skip to content
  1. Home
  2. >
  3. Investment Q&A
You can view 3 more answers this month. Sign up for a free trial for unlimited access.

Investment Q&A

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

Q: Hello, last question on bond ETFs: for diversification purposes, having in my RSP individual canadian bonds, it might be interesting to invest in VGAB or VBU for additional money in fixed income products. For a long term investment, which ETF is preferable for the next few years: VGAB or VBU (given the interest rate context, etc.)? Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Martin on December 10, 2024
Q: Hi. Which bond ETFs do you currently recommend? US or Canadian. Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Zohreh on November 13, 2023
Q: What would be your top 3 bond ETF picks for both Canadian and US bonds? Is now a good time to put money into these?
Read Answer Asked by Dan on March 17, 2023
Q: Context: Sold CNQ after a long run up. Funds now to deploy into a locked in RSP about to be unlocked into an income stream. Currently have all blue chip dividend payers and am looking to offset risk by initiating a bond position. Looking for:
-CDN domiciled etf with NA and/or Global focus
-3% minimum yield
-High grade but willing to accept corporates for yield
-Prefer shorter term to maturity, to match future rate increases
-If not CDN domiciled, willing to look at US and willing to look at more than one to match criteria

Thank you!
Read Answer Asked by Harry on February 28, 2022
Q: I have held these three funds since early 2016 for the stability component (maintain capital and some income) in my portfolio. The annual MER's are .44, .86 and .84. respectively, I have series F in the PMO funds. Extra year end distributions for the PMO funds were nice but they stopped after 2018 year end.

Their total capital growth has been very modest, about 2-4% total over several years.

I am not too comfortable with the higher annual MER's.

Could you comment if I might see significant capital drop if interest rates go up? Also, could you recommend any different holding or stock that I may consider instead of these funds for stability and income?

Thank You.
Read Answer Asked by Brad on September 30, 2021
Q: From what I am reading the federal government is going to go significantly increase spending in the next budget [latest number I am seeing is $100 billion]. This will take Canada's debt well over $1T, probably a further downgrade in Canada's debt rating from the current AA. As a retired person would I be correct in thinking a larger part of one's portfolio should be shifted to basic materials including precious metals, to foreign and US bonds and to a healthy cash balance in foreign currencies such as the USD, GBP and EUR?
As you are aware inflation is a killer for people living mainly on pension income so I'm trying to look forward and take action in small steps over time.
Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Ronald on September 08, 2020
Q: I am planning to increase my bond exposure in my RIF and have looked at VBU. I already have Canadian bond exposure. This is a hedged fund. Is this, as a hedged fund, appropriate for my RIF? Is there an unhedged equivalent? Do you have other funds I should review?

Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Ronald on July 17, 2020
Q: Could you pls recommend a couple of US Bond Funds ETFs which can be purchased in Canadian dollars. They do not need to be hedged, Thanks
Read Answer Asked by gary on September 25, 2019
Q: Dear 5i
My current financial adviser has me in a large position of a global bond etf. I can`t continue with this etf when i switch toQuestrade as it is not tradeable there .
The question is should i continue to remain in global bonds and if so what would you suggest in terms of an etf or should i just stick with North American bond etf`s?
Thanks
Bill C.
Read Answer Asked by Bill on May 08, 2017
Q: Is there an ETF listed on the TSX that replicates fairly closely Barclays Global Aggregate Bond Index? If so, what is your opinion of the fund as a core vehicle for the fixed income allocation of my portfolio, in addition to laddered GIC's? Many thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Paul W on November 16, 2016
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
Looking for more? Sign up for a FREE 14 day trial! No credit card required

We invite you to sign up for a 14 day free trial of 5i Research!
Experience all the benefits and tools we have to offer; stock research, model portfolios, Q&A with our experts, and so much more. Join a community of like-minded investors today!