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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 hold Harvest group closed end funds HBF.UN (Brand Leaders Plus) and HHL.UN (Healthcare Leader) Only a total 3% of overall portfolio and fully for div income and diversive purposes into firms I couldn't hold individually. I just received notice of their plans to change over to a ETF for each of these close end funds. These are the only closed end funds I hold and I am wondering your point of view on this move. They of coarse say its to our advantage for Liquidity and growth potential. These are small funds and I wonder what kind of notice they really would receive in an already crowded ETF market and if the management team is really acting in our best interests here. I am not so sure they can maintain their current div yield of 8%ish either it seems high for an ETF. As always thank you for you good honest work on our behalf
Read Answer Asked by James on August 29, 2016
Q: Hot.un Bhy.un Bgi.undrg.un
I have over 1000 shares in the above companies could you give me your opinion
They are all for income would you suggest other choices as they have not been
Performing that well for some time
Thanks Pat
Read Answer Asked by Patrick on August 29, 2016
Q: Would you have some suggestions for reading material on covered calls? I wasn't looking for something too complicated. But I am interested in information that would cover (a) stocks and stock markets best suited for covered calls (b) logistics of how to choose the best case of option cost and duration for a particular stock ( c) option timing in dividend paying stocks and (d) what is a realistic rate of return. Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Linda on August 29, 2016
Q: There was an article from the Globe describing an investment stratigy to look for areas where capital is scarce. I havn't seen this before, at least described like this, I guess basically the opposite of momentum investing. Or maybe this is what value investors look for. In any case they did not back the article up with any evidence that the strategy has been successful over the long term.

So: are you familiar with this conceptype and do you think there is merit to it? I guess it could help being early to a sector that will soon turn around, but it seems to me that investor capital (aside from a lot of retail) is pretty smart money and may be avoiding areas for a good fundamental reason that could last many years.

"Returns are best where capital is scarce” is one of my favourite bits of investing advice. The idea was popularized by Richard Bernstein, former chief quantitative strategist at Merrill Lynch and founder of RB Advisors."
Read Answer Asked by Kel on August 29, 2016
Q: Recently the media was awash with implied heavy concerns around the supposed losses the CDN. banks would be reporting this week and next. They said so while trying to impress an implied authority. The media even went so far as to create a reason.

I had to try and stop laughing once again at the business media in general, so as to be able to type this post, as it once again showed that it basically is a comedy show and of little value to investors. At least when it comes to predictions.

I often wonder if the media have to work and prove their metal at SNL 1st (Saturday Night Live).

So far all of the banks that have reported have provided growing if not all time high revenues, earning, profits....

Stan
Read Answer Asked by Stan (1) on August 26, 2016
Q: Gold and gold stocks have been dropping steadily over the last two to three weeks, with many down 10% to 20%. Can you tell us why? Is current or pending US policy a factor here.?

Is it time to sell these stocks before gold drops further? Or is this just a normal "zag" in the continuing upward zig-zag of gold prices? If so, should we hang on a little longer?

Any comments or suggestions will be most appreciated!

Thank you from a nervous "gold-bug"!
Read Answer Asked by Ken on August 25, 2016
Q: I have a lump sum that I received from the sale of a rental property and I'm looking at deploying the capital in the stock market. My question is around portfolio construction or how to deploy a lump sum of money. Do you build half positions in the companies you like and look at adding to the positions on pullbacks or do you initiate full positions if the valuation is reasonable?

Finally, once the portfolio is largely complete, do you recommend only trimming and adding at month-end or once a month? It seems like this would avoid unnecessary trading fees and limit too much trading activity.

Thanks,
Jason
Read Answer Asked by Jason on August 24, 2016
Q: Monitoring Dividend Stocks: I would appreciate your advice as to how investors can monitor and stay on top of bad news, particularly for smaller, riskier dividend stocks.

Example: I have a small position in GRC/Genville Strategic Royalty Corp. I missed the news of the poor results in May. The stock price dived down, and has stayed down. (As of today, the capital loss 49%.) The dividend was cut 27%. How can one avoid or limit losses in similar situations. Also, do you advocate selling a stock as soon as a dividend cut is announced, or anticipated?
Read Answer Asked by Helen on August 24, 2016