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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: There is a ( very) new ETF, coming out from Horizon with ticker QQCL being a covered call Nasdaq 100 with anticipated yield of 14.10 %.
This seems to be attractive for my TFSA for higher growth (with volatility which I can handle), along with a high yield.

I have bought several of these products, HTA, HHL, UMAX for both my registered and non registered accounts. They seem “ too good to be true “ and am wondering if that’s true. I have seen many of these enhanced products ( remember flow through shares ?) and hope these do not repeat.
Your thoughts on QQCL and on these ETF’s in general would be appreciated.
Thanks. Derek
Read Answer Asked by Derek on October 06, 2023
Q: I am close to retiring and have all registered accounts maxed out, but have $200K of non-registered funds to invest, and wondering what recommendation would be. I am leaning for simplicity to spread across a few ETFs to get some balance of growth and dividends. Thoughts/recommendations.
Read Answer Asked by Steven on October 06, 2023
Q: This is about the question asked by Paul regarding tax consequences. I am not sure I understand your answer, you say that "one can even sell in late December (as long as the sell settles in 2023) and then in January and shift the tax burden a full year". In a case like this I would have thought of selling very early in January 2024 instead. Could you comment? Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Gervais on October 03, 2023
Q: Awhile ago a G & M columnist wrote a reply to a question and gave advice and details about selling a U.S. listed stock. He recommended not doing it all at once for tax reasons and I am wondering what your thoughts would be. I bought 300 shares of QQQ in the 1990's at about $43/share. It has grown to be a significant portion of my non registered account. I was thinking of selling 100 shares each of the next three years to lessen the tax consequences. (I am a buy and holder). Thoughts and consequences?
Cheers
Paul
Read Answer Asked by Paul on October 03, 2023
Q: My son is starting an FHSA account at Wealthsimple. With the goal of contributing monthly and maximizing the limit over 5 to 7 years before needing funds. What combination of ETF's and blue chip stocks would you recommend that combines steady/increasing dividends, capital appreciation and minimal downside risk. Looking for a manageable # and combination of stock/Etf

Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Harry on September 27, 2023
Q: Just a follow up to a previously answered question regarding which ETFs you would choose. What would be your weighting in a portfolio containing SPY, QQQ, IJH, AGG and VYM?

If you were to remove bonds (AGG) altogether, where would you allocate weighting?
Read Answer Asked by David on September 25, 2023
Q: There have been a number of questions recently asking how to construct the best etf portfolio. I thought you did an amazing job in answering these. I had a couple of questions, though, to which I like your response.

You recommend SPY. I believe you also answered QQQ in some place. Would one need QQQ if one already owned SPY? I am speaking here as an average retired investor willing to take a little risk. The concern is that the top ten holdings of the two funds is quite similar. The other concern relates to thèse top ten holdings. A lot of both funds is invested in high flying technology stocks. You often mention that the danger in investing in a Canadian index fund is that they are heavily weighted to three industry sectors. Wouldn’t the same fear hold true for SPY? And if so, would a good work around be a combination of a market weighted fund, such as RSP and an appropriate balance of SPY and QQQ?
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by joseph on September 25, 2023
Q: If you were to build a portfolio of just ETFs, what 6-8 would you select? Maybe ignore Canada for this scenario as I have plenty of individual positions I'm quite happy with.

Read Answer Asked by Robert on September 21, 2023
Q: Hi 5i Team - What would your top 5 ETF's be as I'd like to purchase the best ETF's that you will recommend.
Thx - Doug
Read Answer Asked by DOUG on September 20, 2023
Q: Am looking at adding some QQQ (or similar) in my TFSA but am wondering if now is the best time. Also, I am not as familiar with Invesco and usually go with iShares. They have XQQ but it is in Canadian dollars and hedged. Would IYW be similar to QQQ? Are you quite comfortable with QQQ? Would you be able to suggest an entry price for whichever one you recommend? Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Kim on September 11, 2023
Q: So here's my predicament. Over the past many years my portfolio largely reflects NASDAQ returns but has much more volatility. I'm thinking of just buying a bunch of QQQ (or XQQ) so I worry less about the volatility while still getting similar returns. I still like picking stocks and was thinking of holding most of my tech in QQQ while trying to pick a few tech stocks to 'juice' returns. If you were to pick 5 NASDAQ stocks that might outperform the NASDAQ over a mid-long timeframe, what would they be? Note these can include large caps (MSFT, NVDA) or anything else.
Read Answer Asked by Cameron on August 28, 2023
Q: What are your top 4-5 picks (stocks or ETFs) for an RRSP with a 15-20 year horizon?

Thanks,
Read Answer Asked by Cam on August 27, 2023
Q: Hi Team,
For an 18 year old who just opened their TFSA and starting with $6500, what stocks or ETFs (CDN and/or US) would you start with? There are no trading fees so there is no worry to buy 10 names if that is the best way forward.
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Marco on August 22, 2023
Q: From a global perspective would you favor European, US or international stocks/EFTs to invest at this time ? I would like to diversify my portfolio a little better and therefore sell some Canadian ETFs and purchase European, US and international ETFs .
Thank you . Miroslaw
Read Answer Asked by Miroslaw on August 18, 2023
Q: For a non registered account which etfs would your recommend for broad US and for tech exposure and what max weighting would you recommend allocating to these 2 etfs? Would these 2 etfs be the best for US exposure for the TFSA also or would you suggest different ones?
Thanks for your help.
Victoria
Read Answer Asked by Anna on August 16, 2023
Q: I am looking to transfer money from my sons RESP into a TFSA. He is working a lot with ample overtime and likely won't require the money to cover tuition etc.. Could you please suggest some Canadian and/or U.S. etfs that would provide a well rounded portfolio to start him on his investing journey.
Read Answer Asked by Michael on July 17, 2023
Q: Hi Peter, what do you see happening on July 24th when the Nasdaq re- balances? Do you think that some of the top stocks would see a bit of a sell-off as ETFs and institution investors rebalance as well? Which companies would you put new money in? Thanks in advance.
Read Answer Asked by K on July 12, 2023