Investment Q&A

Q: Do you like any NASDAC based etfs for sale in Canada?

Q: Good morning,
I need to increase the Health Care and a Tech sectors of my portfolio. Given that I wish to invest in Cdn$$$, my research for one ETF in each sector leads me to a choice among the ETFs listed above and 5i may have others that may be a better choice.
Question. What would be 5i's best of class ideas for a Health Care and Tech ETF to add to my portfolio and is there a preferred location (TFSA/RRSP/Non Reg acct) for these ETFs?
Thank you and I will await your valued suggestions/recommendations.

Q: Hi,

I heard somewhere about an EFT that reflected the S&P 500 Internet technology Index, but I can't seem to find it. Do you know of an EFT like this? Maybe it would be similar to the Nasdaq 100? Not sure...

Thanks,

John

Q: Want to replace with another etf in cdn mkt.Not happy with this performance.Can u list your picks.
tnx u

Q: Hi 5i,
HXQ vs. XQQ – Questions and Comment: 1. Is the XQQ’s dividend subject to US tax withholding? 2. If not, is it eligible for the Canadian dividend tax credit? 3. My discount brokerage site indicates that the MER on HXQ is actually lower than that of the XQQ but I understood you to suggest otherwise. Can you please just confirm on that one?
It seems to me the elimination of the total return feature of the HXQ may not be the most important element in deciding between these funds. The charting function I use shows HXQ to have outperformed XQQ measurably over a 3 year period. While some of that might be attributable to HXQ’s lower MER and ‘total return’ feature, isn’t the bulk of the difference attributable to the fact that HXQ is unhedged, while XQQ is CAD-hedged, and over the 3-year period HXQ’s return has been amplified by the Canadian dollar’s decline against the US buck? Or is there something else in the mix? In any case, maybe the decision on whether to switch from HXQ to XQQ should be mostly a matter of whether one would prefer to be CAD-hedged or currency-exposed over the anticipated investment timeframe. Whatever tax consequences might flow from the other variables involved, they could easily be overwhelmed by a currency move of a few percent and, in a taxable account, any gain on a currency move would remain tax-deferred until a disposition event. Even then, the applicable tax rate would still be the capital gains rate. So that aspect of HXQ’s tax efficiency would be preserved. HXQ may not end up being as tax efficient as it was when it could avoid cash distributions. But if it is just going to have a yield akin to XQQ’s 0.44%, and if available alternative holdings (like XQQ) are already doing that, the fact that HXQ may have to pay a distribution may not be the most important consideration for a switch decision. Or am I missing something? Thanks!

Q: Hi 5i
I am completely new to the world of ETFs but, according to Portfolio Analytics (and I did know it was a good idea before being told, really I did) I need to add US and International exposure to my portfolio. I think the only reasonable way for me to do that given I don't/can't follow non-Canadian equity markets is through ETFs.
I would like to place 55K in US ETFs and 45K in International ETFs and this will, for now, comprise the entire non-Canadian portion of my portfolio.
I am not adverse to some above average risk and while I'd like income I'm more interested in growth.
In researching where to place this money I've concluded that I might not have the candle power necessary to make rational decisions about ETFs because of the distinct possibility of purchasing ETFs that hold the same or similar underlying equities from the same or similar geographies in the same or similar sectors (assuming I'm not just concentrating on discrete sectors). Left to my own devices I feel that I could very possibly purchase a little bundle of different ETFs that are all essentially but unintentionally quite similar.
My question is two-fold:
1. Is my concern about concentration valid or have I misinterpreted the lay of the land, and
2. Could you suggest 4 or 5 US ETFs and a similar # of International ETFs that I can consider and that won't have the type of overlap I'm worried about.
I realize this is a broad and general (and perhaps rambling) question - so please deduct as many credits as you think is warranted.
Thanks a lot!
Peter

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.

