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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: Hello Peter,
I tried to balance growth and income as well as dividends (no with holding tax in RRSP for US stocks but there is in TFSA), and hence, can you let me know if these make sense for a mid 20s person starting off to have a more growth in TFSA and more income in RRSP.
TFSA: veqt, vgg, and xfn and maybe xic ( veqt has cdn exposure so thought i would exclude xic )
RRSP: vbal, zuq, xic, and xuu all of these trade on tsx. Much appreciated.
Read Answer Asked by umedali on January 21, 2025
Q: I hold these ETF's in a RESP account and just wonder if all these ETF are different enough to own? Also would be be good to own XAW in the RESP account. Money is not needed for 10 years.

Thanks
Read Answer Asked on January 21, 2025
Q: Dear 5i,
Thank you for your awesome work and valuable insights. Would like to invest 7000$ into my 19 year old Son’sTFSA. What stocks or Etfs would you recommend for long-term growth? He currently has ZSP and AMD(20%of portfolio). Also should I replace AMD with a different stock? Thank you!
Read Answer Asked by Dimitrios on January 20, 2025
Q: I would like to purchase a NASDAQ ETF and S&P 500 ETF for a long-term hold 15 years plus in a TFSA account
1. Should I buy in USD (QQQ, VOO)or CAD(ZNQ.TO,XUS.TO) I am wondering how the returns are affected if the cad appreciates in future ?
2. If I buy on tsx am I correct in thinking no tax will be withheld as it’s in Tfsa account ?
My ideas : NDAQ QQQ XQQ.TO ZNQ.TO
VOO. XUS.TO ZSP.TO HXS
Appreciate your opinion as to best ones to own
If you can rank best first
Thank you again
Read Answer Asked by Indra on January 08, 2025
Q: Hi Gang
Can you give me a your top 5 ETFs that hold top us stocks

Thanks Mike B
Read Answer Asked by Mike on November 18, 2024
Q: Could you recommend a few CAD etfs for the US market/SP500/Nasdaq that do not require to be reported on form T1135 for an unregistered account over $100K? Thanks in advance.
Read Answer Asked by K on October 31, 2024
Q: I’m considering setting up a TFSA for a spouse who is not interested in selecting stocks/managing investments.
Should I stick to ETFs or mix ETFs with a few conservative stocks?
Read Answer Asked by Valerie on October 11, 2024
Q: what etfs do you currently like the most right now from a standpoint of mers, how market is priced right now. Also can you tell me being new to etfs can you buy a stock etf that has u.s. stocks in canadian dollars and if yes what is your favourite.
Read Answer Asked by hans on September 26, 2024
Q: My husband mainly holds ETF's in his TFSA - ZLB, VXC, ZNQ, and some BRK. ZNQ accounts for around 5% with the others split about evenly. Which one would you add new cash to today? Another option we have been looking at is adding VUG. I think there is a lot of overlap between VXC, ZNQ, and VUG. Of the three, which one or two do you like best? Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Kim on September 18, 2024
Q: hi 5i,
what are you top picks for non-Canada core ETF's for long term hold/accumulation? im looking for US markets, European, Asia, and India. I like very liquid entities, and a dividend is fine. If possible, can you include both hedged/unhedged to $CDN. I notice that most of the unhedged versions of the ETF's have higher annual returns-do you recommend hedging or no hedging for the $CDN?
thanks, Chris
Read Answer Asked by chris on September 12, 2024
Q: For ETF’s there are a number of variations of a given index such as market capitalization weighting vs equal weight capitalization vs capped weighting and for Canadian versions of US ETF’s hedged vs unhedged. I’m sure I’m probably missing other differentiating options. For someone who wants to invest in Canadian (rather US) dollars, and given all these different options, I’m wondering what your preferred funds would be for S&P500, NASDAQ100, and an international ex-US ETF and a brief comment for each as to the rationale why? For coverage of the TSX do you prefer a fund that tracks the TSX60 or the entire index and which one would that be? Would these suggestions differ depending upon whether the funds are held in a non-registered account vs an RRSP vs other registered accounts (TFSA, FHSA and RESP)? Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Bruce on August 07, 2024
Q: My niece is looking to enter the DIY investing world and move her TFSA over to an online self-directed account. Her advisor has her in these high fee accounts above. These look like funds for a retired person looking for income rather than for a 29 year looking to grow a TFSA with the goal to hopefully get a down payment for a condo some day. Could you please give some advice for a beginner investor, ETF's some Canadian and US equities to get her started. She's a bit nervous as all ne DIY investors are. Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Nancy on June 25, 2024
Q: If using your balanced portfolio as my canadian content for an equity portfolio could you please recommend some equity etfs for ex canadian content and what % would be canadian of the total portfolio? I was thinking 40% and 60% outside canada

Thx
Read Answer Asked by blake on June 06, 2024
Q: There are a number of Canadian based NASDAQ100 and S&P500 ETF's. Which NASDAQ100 and S&P500 ETF would you prefer, or would be "best", for a TFSA account, and why? Would investing within an RRSP or in a non-registered account alter your selections and if so, why would that be? Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Bruce on February 09, 2024
Q: I am looking to add exposure to the US market in my TFSA. I currently own ZSP and ZNQ and would like to add an ETF listed on the Cdn exchange that would balance my exposure to the Mag 7. I have seen you recommend EQL which I am considering however is there another ETF that would broaden my exposure beyond the S&P 500. Perhaps to include some mid and small cap stocks?
Also would you expect that mid and small caps will outperform given where we are in the market cycle?
Read Answer Asked by Bruce on January 16, 2024
Q: For tax efficiency in a non registered account do you recommend HXS and HXQ over ZSP and ZNQ. For US dollars do you like HXS.U and HXQ.U.
For a long term hold what are your thought of HXT in this account?
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Anna on September 13, 2023