Investment Q&A

Q: I realize that there is some overlap between these two funds, but would you say that there is too much, or would they compliment each other, thanks?

Q: For a retiree, does it make sense to invest all in VBAL or might you supplement VBAL with some additional ETFs along with some individual income/growth stocks?

Thanks
Bryan

Q: Hi

My question is about structuring and managing a portfolio across multiple registered and unregistered accounts. Please forgive if this question has been asked before.

Between 4 family members (including two young children) we have 11 trading accounts on the go, including 5 unregistered (3 Cdn and 2 US), 2 tfsa’s, 2 rrsp’s, and 2 resp’s. My approach to date has generally been to try to diversify within each account and try not to duplicate between accounts, with an eye to overall diversification.

This results in three problems (at least): sub-optimal diversification within and across accounts, too many holdings (which are difficult to monitor) and a low average $ value per holding. For example, 11 accounts times ten positions per account is 110 holdings. As for low value, a 10% holding on a $50,000 registered account is $5,000, which represents only 0.5% of an aggregate $1,000,000 value (example).

I have been thinking of treating all of the accounts holistically rather than individually while accounting for tax considerations of course. My goal is to try to get the number of holdings down to 20 - 30, with an average value of 3% - 5% of aggregate portfolio value. I find the main difficulty to be in structuring the lower value accounts.

Two approaches I have been mulling over:

1) Scrap the individual account diversification approach and perhaps only hold 1 - 3 positions in lower value accounts. This approach would probably mean that no account on its own will be diversified but the aggregate portfolio will be (hopefully).
2) Try to maintain the account diversification approach by investing in only one etf per account until the account eventually reaches a size sufficient to hold more positions (then I suppose the approach would flip to the first approach). The idea being that each account would hold a different etf (and at least be somewhat diversified) that would contribute to the overall diversification of the aggregate portfolio.

Do you have any comments or guidance on managing multiple accounts? How do investment professionals manage their own family accounts? Any best practices that you are aware of, or good articles that you can direct me to? Any considerations besides tax; for example, how do you apportion risk between family members and accounts?

Thanks
Derek

Q: What is the best all in one etf for Canada, us,and global? Thanks larry

Q: I have my kids RESP in RBF460 with a MER of 1.94%. My personal ROR is 6.16%. I will need this money in next 4 years and was wondering if there is an ETF that I can make switch, to avoid the high MER and attain 7% ROR?
Thanks

Q: Hi there. In August I became nervous about managing the amount of money I had been and got an investment advisor from the Royal Bank. I then invested half of my savings into their mutual funds. A large chunk of it is in the RBC Select Balanced Portfolio. As this is a mutual fund there is a mer of 1.94%. So question # 1 is: is this a reasonable mer?
I have noticed now that this mutual fund invests in 10 other (mostly RBC) mutual funds. So my second question is: how does this work for the other mers? Who is paying these mers? Am I paying 1.94% plus other hidden fees for the mutual funds within the first mutual fund?

Thanks,
Sue

Q: I have the Vanguard Balance ETF (VBAL) and I find that it is well balance and is performing well. Do you know if the same type of ETF exist for U.S. Balance ETF?
Thanks

Q: Hello 5i

I am a retired cautious investor who is slowly moving from individual stocks in both my registered and non-registered accounts to Mawer 105.

I do, however, believe in diversification. As I slowly unwind my accounts with their individual diversified holdings would it be wiser to spread my future investments between such products as Mawer 105 and VBal or simply go “all in” with one or the other ... or any other product you would suggest?

Thank you

Peter

Q: We have about $150k in a Family RESP invested in the Fidelity Clearpath 2025 Portfolio Series B ISC target date fund. On the Fidelity fact sheet it says "Series B has the highest combined management and administration fees among the series in the Program". We were put into the fund by our previous financial advisor. Funny how that worked. The current MER is 2.17%. Could you recommend two or three alternative ETF's or funds with more reasonable MER's or even possibly a handful of suitable stocks? The funds won't be needed for another five years. Thanks.

