Investment Q&A

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: Hi

What do you recommend for a TSX listed ETF that is ex-Canada and ex-USA for global exposure?

Thanks,
Robert

Q: 3 years ago I divided my pension 50/50 between MFS Global Equity and Schroder Emerging Markets in an effort to increase my international exposure. I had been 100% in the MFS Global Equity Fund and would have been much better off had I stayed there. I have a couple of options as I see it:

1) Move back to 100% MFS Global Equity Fund (portfolio drops to 20-25% international)
2) Stay the course (portfolio stays at 30% international)
3) #1 plus allocate some non-registered funds to an international ETF to get portfolio back to 30% international (suggestions?)

Q: What ETFs would you recommend to use to represent the international portion of a portfolio? What ones would you use for:
1. Europe
2. India
3. Japan
4. South America
I have excluded China because I don’t trust their reporting. How would you divide that 30% up? Is there any other countries/areas that you would view as investable that I am forgetting.

Thanks in advance.

Q: Hello 5i Team,

I'm creating TFSAs for my two children, and I would like to purchase a basket of 15-20 Canadian stocks and CIBC CDRs, since their accounts are commission-free.

Could you please recommend some names for me to consider with a focus on growth while maintaining some sector diversity.

Would you recommend adding a global ETF for geographical diversity? If so, what?

Feel free to subtract as many credits as you see fit.

Thanks, as always, for your helpful advice.

Q: IDVO , Amplify International Enhanced Dividend Income ETF (not in your data base) looks interesting. It is actively managed by Kevin Simpson who *usually* makes sense. Simpson also manages DIVO. Concentrated ETF. Question: Am I unwise to give preference to ETFs with less than a hundred companies?

IDVO seems thinly traded and hasn’t been around long. I would appreciate your insight, and thoughts, very much. Is this a good vehicle at current prices for additional diversification with a good dividend. If not IDVO, do you have a different ETF for international exposure?

Q: With a large cap International mandate, what would be your recommended top Canadian ETFs hedged to the Canadian dollar and top US ETFs?

What US ETFs focused on the Industrial sector would be your top recommendations?

Q: Dear 5i,

In your opinion. What developed market countries look attractive to you?
Assuming one can buy a Canadian or US listed ETF would you purchase a
currency hedged or non-hedged version? Some experts appear to be recommending Europe and Japan (Mr. Buffet). I have been a customer since you launched your service and I happily just renewed this weekend. I really appreciate your unbiased objective reports and answers.
thanks!

Q: I am extremely low in International and US stocks, I would like to have an ETF for each that I can put in either my RRSP or TFSA. I know you have mentioned in the past that you like IWO for small caps, is that still the case or is there a better choice.
Thanks for all the excellent help

Q: I am looking to get some broad exposure in my portfolio outside of Canada and the US. I came across the CIEI ETF and it seems to have a good mix of solid names (and some dividend payments) from what I can see online (https://www.cibc.com/en/personal-banking/investments/etfs/international-equity-index-etf.html). I am looking for a 10+ year hold and it would be in a TFSA. My only issue is that is a new ETF - and was wondering if it would be suitable for a 10+ year hold or if there is something more established that you would suggest.

Thanks and all the best for a safe and profitable 2022 - really like your service!

Q: I'm retired without a pension and have done fairly well investing with the help of 5i over the past 4-1/2 years. My question is regarding diversification and has a few parts.
1. Do you think it's important to be invested in Europe, Asia and the Emerging Markets?
2. If so would ETFs be the safest way to get decent access to those markets or individual equities?
3. Please suggest 1 or 2 EFTs/equities (your preference) for each.
Thank you for your direction.

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: My 50 year young daughter is adding $100,000 to a balanced $1m conservative portfolio. Which 2 or 3 etfs (your suggestion or ours) would you suggest that fit a post pandemic world.

Q: Hi, 5i team
What are your opinions about emerging market and Europe? Are they attractive based on current value? Could you recommend some ETFs both in Canadian & US dollars?
Do you recommend to buy now to hold about 1 or 2 years?

Thanks a lot!

Q: I currently have about 20% of my portfolio in ETFs which track the MSCI EAFE index (XEF & XFH - about 10% , ZDM - about 10%) . I noticed that Vanguard's international developed fund (VI) tracks the FTSE developed all cap index.

I am wondering whether it would be beneficial, for diversification purposes, to sell ZDM and replace with VI, so that I have a better balance for my international core funds. These two funds seem to have similar compositions, so I am wondering whether this would really make a difference.

What is your view?

Thank-you for your excellent advice

Q: Which is the better investment & why?

Q: My international allocation currently resides with VI and VIU. What are the downsides of switching these two for VIDY for more yield?
Thx.

Q: Which ETF ex North America, would you recommend for global exposure?

Q: Do you think these 3 ETFs, provide a diversified enough portfolio? I plan to invest equal amounts in these ETFs and re-balance every year. They would be held in a RRSP, RESP and TFSA. Does it matter in which accounts I hold these ETFs? I plan to supplement my income I receive when I retire. I am basically looking to put together a portfolio that I know will be around long after I die. I'm only 30, but I've been listening to John Bogle and Warren Buffett speak about what they believe individual investors should do with their money.

Q: Hello what do you think of this product for ex-North America exposure? On iTrade it shows a plus 4% dividend and is full of what appears to be large successful companies. Would you be ok with a 5-10 % holding? I am fine with it’s hedge factor. Thank you. Bill