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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 am a conservative, retired, dividend-income investor with a pension, CPP, annuities and a diversified equity portfolio, consisting of 60% stocks and 40% ETFs-Mutual funds.

I currently have 8% of my equity portfolio in REITs, 5% in Sentry Global REIT and the other 3% sourced from portions contained within ZLB, Sentry Cdn Income and RBC Cdn Equity Inc Fund.

Question 1 = What percentage of my asset mix would you currently recommend be allocated to the REIT sector? In the past, I believe you recommended 5%. If I ignore the "portions" discovered by "looking under the hood", I am at 5%. However, the true number is probably 8%.

Q 2 = About a year ago Sentry REIT was combined with Sentry Global REIT. As of Sept 30/16 it was quite global = 43% Cdn, 28% USA, 6% Singapore, 4% each in UK, Australia, France, 3% Spain, 3% Japan, 2% Netherlands, and 2% Hong Kong. I am concerned about the various currency impacts on the performance of the fund. The fund has a 1 year total return of 6.6% to Sept 30, but a -1.25% return YTD. I have held this fund for over 3 years and have averaged > 6%/year, but I am concerned about the currency impacts on future performance. It has a MER of 2.4%. Is it time to sell and move into something like ZRE?

Thanks in advance, Steve
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on November 04, 2016
Q: Hello 5i Team, I am down signifigantly in each of these 6 holdings. I'm prepared to hold for the next few quarters if any will make turnarounds in 2017. I'd appreciate your opinion. All are in a non registered account.
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Gary on November 04, 2016
Q: I am wondering what benefit it would be to the U. S. to raise rates. On one hand is their economy that "hot" that it needs to be controlled ? They seem to be a consumer driven society so a strong dollar makes imported goods cheaper for the U.S. consumer. More consumerism makes their economy hotter. Was that not the scenario some years back culminating in a housing bubble? Also raising rates makes their goods more expensive for other countries. Some large U.S. corporations have experienced a drag on earnings with the dollar at its current levels relative to other currencies. How can the U.S. be an island of a strong currency when many other countries are weakening their currencies to promote growth? These are simple views but your thoughts on the effect assuming an interest rate hike in Dec.
Read Answer Asked by Clarence on November 04, 2016
Q: A Donald Trump victory on Tuesday is now no longer a hail mary based on recent polls and commentary (and regardless as to Canadians imploring Americans to not vote for Trump). It is truly scary for so many reasons. How would you hedge the balanced portfolio against what is likely to be a general market meltdown if Trump wins? And just a clarification on the balanced portfolio to end of October - have absolute returns been 19.6% to date (or vs. benchmark) and 125.9% cumulative since December 2014?
Read Answer Asked by Michael on November 04, 2016
Q: I own half position in ABT, admittedly for a short period, it has fallen over 8% since my purchase. Recently 5i said " We see it as a BUY, but primarily for income." With a 5% dividend, but sitting on a 8% capital loss, what should an investor do, be patient, average down, or move on to hopefully a better investment?
Read Answer Asked by Charles on November 04, 2016
Q: Is it worthwhile taking a position now or waiting until earnings comes out. I am assuming the drop in the last few days is pre earnings jitters or negative overall market induced as I can find no specific causative news.
Read Answer Asked by Tom on November 04, 2016
Q: Hi,

BEP.UN got hammered today after its Q3 results, which when compared to 2015 Q3 looked pretty good imo. Could you please provide some insight/ideas as to why it was down 4.25% today? And how come they have negative EPS? (is it because of the $200 million in depreciation?)

I plan on holding them for a long time and am thinking of buying more

Thanks for your insight!
Read Answer Asked by Jason on November 04, 2016
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