Investment Q&A

Q: XIC and VCN. Which one of these two ETFs do you prefer and Why?

Many Thanks

Q: Hello fellow 5i community,

New ETF investor question here. I have no experience with ETF's and therefore have none in my investment portfolio. Based on all the Q&A's and my own research, this is an area I need to get into. Can you please recommend your top picks (open to all suggestions both geo and industry - please rank) and how many ETF's would you recommend if also investing in individual stocks? (including % of a portfolio). Thank you

Q: Warren Buffett says " buy index funds" preferably Vanguard.

What would you buy in Canada & the USA?

Thank you.

Q: Hi, I'm thinking of gradually reducing my individual stocks and moving into etfs for an all around set it and forget it roughly $3 million portfolio for someone retiring in the next few months. Can you give me your suggested etfs and percentages to hold to accomplish this balance? A chunk of these funds are not invested yet so I'd also like to know how you would suggest deploying these funds? Would you edge in gradually over a period of time or just get the money working? I'd really appreciate any advice you could give me in this format.
Thank you as always!

Q: Can you please suggest a few ETF's for a young investor who has recently opened a brokerage account.
My 30 y/o son will be transferring funds currently held at his bank. (TSFA , RESP, RRSP accounts) He is looking for long term investments options.

We as grand parents have started a RESP for each of the grandchildren. Looking after their first year RESP contributions. Currently invested in HXS and a small VFV position.
Can you please give some options for :
RRSP
RESP
TSFA
Thank you
Gord

Q: Hi
i'm invested in zlb. When I look at the report posted on the Globe & Mail by Fund data, it gives my the percentage returns compared to a benchmark. However, the report does not say which benchmark it uses. Which benchmark do you think this is?
CALENDAR RETURN (%)
2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014
FUND 9.39 -0.37 22.88 1.62 21.83 -2.78 11.09 13.04 2.67 28.54
BENCHMARK 11.75 -5.84 25.09 5.60 22.88 -8.89 9.10 21.08 -8.32 10.5
thanks

Q: Hi Folks,
I am looking suggestions for my non reg account,
I currently have 7% weighting in HHL and 7% in ZWE. I am close to retirement age.
Also is there a website that indicates whether the income from etfs/ stocks are dividends or interest.
Cheers

Cheers

Q: Please recommend 5 ETF's for a young investor just starting her career and investing in her first TFSA. Thank you in advance.

Q: Hi All At 5i!
I would like to substitute XIC or XIN with VFV in hopes of more growth. Which would you suggest??
Cheers,
Tamara

Q: Hi 5i team,

My daughter and her partner are investing in their RRSPs through a work plan. They are in a number of Mutual funds, some with quite high MERs range about 1.5 to 2.5%. Also high redemption rates (some up to 5% in first year or two). I have tried to find the mutual funds from their statements, but mostly listed without codes so difficult to be certain of all data.

They have :
20% Balanced funds
47% Canadian Equity
13% Global Fixed income
20% Foreign Equity.

Amount invested is significant but not really high - includes 3 years of contributions/investment. I think they would be best to withdraw the money now and invest in ETFs. I don't think they need to similarly replicate the funds above in ETFs.

2 questions:

A. Any suggestions as to most efficient way to withdraw from these funds? Are there questions to ask that might help reduce redemption bite or should they just make the switch.
B. They are late 30's and 40 yo, so time horizon of approx. 20 years or more before needing money. They are interested in investing but are very early in this. Wondering what you would suggest for starter ETFs right now with bias towards growth. Perhaps you could suggest 4-6 ETFs that would give them age and time horizon appropriate investments.

Please use as many questions as needed.
Thank you in advance for your usual great service and the very helpful advice.

Q: What would be your top 4 CAD ETF picks for longer term growth?

Q: If one was to anchor their RRSP portfolio with VBAL which is a 60 equity/40 fixed income split, but would like to be more 70/30. Would you add another ETF or two to achieve the desired weightings? Does this strategy make sense? What would be Five i's thoughts and suggestions.

Thank you

Q: Hello, I am helping my 25 year old daughter put together a sleep at night portfolio. She is not a hands on or active investor.

She has about $ 100K and of these selections which ones would you suggest? And, what else would you recommend?
in Addition to Canada, I want US exposure with ZSP, especially with the potential growth of AI.
Thanks
Carlo

Q: We have a self-directed RDSP set up for my son (age 21, qualified for the RDSP 12 years ago). Up until now we've invested his funds in 5 different equities (4 CDN dividend paying - ARE, AQN, SU, TCL.A and 1 US - DXCM) and the overall performance has unfortunately been abysmal (I'm just getting the opportunity to be more actively involved in managing my son's RDSP). Because my son has a relatively long investment horizon for his RDSP (to age 49), what are your recommendations to optimize this much-needed benefit for his later years? Are ETFs a preferred option over equities?

Q: Opening a fund for my grandson (5 months old). Could you recommend a few ideas please.
Thank you and Happy Holidays To All

Q: Hi there,
I have invested in three mutual funds with considerable management fees. I am hoping you can recommend three ETFs with similar holdings/benchmarks and performance. They are CIG 622 (CIG AMRCAN FD CL A -FE) MER 2.44%; FID 254 (FDLTY CDN GRWTH COMP CL B -FE), MER 2.23%; and FID 234 (FDLTY US FO STK SR B -FE), MER 2.22%.

Q: In my open (unregistered) account, I currently own VGRO and am looking to invest some funds in ETFs . What is the difference between ZLU and ZLU.U? How would your rate the above ETFs for growth over the next 5 years? Do these ETFs hold similar investments (stocks, bonds, etc)? If I invested in 2 ETFs, which ETFs would be complimentary? Can you suggest similar ETFs with better growth potential in the next 5 years? Thank you

Q: My daughter is looking to start an investment portfolio. What would be your top 5 Canadian and top 5 US Picks in the current market for a long term hold? Please include one ETF for Canada and US in your picks.

Thanks
Tim

Q: I'm split at 20% ETF and 80% stock. Going into 2024 where do you see the canadian market vs the S&P or MSCI EAFE ? The US has outperformed the other 2 in 2023 as usual but do you believe that this continues into 2024? Could you comment on the 3 and what are the chances for the Canadian and International markets to perform better than they have in the coming years?

Q: My daughter is invested in just these three ETFs. With a 40-40-20 percent weighting. The reasoning was diversification, growth and safety. YTD she is up 20% but the laggard seems to be the one based on the TSX. Can you make any suggestions concerning this strategy? Thank you!