Q: Hi there,

I've heard a about a new government regulation effecting swapped based ETFs. Does this new regulation effect HXQ and if so, would would be a good alternative to HXQ?

Thanks!

Q: I have 30% of my money in diversified CDN equities and don't need the money for 20 years.
I am not interested in bonds or REITs. I was considering putting the other 70% in the following ETF's.
45% VFV
18% VUN
18% XQQ
11% XEF
8% VEE
This would put around 57% of the total money in the USA. I am fine with that.
The MER would be around 0.18% based on the blend. I know this breaks your rule of keeping less than 25% in one fund. It also places a lot of money in Vanguard - which has been around since 1975, but nothing is for sure. Wondering what you think of this set up and also maybe I could sub out VUN for XUU. This would make 53% Vanguard and 47% iShares. Trading VUN for XUU would lower the MER a little as VUN is 0.16% and XUU is 0.07%

Q: Hello,
Can you please recommend a Canadian dollar equivalent to the following ETF's: VOX, XLV, and RYT. Thank you.

Q: Hi - looking for recommendation for ETF recommendations within my TFSA. 40% of TFSA will be for this ETF mix and 60% is in your Balanced Equity model. Long term investment horizon for me as in mid 30s. Any recommendations?

Q: In response to a question this morning regarding ZQQ, XQQ, and HXQ, you stated that the fees for HXQ are lower than the other two. Are the swap fees included in the overall fees? Do the swap fees cause a drag on the return of HXQ?
Thank you.

Q: which of the 3 ETF listed do you like the best? I am looking at buying the HXQ as it is not hedge but notice from reading the liquidity is not very good so if there was a problem would it hard to get out of this ETF if needed?
Thanks

Q: Hi,
I’m looking at a long term (30 year) rrsp portfolio. What do you think of making it up of these 4 etfs? Do you think long term it’s better to have the hedged or unhedged versions (where applicable)? I’m thinking 25%vfv, 25%vef, 20%xqq and 20%vdy. Then 10% in cash for buying dips when I see them. I’ll also be using any drips (even proxy drips if needed) as well as adding new funds every 3-6 months and rebalancing annually (unless there’s some major movement before that). Do you see any areas that are too redundant or underrepresented?

Thanks

Q: In reply to my recent question about my mutual funds - TD US Mid-Cap growth, TD US Blue Chip and Fidelity Global Innovators, you advised that they could be replaced with lower-cost ETFs. Please advise which ETFs you would recommend as replacements.

Q: Hi Peter, Ryan and team,
Could you provide me with your top 3 ETF's for the US, listed in Canada as well as the US for an RRSP & LIRA accounts as well as 3 International/World ETF's for the same accounts, taking into consideration any withholding taxes that may apply or not.
Thanks as always for your great service, much appreciated
Ivan

Q: I would like some recommendations on some companies or ETF's that you like now and going forward. I'm looking for growth as I have a 20year+ time frame and low aversion to risk. I currently hold in my TFSA: CJR.B (down about 5%, should I hold or sell some/all off? -heaviest weighting of portfolio currently), GS, BNS, CPH, CR, KXS, NIF, SIS. Would like to add more companies to TFSA for some more sector diversification and can add to RRSP as well - possibly a growth ETF with US/International exposure? Would appreciate your input, thanks very much.

Q: What Canadian listed ETFs that are invested more so in growth stocks would be suitable for a TFSA with a mid to long term horizon? I wish to have geographic diversification through one or more ETFs and one or more ETFs investing in small to mid-cap stocks. If there are mutual funds that have better performance, after fees, please list as well.

Q: please provide mi with best options of Canadian ETFs to mirror above US ETFs :QQQ, SPY, SSO ,that I can put them into my Canadian TFSA .
Thanks for great service
Andrew

Q: I hold both ZWH and TXF - both "covered calls". I would like to switch out of "covered call". Do you know the equivalent ETF for these two that have no "covered call"?

Carl