Investment Q&A

Q: Hope everyone is doing okay at 5i.
I am looking to build a new RESP portfolio for my young granddaughters (ages 3 and 7). I would like to build it with a mix of equities plus a few ETF's to help balance and diversify. Thinking of 10 holdings of equities and ETF's. I would really appreciate your recommendations for a mix of equities and ETF's for this RESP.
Thank you,
PD

Q: Hi 5i team, firstly thanks for all the work you do, I’m a new member and am really enjoying the content.

A family member in her early 30’s would like to start investing with a long term time horizon (25-30 years). She has some risk tolerance and is seeking a passive set it and forget it ETF index type of investment strategy. She would make regular contributions and benefit over the long run from dollar cost averaging. Currently she does not have interest in picking individual equities or monitoring market conditions. She has a stable government job that provides a good pension plan and is starting with $10,000 capital.

What are your thoughts on a portfolio starting with the following ETFs; VOO, XIC, VEU, with a weighting of 50% VOO, 40% XIC and 10% VEU for some international exposure? Are there any other ETF’s you would recommend she start with? Do you think the EFTs mentioned provide enough diversity as a starting point? I like the above mentioned ETF's for their low fees and broad exposure.

My thoughts are being that she has many years of investing ahead that ETFs with 100% exposure to equities would provide greater growth potential when compared to ETFs containing a mix of bonds and equities. And that her stable government employer matched pension could be viewed as a bond proxy.

Thanks again for all the great info!

Q: HI, I just recently made the switch from mutual funds to ETF’s and a DIY strategy and am looking to lock down 4 low cost ETF’s that I will invest in for the long term (30 + years) and leaning more toward the aggressive side for these. I am looking to take advantage of some dollar cost averaging to enter the ETF market for some broad market index ETF’s in my TFSA and was looking for you opinion of some that I am trying to choose between.
Canadian Market – I am trying to choose between XIC, VCN & ZCN. They all have significant overlap and same MER so I don’t see a whole lot of difference between the three, although I am leaning towards XIU, thoughts on which one you would choose for your portfolio?
US Market – I am trying to decide between VUN & VFV. The VFV has lower MER than VUN and has outperformed VUN as of late. Smaller and mid-cap companies historically had higher volatility than the large-cap companies found in the S&P 500, and so the trade-off is potentially higher growth, for potentially more volatility if you go with a total market index like what is found in VUN. The S&P 500 has outperformed the total market index as of late so I guess the question is will this continue, I am leaning towards VFV, thoughts on which one you would choose for your portfolio?
International Developed – I am trying to decide between XEF & VIU, both have similar MER, thoughts on which one you would choose for your portfolio?
Emerging Markets – I am trying to decide between XEC & VEE for a small percentage of my portfolio, thoughts on which one you would choose for your portfolio?
These are some ETFs’ I have come across from doing build wealth Canada course and reading other materials and listening to podcasts that seem to fit my long-term outlook. I am by no means experienced in this matter and just looking to hit the ground running so If you have better suggestions for certain markets that I may have missed feel free to outline them.

Thanks
Sean

Q: What is the one stock you would suggest to go all in with this correction?

Q: Which ETF’s would you currently recommend to enter the market with broad market exposure. Perhaps one that covers canadian stocks and one that covers US stocks.

Q: Hello, Please provide ETF's that replicates TSX, S&P, DOW & NASDAQ
are there Hedged and non-hedged versions for US stock Indices.
Thanks.

Q: Can you tell me what is the total drop % since the top. How often have 20% or 30% drops happened in the last 100 years?

Q: Hi,
Sorry I should of clarified my previous question. Can you suggest funds that follow the DOW, Nasdaq, S&P 500 and the TSX. Would also like a good gold fund or company. Thank you

Q: Peter
I am not to familiar with ETF'S
I just bought a little of CDZ last week i am looking for another one to hold for atleast 3 to 5 years in my TFSA . There are so many around, would you say i will be safe with an utility one or what will you suggest. If you can give me one in the TSX i would prefer it. Thanks

Q: Hi gang, can you please give me 4-5 large ETF high volume and market cap in Canada.? Thanks.
Alnoor

Q: I have 10k to invest in a TFSA that will be in place for 10 years or so. I am looking for 3-4 ETF's for this portfolio. Any advice on where I should start looking. Thanks

Q: Have $20,000.00 sitting in a LIRA account. Please recommend 3-4 ETFs that I can hold for the next twenty years. and drip (no bonds) would like to double every 10 years. Would Dividend Growth ETFs a good choice over that time frame or just growth stock ETFs?
Thanks Cec

Q: Good day team, I'm looking for a good dividend paying etf that I can contribute to weekly in a tfsa. Ideally I'm seeking a canadian focused eft so I dont have to pay withholding taxes.
Additionally (deduct credits as you see fit), how do you feel about NFI at this moment? I'm thinking about taking a position.
Cheers

Q: Hi,
This is a follow up to another member question/answer from July 26, 2019. "But we would still prefer building one's own ETF with 10 to 15 stocks. Yes, there will be some that decline. But this will ensure proper diversification, eliminate fees, and (likely) get you higher income and overall returns. Owning 15 or so stocks across 11 sectors is not that difficult, but there is a trade off between effort (and perhaps inexperience) and costs. But this would also be the easiest way to balance out the account with no concentration risk, over time." is the portion I'd like more information on. I currently hold XIC:CA for the bulk of my Canadian exposure. If i were looking to "replicate" the XIC ETF with 15 stocks over 11 sectors, would you recommend equal weighting across all sectors and do you have any stand out stock picks to represent each sector in this scenario. Thanks!

Q: Could you pls recommend a couple of US Bond Funds ETFs which can be purchased in Canadian dollars. They do not need to be hedged, Thanks

Q: Hi 5i,
I have $70,000 CAD to invest for 3-5 years and tax is not an issue. I am thinking of ETFs : 40% Canadian Stocks, 32% American stocks, 8% Global and 20% Bond.
Would you please advise what to buy? or if you have better combination.
Thank you.

Q: My daughter is opening up an resp for her three month old son. She will initially be putting $10,000 in. What are three ETF's that would be suitable. She is looking for some growth and little risk.

Q: 55 years old,will work at least to age 60 and will have a large pension.Have about $100,000 to invest long term with no need to use any of it in the foreseeable future,
Please recommend an ETF for Canadian market (moderate risk,and tilted more to growth than to income) and an ETF for US markets (moderate risk and tilted more to growth than to income).
If you think two ETFs for each of Canada and US would be better than one for each,please elaborate.

Q: I'm 61. I'm getting to the point in my life where I want to spend less time following stocks and just start to enjoy my life more. I have 5 accounts, 4 are registered. I'm thinking to just sell everything in all of them and buy XGRO in all of them. One fund across all accounts. No more following stocks or rebalancing and the MER is just .18. I realize I'll lose some tax advantages by putting certain investments in registered or non registered accounts, but I'm willing to give that up for the simplicity and hands off approach of a one fund portfolio.
Problem is one of my RRSP accounts is in USD, so I'm looking for a US domiciled equivalent to XGRO. Any ideas? Thanks

Q: Since the tax benefits for HXT, HXQ, HTB, HXS have or will be diminished, is there any reason to continue to hold them or should we be switching to other etf's, is so which ones would you recommend?
Thanks for your service.