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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: My long-term interest in VZ was partially founded on it's extremely low correlation with almost every other equity and fixed income category. I am "off" VZ due its recent issues and am curious as to whether you are aware of any similarly low correlation, reliably high income alternatives?
Read Answer Asked by David on July 24, 2023
Q: Recently I see articles about “alternative” investments as a means of diversifying the portfolio. They are often written by fund managers suggesting their product.
1. What are considered alternative investments?
2. How does the individual investor access them directly?
3. Does adding them to a portfolio mix make a more diversified portfolio ie: add stability?
Thanks as usual.
Read Answer Asked by Debrah on July 21, 2023
Q: With regards to the shift in consumer thinking related to moving away from using fossil fuels for home heating/cooling, are there any companies that would stand to benefit from the shift towards heat pumps?

Trane and Honeywell come to mind but are they actually good companies for investors? The 3 to 5 year charts show them as being somewhat rangebound.

Are there perhaps other companies? Or companies that supply the parts for the heat pumps?

Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Brian on July 21, 2023
Q: Hello, I am thinking about selling my position in QQQ in favour of small cap etfs spread amongst value and growth. My feeling is that over the coming years they will have a better growth factor than the current large cap companies listed in QQQ. How do you feel about the ETFs described above, or perhaps some alternatives you favour ?
Read Answer Asked by Robbie on July 21, 2023
Q: Hello 5i
First, thank you for your excellent service and guidance! I am retired, looking for income and growth. Following are my questions.

1) What do you think of VCNS? Could you suggest an alternative. I presently have a half position in VCNS.
2) At this time would you still recommend a 4.5% position in ATZ?
3)I am down about 30% with MMM. Is there a better place for these funds?
4) I am down 11% with CLF. What has to happen( with interest etc.) to recoup this loss?

Thank you, Bill
Read Answer Asked by William on July 21, 2023
Q: Hello 5i Team

From previous answers, you have stated portfolio / sector allocations are a personal decision.

Currently I have approximately 20 % of my Canadian Equity Dividend (i.e. TSX dividend stocks) portfolio in the financial sector.

The financial sector holdings are divided into the following sub-category (industries) with representative stocks in each sub-category:

Asset Management – (BAM / BN)

Banks – (BMO / BMO / CM / RBC / TD)

Insurance (Life) – (GWO / MFC / SLF)

Insurance (P&C) – (DFY / FFH / IFC)

Questions:

1 – What would be appropriate percentages for each subcategory? An example would be should Banks be 50 % of the financial sector holdings (or 10 % of total equity holdings)?

2 – Is there any other sub-sector of the financial sector that I should be looking at along with associated companies?

Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on July 21, 2023
Q: WELL ( even) , EIF (up), EGLX (ouch ), are my only TFSA holdings and are in equal amounts.

Would you give 3 of your best picks of Canadian small caps ( other than the above ) with reasons why. I can handle risk.
Thanks. Derek
Read Answer Asked by Derek on July 21, 2023