Investment Q&A

Q: I am making the switch to holding ETFs in my RRSP instead of individual stocks to make it easier to manage. Can you recommend your top ETFs for a growth oriented investor who has a 10-15 year horizon and wants a globally diversified portfolio. I would like to limit this to less than 5 ETFs.

Thanks

Greg

Q: Hi,

What do you think of these 3 ETFS (XME,XLB, XLI) for the next 2 years and, hopefully much longer? I'm hoping for a 7% position.
Would you invest in any of them?
Is there another ETF you like better?

Q: Good morning, I have some USD in my tfsa and was wondering if you could suggest a few ETFs in the states where I won’t get charged a withholding tax. Can be growth or index oriented.
Thanks

Q: Hi team!
I am considering a hybrid portfolio of either (A) 80% ETFs and 20% individual stocks or (B) 80% in an All-in-one ETF (VEQT/VGRO) and 20% individual stocks. I understand there may be foreign withholding tax considerations on the Vanguard All-in-one ETFs depending on the account type in which it's held and I'm wondering how significant this actually is.

Questions:

- Which accounts out of RRSP/LIRA, TFSA, RESP, and Non-Registered would US listed ETFs be a better alternative due to this foreign withholding tax drag?

- At what account value would the tax drag from these withholding taxes be material enough to warrant buying individual ETFs (ex. VT, VTI, XUU, XEF) instead of using an all in one fund (VGRO or VEQT)?

Trying to avoid losing 15% or more of any US/foreign dividends due to unrecoverable foreign taxes if possible!

Thanks for your great work!

Q: My wife and I treat our individual accounts as a single portfolio. Based on the Portfolio Analytics we are significantly underweight on the US and rest of the world. We have on RRSP representing 12% of the portfolio that will be converted to a RRIF next year that we would like to simplify. We will maintain 40% - 50% in fixed income, but would like to invest the rest in equity ETFs with holdings outside of Canada. Could you please suggest one or two ETF for exposure to each of the US and the rest of the world. Thank you.

Q: Hi 5i Team,

I have held a balanced Canadian Couch Potato Portfolio with the above etfs in my son's RESP which i started when he was born in 2009. The portfolio has done pretty well (in my books at least) at 8% annual return. I am now looking at a 6 year time horizon for when he will need to begin to draw from the RESP. I am thinking of starting to rotate toward more conservative holdings as the timeline for needing the funds draws closer. Under "normal" circumstances from what i have learned this would mean moving more into bonds at this point but I am having trouble believing this is appropriate in the current market. With interest rates and inflation both rising i am wondering if low debt dividend stocks might be a better bet to hold onto purchasing power in this time frame? Maybe something something like CDZ vs XBB? I know you can not suggest specific portfolio recommendations but looking for suggestions/best bets for maintaining value and keeping up with inflation over this time frame.

Thanks,

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.

Q: Good morning,

I have 5000$ US. I don't need the money for 10 years. ETF or stock, please.

Thank you

Martin

Q: 65 yr old retiring this year. I hold the following: XAW (35%), XBB (20%), XIC (12%), CDZ (7%), ZSP (7%), VTI (7%), ZIC, VTI and ENB at 5% each.
In view of the current conditions, would you increase the fixed asset portion and reduce equity? Which ones would you add to and which ones would you reduce/remove?

Q: Currently hold vti & vig. Any issues here concerning overlap of holdings or outlook?

Q: I am contributing to my RRSP. I have a maxed out TFSA and also have a non-registered account. I am trying to stay fairly diversified in terms of sector. (and am happy with that mix currently). What I would like to do, is focus on the US in my RRSP for tax considerations. My US exposure is currently low.
Questions: Can you suggest some ETFS or Index Funds that take advantage of the tax situation and are favourably priced right now? Should I contribute to the RRSP in $Can or $US? Is there an advantage to either? 5-10 year time frame.

Thank you for your great service!
KEN

Q: Hello 5i
I recently asked a question regarding US stocks and etf positions. You suggested that I could easily go with the stocks I have plus something like VTI. I currently hold RSP ( as I like an equal weight approach and it maybe more readily balances my overweight in technology) and IWO for small caps. Do you think that this would serve as well as VTI?

Q: Hello 5i
I know that it is a good idea to either have a certain number of US stocks that are not represented in Canada, or an etf for the US market, in order to have a balanced portfolio. Fortunatly, or unfortunatly, I have both. And I am wondering whether I should either get rid of my stocks or get rid of my etf's. The above are the US stocks I hold. in pretty good percentages. If i were to hold only stocks what might you suggest to supplement these? I know that I am probably heavy in tech to really represent the US market and will probably have to trim here, maybe in percentages. any other suggestions appreciated. Most of these are held in tax sheltered accounts, so taxes shouldnt matter too much.
thanks as always

Q: Hello. I have ~$50K cash to deploy for investing. Given current volatile market, I am thinking of investing all in ETF (which might be safer), unless you feel strongly about some undervalued stocks. I'd like expose to world economy including the US, Canada and perhaps others. The investment can be long term as I don't need these money right away. But in case of decent gain in a short term, I probably would take money out for real estate purchase. Can you please recommend 3-5 ETF? I understand you don't timing the market. But given the outlook for rising interest rate, would it be better just hold them as cash for now?

Thank you.

Q: What are the Can ETFs that cover the main US ETFs, like SPY? And what are their mers?

What are the advantages of using these Canadian versions?

Do you still require W-BEN forms if you buy these?

Thanks for all your help.

Q: I would like to invest using only 4 ETFs. One for short bonds, one for all Canadian stocks, one for emerging markets, one for the whole US market, and one for the developed world (as wide as possible) excluding Canada and the US.

Which ETFs should I use?

Thanks

Q: Hello 5i team,

I'd like to say I enjoy this first class product. The questions obviously are one of the pillars of this service. Offering fantastic insight and vision for all who read.

Looking for confirmation and guidance.
Without specific weights etc is this a sound plan to stick to longterm?

Non registered account is now growing and will be holding CDN stocks.
Former holding was XIC

RRSP is in USD and holds VTI and VXUS
I like the currency diversification and funds. And norberts gambit reduced the cost.
I also pay into an employer matched pension.

TFSA growth stocks in both CDN and USD
I am looking at mid to longterm ETF'S for growth. Without regard to sector etc.
My portfolio is balanced.

My selections are:

SMH
VTWO
BOTZ
MTUM
IWO
QQQJ
ARKK


Could you please rank these in terms of your conviction on success. If one stands out and comes to mind that isn't here please add it.
I would like to add 2 funds.

Thank you very much.

Q: Peter,

I am comparing VT vs. XWD.

VT- one yr return 44%- - U.S. $$
XWD- one year return 27% Cdn $$- measures MSCI

Both are global investments but huge differences in return. I am assuming the strengthening CDN $$ hurt XWD performance. My question revolves around VT. Their site says it is a passive investment but does not mention the indexes it actually duplicates. Is someone actually choosing the investments in VT or are they simply covering certain indexes? If so, what are they?

Thanks

Paul

Q: We are typically buy and hold investors. It has been suggested that we sell our Capital Market Weighted Index VTI (unregistered) and purchase RSP which is Equal Weighted (unregistered). Apparently, the larger companies in VTI are getting very expensive and have started to under-perform since November 2020. Other than capital gains from the sale of VTI what are the advantages and disadvantages of switching?

Q: Hi,

I'm a medium risk investor with a 5 year time frame.

Can you recommend 3 US ETFS to cover the whole US Market?
And 3 to cover the whole CDN market?
and 1 ETF to cover the international market?