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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: 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
Q: I notice that XQQ does not seem to have the same performance as compared to ZNQ and HXQ over the last week, month and 3 months according to Globe and Mail.

XQQ seems to track the NASDAQ or QQQ "better" .

Can you help me understand this please.
Read Answer Asked by Ernest on January 20, 2022
Q: The above is for a long term hold in a non registered account.

1.Please provide a break down of MER, AVERAGE TRADE VOLUME daily or monthly, Assets under management (is this the best indicator of safety)
2. Are they all tracking the nasdaq 100?
3. What are the differences between them? (I believe them to be unhedged purchased in Canadian dollars)
4. What should influence me to purchase one over another?

thanks

Ernie
Read Answer Asked by Ernest on January 09, 2022
Q: Good morning,
I'm looking at adding a QQQ equivalent component two my Cdn$ Non Registered portfolio.

HXQ and XQQ are among the ETFs currently under consideration.

Q1. At this point in time, would you recommend a hedged or unhedged Canadian version of QQQ?

Q2. Not limiting yourself to HXQ and XQQ, what would be your recommendation for a Canadian QQQ equivalent?

Thank you

Francesco
Read Answer Asked by Francesco on September 27, 2021
Q: I hold the US portion of my portfolio in my RRSP. It represents roughly 20% of my total investment. I do not need to convert to RRIF for another 5 years and at that time will be taking the minimum required.
I currently hold ZQQ; ZPAY; ZDY; ZWH; ZSP.
I am thinking of switching my holdings to the following in roughly equal amounts: ZPAY; VUN; ZSP; ZNQ; XSU.
The objective is to get better coverage of the total US market through XSU and VUN. Maintain coverage of S&P 500 through ZSP. For Tech switching to non hedged via ZNQ. ZPAY will still provide good income with perhaps some downside protection through its options strategy.
Your thoughts and recommendations of alternatives.
The rest of my portfolio in my Non-Registered account and TFSA follow a mixture of your 3 portfolios which by the way have provide me with a return of 12 - 15% in the past 6 plus years.
Read Answer Asked by Bruce on September 08, 2021