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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,
I am retired and 63 years old.
I have 50K in ALTAMIRA HIGH-INTEREST CASHPERFORMER - F
NBC200 in my RSSP waiting to be deployed. I will not need that money for the next ten years. I told my broker that this investment was not even keeping up with inflation.
He suggested to buy CUF.un (20000$) and PWF (30000$).
Would you think of better alternatives?
Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Serge on September 13, 2016
Q: Hi Peter and Gang,

My holdings in companies under the Brookfield brand (BAM.A, BBU.UN, BIP.PR, etc...) account for about 15% of my portfolio. Although these companies are in different businesses altogether, I am just wondering if there is too much concentration on the Brookfield brand. Your thoughts and comments would be appreciated.

Harry
Read Answer Asked by Harry on September 12, 2016
Q: Hi 5i,
Although they have both been good investments, it seems that since 2010 BIP units have outperformed BEP units by a decent margin. Are the profit margins lower in BEP's focus area or is there something about the energy project investment arc that delays returns in the renewable energy space? I'm wondering what the BIP unit outperformance is attributable to and whether it is a factor that is likely to continue or whether, in the future, BEP is more likely to keep pace, or even to do a little catch-up. I'd be interested in any thoughts you may have on this. Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Lance on August 19, 2016
Q: Which of the Brookfield funds do you prefer for a retirement income portfolio. I'm looking for something with reliable income and some capital growth. Is this a good time to buy any of these funds as they have had quite a run, should I wait for a pull back?
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Nancy on August 12, 2016
Q: I currently hold BPY (up 50% over cost) and H&R in my portfolio 4% and 3% respectively.
I am considering swapping BPY for BEP for the additional income. Your thoughts?

I also plan to crystallize my capital losses and purchase the following ETFs:
Non registered:
ZPW – US Put Write
ZWE – Europe Covered Call hedged to CAD.
ZWH – US covered call
CPD – CAD preferred
XRE – Capped REIT

Registered (RRIF):
PGX:US – Preferred.

Each would constitute 2% - 3% of my portfolio. Diversification is my intention, but risk and surety of income is the primary consideration in all of the above noted.

Again, your thoughts.

Thank you for considering my questions

Gail
Read Answer Asked by Gail on August 02, 2016
Q: Hi 5i I notice members are asking about renewable energy companies. I would like to add 2 renewable energy companies to my portfolio, at present I have none. I'm a very long term investor, something like till the day I die. Thx for your wise advise, I was starting to believe in the " sell in May and go away " but this year staying with the market has been very good for me thanks to the 5i group. Thx again Gerry
Read Answer Asked by Gerry on July 20, 2016
Q: Thank you 5i for your excellent service!!!

I have divided up my portfolio into thirds.
One third is a diverse group of ETFs.
One third is cash and a group fluid group of stocks made up primarily from stocks you recommend. SJ, CCL, SIS, KXS... etc.
One third is made up of the seven stocks listed above. Do you have any concerns about any of these being a long term hold. I know Magna is cyclical but is that a concern?
Cheers,
Bryan
Read Answer Asked by Bryan on July 19, 2016
Q: NPI is at all time highs given the announcement today of a 'strategic' review'. I am not really sure what that means as I would have thought management would always be looking for future growth opportunities and to enhance shareholder value. Given the pop in NPI I am thinking of selling my position and replacing it with BEP.UN for no other reason than 1) the higher yield 2) NPI may be fully valued and I don't see what could possibly come from a review other than perhaps the sale of the company which certainly does not sound like a possibility in the news release.

Thanks in advance
Read Answer Asked by Mark on July 13, 2016
Q: 9:53 AM 6/29/2016

Hello Peter:

Today you made this distinction between "Safe" and "Secure" dividends in your answer to Grant asking about Superior Plus : "We would consider the dividend 'secure'. 'Safe' is a different category completely".

1. I am looking to concentrate on companies whose dividends you consider to be in the "safe" category, and which yield over 3.5% as these should/must be at least the main core of any pensioner's holdings for reliable income. This can be confusing to sort out since I presume that you will not consider all banks, utilities, telcos, REITS, Pipelines, etc. qualify as "safe".

2. So if you could sort out a short list of the few that qualify for the "Safe Dividend" category it would be most appreciated. I do understand that disasters do occasionally happen, and any company no matter how safe can get into trouble.

2. This brings up the problem of portfolio concentration caused by owning only a few names or sectors. Is it better or "ok" to just own a portfolio of only "Safe" dividend stocks, or are we advised to dilute the quality of our portfolios and own some less safe dividend stocks to supposedly "diversify" risk? This harks back to the people whose portfolio consists of only the big five Canadian Banks and who have done brilliantly for the past 50 years!

Your considered opinion on this issue will be most appreciated........ Paul K.

Read Answer Asked by Paul on June 30, 2016