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Investment Q&A

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

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.
Read Answer Asked by Brendan on September 11, 2023
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.

Read Answer Asked by Keith on September 11, 2023
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?

Read Answer Asked by Adam on August 03, 2023
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?
Read Answer Asked by perry on June 30, 2023
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!
Read Answer Asked by Ian on May 03, 2023
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
Read Answer Asked by James on January 17, 2022
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!
Read Answer Asked by Rossano on January 11, 2022
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.
Read Answer Asked by Lyle on July 28, 2021
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
Read Answer Asked by Federico on July 19, 2021
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.
Read Answer Asked by joe on May 25, 2021
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!
Read Answer Asked by Jane on January 14, 2021
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
Read Answer Asked by Dale on January 28, 2020
Q: My international allocation currently resides with VI and VIU. What are the downsides of switching these two for VIDY for more yield?
Thx.
Read Answer Asked by Brad on April 10, 2019
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.
Read Answer Asked by Francesco on October 09, 2018
Q: Hi 5i,
I would like to have international exposure with a time horizon of 5 years. Would you use an indexed- CAD hedged ETF? or not?
Would you please give me your opinion on VEF, VI and VVO ?
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Lizette on November 01, 2017
Q: Hi,

I'm currently only holding XEF(1.5%) and VEE(1%) for international and EM exposure. I'm looking to increase it a bit more maybe to 5%, as the rest of my portfolio is in US or CAD equities. I know you have talked about VXUS as a good international ETF to hold and the expense ratio of 0.11% is hard to beat. When I look at the regional allocation for VXUS, 19.3% is EM, so if we just hold that, would we even need to hold VEE? What do you think would be best to hold to have international and EM exposure? How about VI and VIU (exposure excl. North America)?

Was looking at one or two good quality ETF's to hold. Your thoughts on how they compare?

Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Keith on May 23, 2017
Q: Hi,
My son is taking a break from active stock picking and has gone with this ETF model: VUS(15%), VBU(5%), VCN(22.5%), VAB(5%), VI(22.5%). His investing horizon is very long (10-20 years). Your thoughts on the individual ETFs? How about sector & geographic diversity? Any other concerns?
Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Gordon on July 25, 2016
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