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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: I have just started an RESP for my grandson and will be contributing the max $2500 per year. What would you recommend as my first stock purchases.
Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Marty on January 26, 2026
Q: What would be your top 3 choices if you were buying Canadian ETF’s that hold USA tech companies including those with an AI focus?
Read Answer Asked by Valter on January 18, 2026
Q: I currently hold the above ETFs in a RESP and wonder if I should add any other ETF or this is good enough and just keep adding to these ones. Money not needed for 9 years.

Thanks
Read Answer Asked on November 04, 2025
Q: If a new Canadian investor wanted to get into the North American market and use low cost index investing to achieve both diversification and simplicity what would you consider for such a portfolio. And if international exposure was desired what could be considered as additions for that.
Read Answer Asked by dave on October 23, 2025
Q: I currently hold these ETF's in a RESP. I have only XIC ,ZNQ and IWO at a 11% weight , would you be comfortable bringing them up to 15-20% each ?

Is there any other ETF you would add ?I am looking at XAW.

Thanks
Read Answer Asked on August 28, 2025
Q: I am coming into a $50,000 gift from aging parents, and would like to invest for my 10 month old son’s education. I want long term growth until he needs the money (probably 18 years or so). Would you recommend 100% ZSP or some other ETF? Also, should I buy in one shot as soon as I have the money ?
Read Answer Asked by John on July 25, 2025
Q: I asked a question last week but it must have got lost. This is a follow up question regarding my question about if you could only hold 3 ETF's what would they be. You answered ZSP, XIC and ZNQ. Can you please explain the rational for owning both ZSP and ZNQ. Is there not a lot of overlap between the two? And if I were to hold only these # ETF's can you also explain why you wouldn't include another international exposure ETF? I believe ZNQ is currency hedged which usually means higher fees. Is there another option to ZNQ that isn't hedged with a lower MER?
Thank you for your service.
Read Answer Asked by Cheryl on July 22, 2025
Q: If you were only to buy 3 ETF's and a couple of high convictions stocks. Which 3 ETF's would you pick. No fixed income please.
Read Answer Asked by Cheryl on July 04, 2025
Q: Hi team. A few months ago I asked about the best stocks and/or ETFs for my 32 year old son to invest $12K of RRSP $. We didn't get to this yet.... In the past you recommended a few ETFs. What would you recommend today. I'll help him get this invested through a self directed plan next week. Thank you!
Read Answer Asked by Kathryn on July 03, 2025
Q: What ETF would you buy to be long the market in this volatile environment (moderate risk - some income if possible)? If you can suggest 3 with a brief comment that would be great. Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Pierre on April 10, 2025
Q: Could you please provide your top 5 Canadian ETFS and top 3 dividend Canadian ETFs.  Rank the ETFs as well
Read Answer Asked by Don on April 08, 2025
Q: Hello, 1.How does one protect them selves from large market crashes?
2. If one were to start a portfolio with only index funds, etfs which are the ones you would suggest. Maximum 5 etfs. Thanks.

Shyam
Read Answer Asked by Shyam on February 19, 2025
Q: I'm looking for an unhedged Canadian etf that tracks the nasdaq 100. When comparing ZNQ to HXQ I see that ZNQ doesn't pay a dividend but rather reinvests it. Also it has cheaper fees than HXQ. But HXQ pays a small dividend. The returns over time seem marginally better for ZNQ. But when the div's are factored in, is this more of a wash or does the tax preference of no div's help more? This would be in an RESP for reference. Thx
Read Answer Asked by Adam on February 18, 2025
Q: Can you name a handful of ETF options for long term holds in my son's RESP account. Growth, dividend, and balanced. Looking for exposure in Canada and USA. I don't want the headache of managing stocks for this portfolio. I'd rather have something that I can just buy and not look at it for 15 years until he needs it.
Read Answer Asked by Harrison on February 10, 2025
Q: Hello, for a 25 year old with $ 500.00 to invest in the TFSA, which of the above would you suggest?
Also, how about for a 27 year old with $ 100K, which one(s) would you suggest? Finally, does BMO have a S&P500 unhedged?
As a quick calculation the Unedged has retuned ~ 6% more with BMO (ZQQ /ZNQ) and ~ 12% with the ishare ( XQQ/XQQU). Right?
Thanks
Carlo
Read Answer Asked by Carlo on February 05, 2025
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
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