Investment Q&A

Q: To reduce my Tech Sector allocation I am planning on selling Microsoft(3% of my equity portfolio). Initially I was thinking of purchasing additional shares in VIG but have been also thinking about a US Healthcare ETF such as XLV. Comparing returns and fees for a long term hold which of these two ETFs would you recommend? Thank you for your input.

Q: In my RRSP, I follow your Balanced Equity portfolio. I would like to add more US exposure, and for now, intend to do so buy selling some of my Balanced Equity portfolio holdings and purchasing either VIG or VGG. Of these, which should I sell to do so:

ATZ, AEM, ATD.B, BAD, BYD, CCL.B, CAE, ENB, GIL, GC, GUD, MG, NFI, PKI, SLF, TFII, WSP

Please disregard sector, geographical, and asset class allocation considerations in your answer. Thank you.

Q: Luckily I have SHOP in my Roth IRA and need to dramatically trim.
I am currently transitioning into retirement within 6 months and want to set the Roth up as a consistent 5 to 7% income yield. I am looking at VIG and NOBL although they maybe higher risk. Would you please offer some other lower risk alternatives?

Regards,

Steve

Q: In my RESP I currently only own VGRO and now have some money to add a 2nd ETF, which ETF would be best suited with VGRO ?
Thanks

Q: I have $40,000 US to invest for 5 -10 years. With half of that amount I would like to buy about four equity-based ETFs for capital appreciation. Some I have read about include QQQ , BBH, and VGT. Are these good choices? Please add other recommendations.
For the other half, I would like more income based ETFs with a sensible degree of risk, such as VIG. Please add other recommendations.
I am not interested in Canadian based ETFs but International based ETFs would be alright.
I do no previous experience with ETFs.

Q: Hi Peter/Ryan, my 20 year old son wants to get into Vanguard ETF's. He has a TFSA stock account and now wants to add a Vanguard ETF. What is your opinion of Vanguard and is there one you would recommend. Thanks, Nick

Q: Need income, Like to convert from equity to ETF's with a dividend of 5-7% for the next 10-12 years ...15 Etf's... 5Can.5 US and 5 International. or close to that. Cover call ETF's OK, Dividend Growth always good. Leaning towards income first.
Many thanks for your excellent service.
Cec

Q: Hi

In my RRSP would it be wise to replace VGG, ZDY, and ZWH with ITOT.

Looking for lower fees and growth.

Thank you

Mike

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 .

Q: Hi Peter & 5i,
Which of these 2 ETF's would you prefer and why, or if you have any other that is better, would be much appreciated. Thanks for your wonderful service. Stay safe. Ivan

Q: Morning Team. Question relating to VIG (NY) vs VGG (TSE). From my review of both funds, it appears that the holdings are the same or very very close in both. So the question then comes down to currency. Assuming that the $CDN stays weaker as compared to the USD for the forseable future, what are your thoughts on either VIG or VGG as a core holding for the US market. Or perhaps both might be recommended to cover off currency. Many thx. Steve

Q: Hi team
I have about 40,000 in US dollars to invest
aim is to put 30% in US equity (SPY which I have a current position)
and put 70% to generate dividends and some growth (VIG which I have a current position)

it is going to be in a non-registered account, so I know that tax withholding taxes
is going to lessen the return (no intention of filing a US return)
can you give me 2 Cdn ETF (investing in US div stocks and
general market) equivalent to VIG and SPY ?
of similar returns and risks

Many thanks
Michael

Q: Hi 5i -- my son (age 26) has recently started working in a well-paying job in the US. He's saving a good portion of his salary and has asked me what he should be investing in. No debt. He's looking to invest for long-term growth for retirement in 40 years or so. About 1/3 of his holdings right now are in Brookfield Asset Management, 1/2 are split between VIG and USMV, and the rest is Berkshire Hathaway and CN for his non-registered accounts. Right now non-registered savings are $75k.
His 401k is separate in Vanguard SP500 index fund. He is a believer in pay yourself first and has been able to save and invest 5,000/month US!

He's looking for good growth stocks or funds that will increase steadily over the long term. He's earning enough now that he doesn't need dividends in the short term but he's not opposed theoretically if everything fits together. Any thoughts on what he should be investing in? Thanks.

Q: International ETF overlap query. I have the first four above now (more or less equal amounts) constituting 9.72% of total portfolio. Considering adding some more international exposure for geographic and currency diversification objectives, i.e. either VXUS or VIGI but wondering about the overlap with current holdings or should I just increase current holdings. Generally attempting to increase sector holdings in USA (fdn, ihi, hack, fivg, ipay, vbk), under-represented in Canada and more international geographic exposure. All are/will be in CDN & USD non registered accounts. Views?Suggestions?

Q: IF and that is a big IF we have all missed the bottom on American larger caps should I be now focusing on US small caps and International markets? When I look at SPY and VIG all th money has jumped into American large caps and more or less erased the huge loss and pairs back some of my gains from 2019...so huge collapse gone...for now. I've topped up some VIG but missed on SPY. When I look at US small caps they are lagging and I assume this is due to the higher risk and lower volume, Same story for Europe, International and emerging markets. So my question is should I be shifting to adding IWO, XEF, and VE. I need to add some international content to my portfolio anyways as I am a bit light at 12% international ( developed) and 10% emerging markets. If you agree or don't strongly disagree what ETFs do you recommend right now ( I already hold the one mentioned). I am leaning toward a bit of IWO and larger positions in VE and XEF.

5 year window, high but slowly lowering risk tolerance, Balanced portfolio follower ( shifting slowly to income follower), overweight canada (40%) and US(40%) ,

Q: I would like your help putting together a yield portfolio of between 15 and 20 names.
This would be the entire investments for my wife and I. We are both retired and now live full-time in the U.S. And at some point I expect my Canadian newspaper pension to disappear, so I am looking to replace that money.
I would like your opinion of the above names with regard to safety of the income and overall diversification.
I would also appreciate some additional ideas and would like to know if I`m off base on any or all of these names.
I am currently only invested in CM, BNS and BMO and DIR.UN.
Please take 20 credits (or more).
Thank you in advance for your invaluable assistance.

Q: First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund tdiv
Vanguard Div Appreciation vig
Are there any significant differences ?
Do you prefer one over the other?
Thankyou

Q: Hello,
I am currently waiting out this deep downturn in the market. At some point the market will start recovering. I have followed your recommendations in the Portfolio Tracking and Analysis tool.

If you had $500,000 sitting in cash which you want to deploy once the market turns around, which sectors would you look towards investing in for the eventual upward trend? Would you be able to provide your favourite stocks /ETFS which you would use to cover the sectors you think will be first to recover?

Thanks for all your help.

Q: I have the following securities in what I consider a balanced portfolio. The fixed income portion doesn’t show here because it consists of OAS. CCP. Plus two other pensions.
I’m thinking of sell part position in MMX ( small loss);and ARE to realize a capital loss while at the same time raising some cash for the next pullback. I like TFII . We need to keep the food chain moving. Trucking an important part . The other is cargo jet. Am I on the right track . Your opinion. Or would you look elsewhere given the current holdings.

Q: Luckily, I went to cash on most of my US holdings in Feb, but kept some VIG, thinking it would survive better than others. That has not really been true and I notice that it does not bounce as much on an up day as one like VIS, which also pays a higher yield. As I start picking away at re-building my US portfolio, what 3 ETF's would you recommend?