CLF and CBO in my Non Reg account and I would like to take the loss, and find two comparable etfs for my fixed income portion of my portfolio. Suggestions please.

Q: Now past 30 day tax loss period on the above securities previously sold. Was going to buy back to original weights.
1. buy back now
2. average in over next few months with some of these
3. replace some of these with other securities you might like better

Q: Hi Ryan,
Several years ago I engaged with 5i for a portfolio analysis. I'm a recently retired investor. 5i strongly encouraged me to include a fixed income component to stabilize portfolio fluctuations and lower volatility.

With that advice and for tax purposes I purchased XBB, CLF, and PMIF into my RRSP. Now that the interest rates are marching steadily upwards I'm in a significant capital loss situation on my portfolio's bond allocation.

At this point do you suggest I just hold through the cycle and absorb the loss or should I sell and reallocate funds? Perhaps into some solid Canadian dividend payers? (eg. GWO?)

As always, much appreciate your advice and guidance in these unprecedented times. Thank-you.

Q: For a ultra conservative retired income based investor can you please give us your 10 best portfolio building blocks starting a new portfolio?...many thanks...

Q: Could you give me 7 diversified income etfs for 200000 rank them in order which ones you would pick up first etc. thanks

Q: I would like to invest using only 4 ETFs. One for short bonds, one for all Canadian stocks, one for emerging markets, one for the whole US market, and one for the developed world (as wide as possible) excluding Canada and the US.

Which ETFs should I use?

Thanks

Q: Within my fixed income allotment I've recently favored short term bonds over long term bonds on the advice that they will react less to changes in interest rates. However, since the Fed's meeting last week the opposite has occurred, as there has been a flight from short term bonds into long term bonds. Can you please explain why this is the case and then, given the current environment could you also rank the above ETF's in order of preference. If there are better fixed income suggestions please indicate. Thanks.

Q: I’m 71 years old. As I get older I’ve tried to simplify my portfolio, going from about 50 stocks years ago, to my current portfolio of about 16 stocks, 3 ETFs and 15% cash.
I am a subscriber to your Portfolio Tracking and Analysis service and I’m told I need to make changes to reach a suggested asset allocation and portfolio diversification. Right now I’m tech, utilities and financial services heavy.

Here’s what I’d like to do:
The following set up gives me an allocation of 70% equities, 20 % bonds and 7% cash. I’m comfortable with this and have gone through many 20 and 30% corrections in the past 30 years without too much despair.

In my Canadian cash account I’d have CDZ, FTS, AQN.
Locked in RSP (LIRA) I would have AAPL, ZSP, ZEM.
Unlocked RIF I ‘d have CLF, ZAG.
TFSA would have QQQ, ZEM, ZDI, CSU, TOI, SIS.
I’d like cash around 8% of portfolio.

I’m wondering if I have my portfolio diversification covered and if the right stocks or ETFs are in the appropriate accounts for best tax efficiencies?
Your input would really be helpful.
Thanks
Frank

Q: I am hoping you can help with some suggestions for review for a RRIF portfolio. The plan is for one third to be invested in a 5 year laddered bond portfolio. Is it best to buy bonds or an ETF ? Please suggest a couple of bond ETF's for review.

The remainder would be invested in equity ETF's. Half would go to 3 or 4 ETF's which would pay dividends and would have some growth potential. The remaining third would be invested in 3 or 4 ETF's focused on growth.

Obviously the dividend tax credit is of no benefit in the RRIF but currency fluctuations would be a consideration.

Any assistance you can provide would be appreciated.

Mike

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: These ETFs make up my main bond holdings in an RSP. All have done OK, but are starting to slip a little bit. I also hold XTR, which has a high bond component, and noticed that they recently reduced the distribution. In an increasing rate environment, how would you rank these 3 bond ETFs in terms of (1) maintaining share price; and, (2) maintaining distributions?
Thank-you

Q: My RSP is comprised of VFV, VIU, CLF but I like the concept of the auto rebalancing of VGRO. However the longer duration bonds in VGRO are concerning. Would you make the switch. Conventional wisdom says bonds are going to be destroyed going forward, when monetary tightening eventually happens.
And by the way my 2020 5i account return was 16%. You guys Rock!!
Thanks