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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: Can you give me pros and cons of these ETFS, TLF, TXF, VFV, ZQQ. I'm looking for a long term hold without too much volatility. Can you recommend one or two? Can you also comment on the bizarre divide from TXF and its covered calls.
Read Answer Asked by Graeme on November 09, 2020
Q: Hi, what do you recommend for a small portfolio (< 15k), start with etf only until have a nice nest or canadian stocks (because TSX etf it is not well diversified) + etf for us stocks? I would like to manage a stocks portfolio but maybe it is an error now due to my portfolio size. I think about VFV (35%) + XQQQ (or VGT) (15%) + VEE (10%) + 40% canadian stocks (no etf).
Read Answer Asked by Clayton on October 30, 2020
Q: After scanning 5I questions for the best fit for my daughters LIRA which she will not need for 20 years and will not be contributing to it, we settled on VFV,VEE,and VUN. That leaves room for a tech ETF for the remaining. Considering:
XIT.TO but the MER is high at 0.61% vs. TEC.TO which is a TD ETF
product with an MER 0.35%. Are there any others to consider or which
would you choose and why?
Read Answer Asked by Don on October 30, 2020
Q: Hello 5i, I am a new DIY dividend investor (switched from mutual funds from various industry advisors). My spouse and I have TFSAs and RRSPs which we have invested in companies traded on the TSX (banks, utilities, etc many of them reference in the portfolios). My question is how do I get USA and international exposure and still stay within the Canadian market; we are not ready for US$ accounts or other international exchanges. I assume the answer is ETFs but I am overwhelmed with the number of choices. Investment timeline is 20+ years and want to focus on dividend growth. Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Patrice on October 27, 2020
Q: Good day!

I've noticed a trend with respect to your recommendations for RESP ETF holdings with a longer timeframe (10-15yrs). You seem to like VGRO +/- IWO. I'm looking for growth and can tolerate risk. Currency doesn't matter.

VGRO has a 19.9% weighing of bond ETF's and the rest are a combination of other vanguard ETF's. In looking at performance since its inception, it lags behind IWO which often lags behind the S&P 500 ETFs. From a non-expert viewpoint it would seem that a combination of large and mid cap US/CAN ETF's would achieve similar purpose and improve returns by eliminating the bond component.

1. What am I missing re VGRO? is it that the bond component satisfies the usual 80/20 combination as an all-in-one and is simply easy?

2. If you were to improve the 'all-in-one' VGRO using a combination of ETF's, which US/CAN growth/index ETF's would you assemble to eliminate the bond component? Perhaps a combination of XIC, VFV/ZSP/VOO, VTI, VUG, ZQQ or others you think work better?

3. Out of the S&P 500 ETF's, do you have a preference between ZSP or VFV? Is there an advantage to holding the US listed SPY, IVV or VOO vs the Canadian-listed? and if so, which do you prefer?

4. If you were to devote 25% of the RESP to high potential equities, which would you choose?

Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Bart on October 20, 2020
Q: This question is about diversification and percentage of stocks vs ETFs. In my overall portfolio (combined tfsa, rrsp, and non-registered), I have roughly 37% VFV/ZSP, and the rest fairly equally weighted across ENB, KXS, SHOP, VGH, AQN, BEP.UN/C, BIP.UN/C, BNS, CPX, GDI, NVDA, RY, TEAM, VGG, TRP, BAM.A. I'm in my mid 30s and have a long time frame, but would prefer to position for short term performance as much as possible. So, with some cash to allocate, can you please recommend a couple US and CAN stocks to add to this mix (or recommend just adding to what I hold)? Also, given your recent market update on covid vs sector performance, what would you do with the VFV/ZSP allocation? I am open to moving that allocation to stocks instead of an ETF, and am wondering if I should take that path, and how best to position there given the big tech names/top holdings in the ETFs, vs some holdings across sectors that are currently down. Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Andrew on September 03, 2020
Q: I have 4 questions:

1. I have not diversified my assets outside the TSX and would like to do so. Between a TFSA, an RRSP, and non-registered account, which is best to purchase US stocks (for tax purposes)?

2. If I wanted to buy an ETF on the TSX for US exposure, what would be a good one?

3. If I wanted to buy an ETF (also on the TSX) for exposure to emerging markets, what would be a good one?

4. Would you buy an emerging markets ETF in your TFSA, RRSP, or non-registered account?

Thank you for answering my questions. The information you provide is very valuable.

Best wishes,
Terri
Read Answer Asked by Terri on July 23, 2020
Q: Regarding VFV and SPY, yesterday there was a large disparity between these two around 1%. Today VFV is -0.31% and SPY is +0.30%. I know there is currency involved, but this seems like quite a difference on a higher volume ETF. Any thoughts?

Also, VUN seems to outperform VFV over the longer term. It is not much more in MER - would you choose VUN over VFV for a 10 year hold?
Read Answer Asked by Terry on June 04, 2020
Q: I'm looking to convert a RESP invested in mutual fund (chorus II agressive growth) to lower fees and menage it more actively. Kids are 5 and 2 years old.

I was thinking to diversify with 3 or 4 ETF for 70% of this portfolio. What are your thoughts about a combinaison of VFV, XIC, XIT, ZQQ and DXG for long term? Do you have better suggestions?

Althought, is investing in XIT and ZQQ and DXG a good idea on short term since tech valuation is already high at this moment compared to other sectors?

For the rest of portfolio (30%), i would go with stocks. What would be your top 4 on short term (next 6-12 months) and on long term?
Read Answer Asked by Francois on June 02, 2020
Q: I have full positions in the above except KXS and REAL. For available cash is there a stock that you like and would consider adding to this portfolio .
Read Answer Asked by Roy on May 29, 2020
Q: Hello Peter and co,
Thank you for your excellent advice. My grandson has opened a TFSA over the last few months, and now holds the following stocks (listed in order of value, largest first). He is in the enviable position of being up on every one of his positions, in part thanks to your wise advice (and some lucky timing)! With a bit of cash (~$2300) remaining to invest, he is looking for a recommendation, targeting growth and diversification.
He is considering these: LSPD, JPM, CAE, MDT, VET, PXT
But we would be more interested in hearing your advice, so please feel free to ignore the list above, and make a suggestion for 1 or 2 stocks to add.
Thanks,
Ed.

Current stocks:
XQQ
GSY
VFV
SHOP
CSU
REAL
KXS
BYD
BEP
Read Answer Asked by Ed on May 20, 2020
Q: Opening an RESP for new born. What stocks (Cdn. or U.S.) would you recommend, taking into account safety and dividends. Obviously looking at a long time frame and plan to contribute $2,500 per year. Thanks for your insight.
Dave
Read Answer Asked by David on May 05, 2020
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
Read Answer Asked by Sean on April 13, 2020
Q: I am beginning to swing trade ETFs. Which do feel more closely mirrors the SPY since one cannot buy the SPX? Feel free to mention others I may have excluded but should be considered.
Putting aside any tax implications or type of account (ie: registered vs non-registered)
Considering the state of the C$ and the price of oil, it would seem more logical to go unhedged , what are your thoughts?
Read Answer Asked by Larry on April 06, 2020
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