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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: I am currently down over $35K in SPY and would like to crystalize capital losses as I feel we are nearing the bottom. I understand that selling SPY and buying VOO would be deemed as an artificial loss by CRA, so I am wondering whether you can recommend another, less obvious replacement with high degree of correlation to SPY? Ideally, a USD-traded one. Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Michael on May 24, 2022
Q: I have held JEPI thinking that in a bear market, or any down market, JEPI should do better than SPY or RSP. Is this in fact correct? The decline in JEPI seems about the same as the decline in SPY. I am however not sure. In comparing charts, even premium sources I have access to do not footnote whether or not distributions are taken into account. I also cannot tell from JEPI’s history what portion of distribution is in fact return of capital.
Read Answer Asked by Adam on May 18, 2022
Q: for an 18 year old buying TFSA of 6 000, summer work earnings, but not needing money for a long time, probably targeting first home buy 10 + years down the road (education covered) what would you suggest if ETF, 3 suggestions please. Also, plan B, basket of 5 growth stocks, (being 18, she is interested in apple, alphabet, amazon and Microsoft)

thanks
Read Answer Asked by Ernest on May 13, 2022
Q: Hi Peter & Team:
Can you give me some idea which of the above companies for TFSA , rank from your best and down. Thank you as always.
Read Answer Asked by DAVID on May 13, 2022
Q: Peter,

I look at the S & P 500 index as the gold standard for performance measurement. It has been my theory that any portfolio performance should be compared to this index first. Do you agree?

For diversification purposes please list your top 5 indexes & associated ETF codes that you feel would be relevant whenever looking at an equity portfolio. This can be anywhere in the world. { Fixed Income I strictly take a ladder approach.} I would be interested in ones with a lower correlation , if that is realistic. It may not be.

Thank you

Paul
Read Answer Asked by paul on May 11, 2022
Q: What ETFs/mutual funds ( not limited to Canadian equities ) would you recommend for a young couple (in their early 30s) for their TFSA. It will be for a long term hold. If more than 1 ETF is advised, what percentage in each ETF. Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Teresa on April 22, 2022
Q: Good morning,

Truly enjoy reading your reports and answers to queries asked by members!

In your response to Chris, on April 8th, you outline a starting strategy for a young 16 year old investor.

You state: "we might start out with a broad market ETF that pays a dividend"

Would you be comfortable listing a few broad market ETF that fit this criteria taking into account a 10 year lock up of the funds?

Perhaps suggesting a few for high, moderate and low risk tiers.

Have a great weekend!

Art
Read Answer Asked by Arturo on April 11, 2022
Q: My son (30) has some money and wants to put it in your small cap growth model. He wants to include a number of ETF's to have some other exposure. He would put 30% of his money in the small caps and 70% in ETF's. Here is the list of ETF's he is considering, but is worried it is too many. Can you please help with the ETF list as he is concerned that he has too many. Please take as many credits as needed. Thanks.

XIC 15%
XIU 15%
CDZ 5%
QQQ 10%
IWR 7%
DIA 10%
SPY 10%
SDY 5%
VTI 8%
IDV 5%
VXUS 5%
VEE 5%

Read Answer Asked by Gregory on March 18, 2022
Q: Good Morning,

I have recently retired and need to improve yield. The above noted holdings have a low yield or have not performed well.

Can you please rate from first to sell down to last to sell and possibly provide some basic reasoning.

Thanks very much.
Read Answer Asked by Dave on March 10, 2022
Q: Hello Peter and team,
Would you prefer VOO or VTI at this time? Also, is there an etf in canadian dollars (tsx) that mimics VTI similar to xsp on tsx and SPY? Thanks very much.
Read Answer Asked by umedali on March 09, 2022
Q: Q.

Would you recommend one ETF for a 12 yr+- time frame for my sons RESP?
One that I can add to over time, growth minded, MER friendly with CDN & US exposure taking into consideration US taxation.

Thanks,
Dan
Read Answer Asked by Daniel on February 01, 2022
Q: I have enough exposure to the Canadian market but I need additional global equity exposure for the next 10 years.

Would you please recommend an ETF for each of the following categories:
US
International
Emerging markets

Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Don on January 25, 2022
Q: Hello Peter,
For an RESP today and future contributions with focus on Canada and USA, I was thinking of allocating more monies to indexes such as xic and xsp and less to sectors such as xfn or zeb , and xit. What are your thoughts? Also, i noticed that xsp has not done as well as SPY. i am assuming it is do to currency. In an RESP, I would think xsp on toronto and SPY on NYSE, both have withholding taxes.. Please comment. Thank you
Read Answer Asked by umedali on January 20, 2022
Q: Greetings All:
With regard to a question asked on Jan 9 by Cory concerning the above I have some further inquires. If any of you had 1 million to invest and wanted to keep it simple, as stated, and wanted to be fully invested, with a good degree of security ( As much as can be expected in the stock market) would you invest it in these two funds? What % would you have in each fund, considering you were investor " X " with no strings attached? Most advisors are currently preaching that 2022 will be the year when active investing will win, considering all the expected volatility and sector rotation. Also, if the growth rout continues off and on where could you see IWO falling to? I know this is a prediction question, but considering all the items in your knowledge basket, please make a guess. Please provide some equivalent S & P 500 fund names. I notice that no one at 5-i has an interest in IWO.
Thanks as always,
BEN.
Read Answer Asked by BEN on January 13, 2022
Q: I have made good profit by investing in these ETF's. Now as the S&P 500 begins to roll down, I see losing some of the gains made so far. Should I sell these ETF's and park the money in cash and wait for the S&P 500 to move up and then invest it back. Alternately , should I leave it invested in these two ETF's. This is part of my fixed income investment. Thanks for the excellent advice you guys have consistently provided.
Read Answer Asked by Vinod on January 11, 2022