skip to content
  1. Home
  2. >
  3. Investment Q&A
You can view 3 more answers this month. Sign up for a free trial for unlimited access.

Investment Q&A

Not investment advice or solicitation to buy/sell securities. Do your own due diligence and/or consult an advisor.

Q: I am looking for your opinion on tech weighting. My USA exposure is currently VIG, SPY and IWO. ( 40-40-20%). This puts me a bit underweight tech relative to the overall USA market ( and globally in my portfolio). I've had in my "plan" to shift a small amount of spy and vig to xqq to get my tech allocation up from low teens to high teens.

So long way to ask: Is now a good time to add XQQ or has the run been too good to keep going.
Read Answer Asked by Tom on November 06, 2021
Q: What are the Can ETFs that cover the main US ETFs, like SPY? And what are their mers?

What are the advantages of using these Canadian versions?

Do you still require W-BEN forms if you buy these?

Thanks for all your help.
Read Answer Asked by Mark on October 28, 2021
Q: Good morning,
I'm looking at adding a QQQ equivalent component two my Cdn$ Non Registered portfolio.

HXQ and XQQ are among the ETFs currently under consideration.

Q1. At this point in time, would you recommend a hedged or unhedged Canadian version of QQQ?

Q2. Not limiting yourself to HXQ and XQQ, what would be your recommendation for a Canadian QQQ equivalent?

Thank you

Francesco
Read Answer Asked by Francesco on September 27, 2021
Q: Just sold DND today and looking to increase tech exposure as I'm now underweight techs and industrials. Currently own LSPD and ENGH. Please suggest 2 for each industry. No US exposure. Would you buy XQQ at this point?

Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Yves on September 16, 2021
Q: Good afternoon,

Looking for some general guidance.

I currently have 25% of my portfolio in CAD-listed US ETF's - 14% XUU, and 11% ZSP. I have a few questions for you guys....

1. Would you ever put just 25% in (either) ETF or do you like that fact theyre different (I think you recommend no more than 15% per ETF max? is that correct?). I'd see the advantage of all-in one being better for DRIP'ing but think you (and me) prefer diversification.

2. I would like to add more American holdings in general (maybe 8% more to get to 33%). I am mostly interest in CAD-ETF's to achieve this. Would you view XQQ or XUS as a way to add some 'torque'?

Thanks for your help.
Read Answer Asked by Jeff on August 20, 2021
Q: I would like to hold a NASDAQ 100 ETF long term in a non registered account.

1. is there a tax / bookkeeping advantage for holding one of the above over the other? (some websites imply that you have to keep records closely for American dollar ETFs, I believe they are referencing adjusted cost base at time of future sell.)

2. Is there an alternative to HXQ.CA that you would recommend? Or do. you think this is the best one at the present time?

3. Do any of your answers change if held in a TFSA?
4.Do any of your answers change if held in a RRSP?

Thanks
Ernie
Read Answer Asked by Ernest on August 18, 2021
Q: What technology stocks or ETF would you suggest for a TFSA? It can be either Canadian or USA.
Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Donna on August 06, 2021
Q: My 35 year old daughter would like to start investing 150$ a month in an ETF. She would like to set up an automatic monthly transfer to an institution , any suggestions? thanks, JEan
Read Answer Asked by Jean on August 05, 2021
Q: Is this ETF a safe way to invest in the banking sector in a RRIF account for income and some growth and do you believe the strategy used by this ETF can outperform other ETF such as ZWB or ZEB. Can you suggest a couple of alternatives ETF that are more appropriate for a RRIF or do you feel it is better to just own the individual banks.
Read Answer Asked by Joseph on August 04, 2021
Q: I'm looking for a ETF holding US stocks that will work well with ZWH.CA
This would be in a RRSP.
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on July 09, 2021
Q: Hi guys, thanks for the excellent service. Generally TFSA is the place for high growth but my highest growth has been in my RRSP. Is there any compelling reason I should sell anything in RRSP and rebuy in TFSA (e.g., NVDA)? I realize I will be taxed on RRSP withdrawals while TFSA withdrawals are tax-free - but - my RRSP has a lot more cash than my TFSA so there isn't room to move all my growthy stuff over. Because of the relative size of RRSP to TFSA, if I were to do equal weighting of all stocks, I'd only have 4 different stocks in my TFSA, which perhaps is fine? Are there any obvious adjustments that you would make to the following:

RRSP:
XQQ 13.68%
VXC 12.03%
NVDA 7.64%
AAPL 6.70%
JPM 4.73%
BNS 4.52%
GOOG 4.32%
ENB 4.13%
MSFT 3.98%
AMZN 3.86%
RTX 3.51%
COST 3.42%
PG 3.11%
DIS 2.82%
CASH 1.32%

TFSA:
GSY 5.28%
CRWD 3.31%
VEEV 2.50%
ROKU 2.44%
SHOP 2.26%
WELL 0.85%
XBC 1.08%

RESP:
LSPD 0.79%
BYD 0.76%

NON-REG:
SLF 0.51%
T 0.42%

thanks,
Read Answer Asked by Mark on June 23, 2021
Q: My grandson of 23 is starting his 1st tfsa with $2500 to begin and needs a core holding start. please suggest a stock only and etf only models. Which one or mixed off, would you deploy today.
thanks
Read Answer Asked by Peter on March 15, 2021
Q: Hello,

Can I get a couple of your recommendations for the best balanced growth ETF and/or mutual fund as well as a pure growth recommendation. Sector & Geographic allocation not a huge concern.

Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Chris on February 04, 2021
Q: I currently own ZEM AND ZSP. Is adding XAW good? If one is going to buy US stocks most likely us tech stocks would one need to buy the ETF XQQ?
Thanks
Read Answer Asked on January 18, 2021
Q: Helping my son with his investments which are as follows: MAW 106 24%,MAW 106 20%. VUS 21%, VEF 18%, VEE 8%, ZJG 6% and XQQ 3%.Feeling there is a bit of an overlap with some of these investments eg XQQ and VUS also with MAW 150 and VEF to a degree. Any advice is welcome ,stay as is , reduce holdings or increase some..He prefers ETF's and Mutual Funds (Mawer) and is a bit risk adverse but does realize markets go up and down though and is young( mid 30's ) enough to handle declines. ! Thanks.Paul
Read Answer Asked by Paul on January 11, 2021
Q: Happy New Year!
I currently have no US exposure, Looking for some Canadian Based ETF US Tech exposure. Interested in XQQ. It has risen a lot the past year with the rest of the market. Is it buyable today? Do you have another preference? Is it suitable for a non-registered account?

Secondly, if I want to build up my US exposure using Canadian ETFs, can you give me some names I could start with?
Read Answer Asked by KEN on January 07, 2021
Q: Hi 5i
Based on my recent review of Portfolio Analytics information, I need to increase my US and International exposure significantly and, also, Consumer Cyclical, Consumer Defensive, Industrials and Tech.
With the thought of killing a number of birds with just a few stones, could you recommend a few ETFs that trade on the TSX that will increase my US and International exposure along with my investment in the listed sectors, while also having the prospect of some reasonable return in the form of either capital appreciation or dividends, or both.
Thanks!
Peter
Read Answer Asked by Peter on November 12, 2020
Q: Hello gentleman and thanks for your wonderful service as always. I'm wondering if you can point me in the direction of your preferred ETF's for the tech industry and the pharma industry.
Read Answer Asked by Peter on September 18, 2020