Q: If you followed the Balanced Equity Portfolio and the Balanced ETF would you be fairly well represented in each TSX sector based on previous 5i answers and would you also be well represented geographically ie Canada/US/International ...40% ,35% and 25%. If not what would you suggest to come close to these percentages and TSX sector allocations?

Q: Hi guys
As you know Elderly Care is expensive..roughly 6 grand a month. Sold the house 5 years ago (big mistake) put the money in a split between GICs & BNS430 . 60% GICS 40% BNS430. This isn't enough Income to stop the Capital Drain. Myself, Im not impressed with the MER or the returns from the Scotia Innova Income Portfolio Series T. Was thinking of switching out of GIC or BNS430 to the MAW105. Would you have any other ideas?. Im a little scared of the Dividend ETFs, BMO dividend ETF got Hammered 30% in 2008....Yikes
thanks Gord ( take a many credits as you like)

Q: Hi Peter & Ryan,
Would appreciate your opinion on simplifying my mother's portfolio. The portfolio is worth 600K and I currently hold the following ETF's. VCN, VFV, XSP, VBAL, VGRO, VVL, XIN, VEE, XWD. I definately have duplication and believe I can downsize to 3 ETF's VBAL, VGRO and I like XWD for their global allocation and sector weighting.
Thoughts? And would you put 200K in each one?
Thanks,
Steve

Q: HI,
Are there any tax consequences keeping these in TFSA account.

Thanks,
Milan

Q: Which of these two funds would you prefer and why ? Please compare the managements, the fees, the yield, and the safety, origin , and selection of bond products . Thankyou

Q: What are your thoughts on these low mer Vanguard etfs?
Thnx

Q: I currently have an RESP invested in the Mawer Balanced Fund (MAW104) which I've been pleased with performance (we'll be needing it in about 6-7 years). Considering switching this to either XBAL or VBAL to lower fees and hopefully improve returns accordingly.

I've read some of your answers to Mawer Balanced vs. the XBAL and VBAL ETF's. Would like your opinion on XBAL vs. VBAL for this account. The new XBAL mandate is pretty much the same as VBAL, but it's MER is slightly lower at 0.18% vs. 0.22%. XBAL is much smaller than VBAL currently, but I expect will catch up quickly, and they'll probably match MER's over time.

Do you recommend either of XBAL or VBAL over each other, and suggest even bothering switching from Mawer Balanced Fund in the first place? They all seem like good options!

Q: TD Mgd Idx Bal Growth Port - e (TDB852). Would you consider this fund a good choice for a child's RESP, the Child would not need the money for 15 plus years. I lean towards more growth but family would prefer something more balanced. This is close to the"couch potato" method. MER is 1.27%. There are no fees to purchase this e-series fund with TD and no fees to sell after 2 months (not that it would be sold for a long time). It is a mix of their 4 e series funds (40% Canadian bond index, 23 % us index, 20% canadian index and 76 percent international index). Would you recommend something else?

Q: Following up on Maureen's question about regional allocation - if you looked at Canada 40% US 35% Europe 15% and Emerging Markets 10% could you give me some suggestions as to which ETF's you might suggest I look at to achieve such a distribution.
Thanks,Terry

Q: age 80, have large amount to invest, looking to make up low risk portfolio that doesn't require constant watching

Q: Good morning,

All four of our family TFSAs and RESP are invested in a mix of Mawer equity and balanced funds.

I'm reading a number of very favourable articles on the benefits of holding a one etf solution for a well diversified portfolio and was wondering if I should consider:
a. keeping the Mawer funds in our TFSAs and RESP but purchasing either VBAL or CBD.A for new TFSA and RESP contributions;
b. Sell all of our MAWER funds and buy either VBAL, CBD.A and perehaps some VGRO for the RESP given that our grandchildren are only 7 years old.

Your thoughts and adjustment suggestion to our TFSA and RESP holdings would be appreciated. Thank you.

Franco