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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: Hello: I am in the process of setting up a TFSA for my 25 years old daughter with ETFs where she can contribute whenever she has money. My questions are: 1) Is the ETF portfolio a simple way to invest? 2) What do you think about portfolio with just one ETF - VGRO? 3) Since it will be a DIY portfolio, is there any advantage in opening the account with Questrade/Wealthsimple in comparison to with TDwaterhouse? 4) if I don’t go with VGRO only, what ratios of XWD, VFV, VGG, HXQ, XSU +/- any other ETF do you recommend while keeping costs/MERs very low?
Read Answer Asked by Dev on January 07, 2019
Q: Hello 5i,
Further to Ken's comment about transferring "In Kind" from an RRSP to TFSA: my wife and I have just completed this process for the second year in a row. We select holdings that we have had to buy in our RRSP's even though they should have gone into a TFSA in the first place - think SIS and VET for example.
The process involves the transfer of the shares first into a margin (non-registered trading) account and then into the TFSA. The Fair Market Value may or may not reflect the current stock quote.
There is definitely withholding tax which is on a sliding scale depending upon the size of the transfer. (We both had a wee bit of extra room, so our withdrawal - contribution was larger than the $6,000.) Also, the withholding tax will be required to be paid as cash, so it is important to have enough cash available in the RRSP account to cover it. If there is not enough cash in your Canadian RRSP side, you will have to either sell something or transfer cash from your U.S. side if you cash available there. It is something that needs to be accounted for in the decision to proceed.
We feel that taking the tax hit now (both retired and under 70) will benefit us in the long run (however long that might be....). We had a long time of benefiting from RRSP's and now it is time to further enhance the TFSA side and reduce the impending limitations that will come with age.
Hope this is of some help to Ken and perhaps others.
All the best for a New Year to all!!
Cheers,
Mike
Read Answer Asked by Mike on January 07, 2019
Q: Good Morning and Happy New Year: I have funds to add to, or start new position in, one of the above companies (I already own a couple of them). If all other factors are not considered, which of these would you recommend with a comment as to why. Also, how would you rate the four mentioned. Thanks, Don
Read Answer Asked by Donald on January 07, 2019
Q: Hello Peter, I own both Dollarama and WSP Global. Both have suffered lately, perhaps even more than the market generally. I still have a long investing timeframe and a balanced portfolio. Would you suggest I hang on to these for better future performance or could the capital be better used in other names. Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by James on January 07, 2019
Q: If you were on market call today. what would your top three picks be?
Read Answer Asked by Allan on January 07, 2019
Q: Conservative, retired investor who loves dividends. I am normally a buy and hold investor, who trims-adds around core positions. I have a 3% position in ZWE. I've owned it since Oct '17 and am down 8%, including the dividends. So capturing some capital losses is an option.

Two questions...#1 is regarding the currency hedge. Normally I like the hedge product, since it takes some of the risk out of the investment. Your thoughts of keeping ZWE vs switching to an unhedged version, based on your "currency" crystal ball?

#2 is regarding the prospects for securities within ZWE and the current turmoil in the EU (Brexit, etc.). Has the market already priced in a lot of this turmoil? Should I consider adding or should I accept this is one of those investments that just did not work out and take my losses?

Thanks...Steve
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on January 07, 2019
Q: I like Morguard's distribution, at over 8%. It seems to be fairing well lately, especially in comparison to almost everyone else (CAR and IIP.UN, your preferences in REITs are down 5-6% while MRT is up 7.82%). What do you think of it, and its prospects? Is the distribution safe? Is MRT likely to be needing cash soon? It's up strongly on a strongly down day, which is one of the things I look for in 'safer' stocks.
Read Answer Asked by John on January 07, 2019
Q: Happy New Year to all
Is it possible that TSGI could double in a year? And GC as well? Or are your comments about them being favorites saying that growth is there but relative only to the volatility and weakness of other stocks.?? I realise this is a tough call...
Thank you
Read Answer Asked by El-ann on January 07, 2019
Q: I'm considering buying HSPX. Doing my research I understand that their strategy is to write out of the money calls which if I'm not mistaken gives more upside to a covered call ETF. Is this both true and a correct assumption ? And also my TD Waterhouse quote shows a yield of 9.5% but when checking various other sites I see from 5% to 7%. What is the real annual yield ? And what is your opinion on this ETF in general ? Thanks Garth.
Read Answer Asked by Garth on January 07, 2019
Q: Hi Group - assuming this market stays choppy and unpredictable it appears the the tech sector may be a good start to generating some cash (I have profits in CSU + DSG + a loss in FB - My question is do I sell now hoping to buy back later a lower price - presently I only have 5% cash in a portfolio worth $1.2 million and am feeling very vulnerable to losing more (presently I am down 18% overall. Is it too late to preserve cash or?
Read Answer Asked by Terence on January 07, 2019
Q: I have 11% ZLU, 19% CDZ, 50% SDY, !% VWO, 15% VEA and 3% CGL in a RIF. I need to sell $12K from a RIF. Is there something you would recommend selling, or just move in kind?
Read Answer Asked by Wayne on January 07, 2019