Investment Q&A

Q: I have recently been making significant adjustments to my portfolio, based on the results of Portfolio Analytics. In particular, I am significantly decreasing my financials and energy, and making large increases to my US and international weights.

Despite my changes, I am still overweight by 6% based on the recommended financials, and by 5% for energy. I am underweight international by about 6%. What is your recommended tolerance? How much leeway do you suggest for the recommended allocations?

Also, I am currently invested about 11% in VIGI. What is the maximum allocation you suggest for any ETF? I am a fan of the dividend aristocrats/growers strategy. Is there any other international dividend ETF which you would recommend (if possible, sold in Canadian dollars) along these lines?

For the US dividend growers, I have DGRO, VGG and ZDY.

Thank you for this incredible service that you offer!

Q: Morning
Quick follow up question for clarification
If I hold VFV in a RRSP , will it be subject to the 15% withholding tax?
Holding VGG in a non registered account, is there a way to get this tax back?
Thank you

Q: Thank you for all your help
I am a novice investor learning the ropes
For that reason, although I want to increase my US exposure , I am not comfortable picking individual stocks
Which of the following etf’s would you recommend, and why
VUN VGG XHU. (I already own VFV)
Also,I heard you do not want US in a TFSA. Why is that..?
Thanks again

Q: Where would you recommend I place $30k in a TFSA today (5 year hold). Only other holdings in this TFSA are $12k in iShares MSCI ETF (XAW) and $3k in Kelt Exploration (KEL).
Where would you recommend I place $60 in an RSP today (5 year hold).
Only other holdings in this RSP are $40k BMO Dividend ETF (ZDV), $10K NorthWest Co (NWC), and $15k Richards Packaging (RPI.UN).
Given the size of the portfolios, probably one or several ETF's, instead of more individual stocks? And probably better non-Canadian exposure? Anything else to be sold here before repositioning?
I guess that's 3 or more questions, please charge accordingly. Thanks.

Q: Thank you for for answer yesterday about setting up my parent's investments. To summarize, they are very conservative, above 80 years old, and looking for safety and income.

I would now like to ask you about the distribution of the equity component of the investments (composing only 17% of the total, the rest being in bonds, preferred, and GICs). Those below are all in equal weight. What do you thing?

BEP.UN, BCE, BNS, CM, CU, ENB, TRP
XHC for healthcare exposure
IWO for US growth
VGG for US exposure
XEF (in a half position) for international exposure
VEE (in a half position) for emerging market exposure

Could you please suggest some more to round things out? I need another 5 or 6 stocks.


Also, do you have any objection to using ZAG and HYGH as bond substitutes for their conservative portfolio? I am buying individual preferred shares for that component.

Thank you once again,

Fed

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: My Granddaughter is <1 and currently has $3000 in her RESP. I see that in a past question you recommended VGG for an RESP for 6-8 year old children. Would you stick with that given the longer time frame or would you have a different suggestion? Should we conceder more than one product?
Thanks, John

Q: Total portfolio $632000: 2 RRIF’s, 2 TFSA’s , 1 non registered C$ account and 1 non registered U$ account.
In registered accounts 4.3% of total portfolio In VGG.
In non registered U$ account WMT with BV of
U$ 9294.55.
If sold at today’s MV would return 10.3% in a little less than 6 months.
What is your opinion on selling WMT and using funds plus additional cash of 6000U$ to buy
VIG.
This would make approx 7% in US.
I also own , what I consider quasi US, AQN in TFSA and ENB in several of the accounts.
Appreciate your input.
Thanks

Q: I have ~$10,000 in cash in my children’s RESP account, they are 6 and 8 years old, what stocks would you recommend. I assume investing $5,000 or so in each company would make sense?

Thx

Q: I have a 19 and 20 year old and would like to invest in their TFSA's. Time line is 3 years but may be more. What would you suggest I invest in?
Jacquie

Q: Hello, Just starting an RESP, roughly 18 years to grow, ok with medium risk, dividends would be nice. Starting off with $2500, adding that amount annually afterward. What would you recommend to start with, stocks or ETF's? thanks for the great service! Lavern

Q: I manage my wife's RRIF age 69 with the following ETF's: ZEF 5.3%; DXG 8.11; CDZ 6.68; XHY 6.42; ZZD 8.05 and the following stocks : BNS 7.61 ;BPY.un 9.74 ; BEP.un 9.3 COV 2.13; IPL 9.41;PKI 8.58; SIS 5.34 SPB 7.85 and .Cash 7%
I'm trying to transition her to more ETF's reduce some volatility and maintain some growth. What is your suggestion[s] for an additional ETF to complement these holdings?

Q: I am very fortunate to be a member of 5I,Thanks
I wish you were actively advising on US stocks meanwhile however
for me to start please suggest some US stocks or etf for not very aggressive
stocks with high volatility but something like BNS,SLF,td in Canada Income is not my priority but steady growth is in my mind not stocks like canabis?
I appreciate your sugestion and has always benefited from them
Nizar

Q: Has a dividend investor I hold shares of the above in in my registered and non registered accounts.
I have cash over and above my fixed income position. This extra cash is earmarked for a new position in a dividend stock paying a 4 to 7% div with growth prospects and at fare value and tax efficient. Might be a tall order , appreciate your help.

Q: Please suggest an S&P 500 ETF and U.S. Dividend ETF that would be best served as a long term hold in a TFSA.
Thanks

Q: With a 20 year time frame, my daughter has some money to invest in her portfolio which consists of:
Canada: PDC (25%) ZAG (30%), Money Market (10%).
US: XUS (20%), ZQQ (5%),
Europe: XEU (10%)
If the US and China reach a trade deal she might move 5% from Money Market to ZEM.
Given that the bull market is long in the tooth, would it make sense to move XUS to VGG? The composition of VGG appears more defensive and the reduction in technology stocks is compensated by her position in ZQQ. Growth has been similar, the dividends and BETA are about the same, and VGG's MER is lower (.08 vs. .11). Your advice would be appreciated.

Q: I am wondering about the appropriateness of your Balanced ETF fund being held in either RRSP or TFSA from a tax perspective.

Q: Same question as Yvonne today however asking for top US ETF that doesn't have Apple as top 2 holding.

Q: Hi 5i: Am considering SCHD .. Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (symbol not in your database) for a medium to long term hold in my non-registered account. It tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 index. Seems to have a good track record and 5 star rating from Morningstar with a low mer of 0.07%. What is your opinion of this ETF ? Would you prefer VUN or VGG ? Any other suggestions appreciated.
Thanks as always for your great advice !
Steve

Q: Hi,
I want to increase my US and International equity exposure by using $US ETFs (VIG and VXUS respectively) but the Canadian dollar is pretty weak right now (improving slightly lately). Does it make sense to convert to $US for this investment (long-term horizon) when there could well be significant headwinds if the Canadian dollar continues to strengthen. Also, valuations are higher in the US than in Canada, but International looks to be relatively cheap. Thoughts on how to proceed?
Regards, Michael