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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've recently got a large bonus from work which will represent about 15% of my total portfolio. I am building up my U.S. exposure to get to my target level so all funds will be invested in a S&P 500 index fund. Since we are looking at all time highs how would you suggest to deploy the cash. Normally I would not try to time the market but with such a large part of my portfolio I'm wondering if I should hold off for a while or deploy it in three trades over the course of the next 6 months or so.
Read Answer Asked by justin on March 22, 2017
Q: Would you consider the following a good starting list for a friend's TFSA, 10 years holding. Other sectors + US + international would be in RSP. What would you change if not. 'Congrat Ryan + Lisa!'

GUD Knight Health Care
CRH CRH Medical Health Care
KXS KINAXIS Tech
AIF Altus Group Financial / real estate
ECN ECN Capital Financial
MX Methanex Material
NFI New Flyer Industries Industrial
PBH Premium Brand Holdings Consumer staples
SIS Savaria Industrial / Health
TOY Spin Master Consumer discretionary
SYZ Sylogist Tech
RRX Raging River Energy
Read Answer Asked by Dominic on March 21, 2017
Q: Hello,
I have a tax question.I have capital gains after selling several stocks on Mar20/17 in my trading account.Since I have capital losses carried forward from other years,there should be no tax owing on my 2017 return.My question is,can I repurchase thse stocks in my TFSA,without waiting 30 days?
Most of your recommendations have worked well for me.Thanks to you,I spend less time doing my own research and more time outside.
Read Answer Asked by Allen on March 21, 2017
Q: I need some education please. I understand the stock markets opening and closing at set times each day. I believe that anybody can trade stocks during this time period. I do not know how " after hours " trading works. Please explain a few questions on this subject. Who can do this? Where do they do it? What exchanges are involved (simply to North America if it makes sense? How does thins work with IPO's?
Thank you,
Doug
Read Answer Asked by Douglas on March 21, 2017
Q: Hi,

I have four questions.

1) How do you decide on what is the optimal level of EV/EBITDA and debt to equity ratio for different industries (such as high tech, consumer discretionary, financial, industrial, small growth companies)?

2) Can you please recommend some reading material on analyzing company fundamentals?

3) What is your opinion on Adobe Systems (ADBE)?

4) What is your opinion on Amphenol Corp (APH)?

Thank you,
Lai
Read Answer Asked by Lai Kuen on March 21, 2017
Q: REITs
Further to my last question on this subject, in looking at the REIT portion of my portfolio, I am mindful of (and calculate) the sector allocation (office, retail, industrial, residential) and the geographical distribution (the main Canadian provinces individually and the US as a whole). I am cautious about US exposure, because I am retired, rely on the distributions for income and don't want excessive foreign exchange exposure. Do you have recommendations concerning sector and geographical allocation? My intuitive sector thoughts are residential 40%, office 30%, retail 20%, industrial 10%. My geographical thoughts are US 30% and Canadian provincial allocation by GDP. Or am I overthinking this whole thing?
Read Answer Asked by Carl on March 21, 2017
Q: Hello 5i Team

It is that time of year when I start receiving the proxy materials for votes at the upcoming annual meeting.

One thing that I have noticed is the US companies mail out a simple 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" envelope with two pieces of paper, the meeting information notice and the voting instructions. Every thing else the management proxy circular and the annual report you have to download from the internet. This results in a small mailing and keeps the costs down.

The Canadian companies mail out an 8 1/2" x 11" package containing the voting instructions, an envelope, a flyer advertising "paperless" steps, sometimes the management proxy instructions and particularly the Canadian Banks a copy of the annual report. All this "excess" paper drives up costs for the companies (and reduces profit for investors).

I prefer the US system where the mailing is kept to the minimum. I am not interested in receiving the proxy notice via email as the Canadian system prefers to register each individual security with "Investor Vote" or the other Proxy companies. If I use the "paperless" option I have to register each individual security, which is confusing.

The two questions are:

1 - Why cannot the Canadian companies do what the US companies do? Is this a difference between the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the US and the Canadian Security Commissions (all 13 of them !!!)

2 - Why can't the brokerage houses send me the notifications via their electronic system, just like they do with trade notifications and statements. I will be sending this question to my self-directed (discount) brokerage provider.

Thanks again for the excellent work.
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on March 21, 2017
Q: Market timing is generally frowned upon by professionals including 5I.I find myself selling a number of my positions because of valuations and good profitable outcomes. I also find that I am not redeploying that cash because of valuations! I firmly believe in taking profit and some of the greatest mistakes I have made are in regards to holding positions to long. To many times in my early investment life (the round trip) occurred. After a number of years I relized that you are investing 2 commodities "dollars and time" and I could not continue to keep exposing my dollars and losing time. So if I sell my winners and do not redeploy my cash in a timely fashion then I would seem to be guilty of "market timing".

Why am I so wrong!

Randy
Read Answer Asked by Randy on March 21, 2017
Q: Hi,

I would like to ask your opinion on the fundamentals of the following Chinese stocks that are listed in the US. As well, do you have any hints on the entry point for these stocks?

1) China Distance Education (DL)
2) Tal Education Group (TAL)
3) New Oriental Education + Tech Group (EDU)
4) Tencent Holding (TCTZF)
5) Hollysys Automation Technologies (HOLI)

Thank you,
Lai
Read Answer Asked by Lai Kuen on March 21, 2017
Q: Hi Peter and Team,

The other question I have is with regards to a previous answered question, where you mentioned across a RRSP, Investment and TFSA, the recommended breakdown is 6 stocks in the RRSP, 6 in the investment and 8 in the TFSA.

Since my RRSP holds 85% of my capital, would it be better to weigh the stocks as 12 stocks in the RRSP, 4 each in the Investment/TFSA, or is it better to follow the breakdown of 6/6/8?

Thanks again for the great work you do.

Read Answer Asked by Marvin on March 21, 2017
Q: My wife and I have decided to move our investments from our current advisor to a more self directed option. We have looked at Tangerine and are intrigued but also heard about Wealthsimple. I can't seem to find much for reviews on Wealthsimple and what I've found sounds more like an ad rather than a review. What are your thoughts on Wealthsimple and further what are your thoughts on Tangerine? Is there something better out there than either of them? Thank you very much for your time.
Read Answer Asked by Chris on March 21, 2017
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