Investment Q&A

Q: I manage the investment accounts for a family member who currently has a very small pension, CPP and OAS with the OAS Supplement. Her Supplement is reduced by 50 cents for every dollar of investment income she makes so she is effectively in a 50% tax bracket. Her capital comes from the recent sale of her house and the money must be available for an assisted living facility in a few years. My problem has been finding stocks to preserve capital and minimize the 50% tax bite which impacts what she has to live on currently. I have used AV.UN which has no impact on her income now and TMC which does but provides a high income. I think capital gains would be better than dividends which are grossed up. Any suggestions for appropriate investments for a 6 figure account?

Q: I am a retired, conservative dividend-income investor with a pension, CPP, annuities, and hold the following: AD, AQN, ALA, BNS, BCE, CGX, CJ, ECI, FTS, PBH, RY, TRP, WCP, WEF, WSP, Sentry Cdn Inc, RBC Cdn Eq Inc, Sentry REIT, ZLB, XIT and Fisgard Capital.

I am looking to top up my consumer stocks, already having full positions in CGX, ECI and PBH.

I am also looking to top up my industrial stocks, already having a full position in WSP and those contained within Sentry Cdn Income.

Suggestions for new holdings with a dividend > 3% please.

Thanks for your help...Steve

Q: Peter and team:

If/when Ms. Yellen decides to increase US Rates what do you feel the impact will be on higher dividend payers such as utilities and riets.

What would be the recommended vehicle for parking funds for the next two years to safely preserve capital while earning some modest return.

Deduct two as you see fit.

Thank you as always

Phil

Q: I own this. I noticed insiders and the CEO have made big purchases recently. Comments on the company and the insider buying.
Thx

Q: I have a question about brookfield real estate, why are the shares so under followed and under appreciated? with an 8% yield and shares up nicely since last earnings and share price pushing all time highs you would think there would be more talk about it?

it has a strong dividend that has been increased several times recently and shares continue to appreciate, i think this is a very undervalued company, your thoughts?

are investors afraid of its small size? or its connection to real estate? lets face it, if the real estate bubble bursts in toronto and vancouver (which makes up 1/3 of realtors biz) people will still need to sell these inflated properties

thanks

Q: I am currently moving some of my portfolio from stocks to ETF's. I want only a plain vanilla flavoured portfolio. I have been going through your questions and answers regarding ETF's, and given the diversity of situations and dates, I am getting a little confused. i wonder if you could suggest the best for broad canada, broad U.S., and international?
thanks

Q: Peter and team:
In my kid's RESP, I am trying to transition away from individual equities into ETF's as we approach the time that it will be required.They currently hold ZWB, ZRE, ZLB & ZLU. I was thinking of adding ZDV to this. Would this be redundant, or help in diversity along with increased yield.

Thank you as always.

Phil

Q: My son is in his mid-thirties and has very limited time available to actively follow/trade the markets. He is looking for a simple, passive investment portfolio with very broad exposure, a modest dividend focus, and that is rebalanced, ideally, once a year. Can you comment on the following proposed portfolio and allocations, assuming about $100k? Are there any alternatives he should consider? Should he modify his approach in a TSFA/RRSP? Thanks.

VAB - 20% (Canadian bonds)
VCN - 15% (Canadian equity)
VDY - 15% (Canadian dividend)
VXC - 50% (Global equity excluding Canada)

Q: Bought a small portion of ZWU(covered call utilities with 0.72% mer) @ $15.04 in mid 2013(now$13.33) & loss is covered by the 0.08pm distribution.Please advise if I should switch to T,BCE.FTS, CDZ(0.67% mer) or Zlb(.39% mer)In 2013,I did not know what stock in the sector to buy.Since I joined 5I,I learn a lot & now tend to prefer a stock that is suggested by You.Thanks for your usual great advices & services.

Q: I am looking at dra.un for a 1 to 2 year hold for moderate growth and income. What is your synopsis for this company and are they connected to bam.a in any way? Thank you

Q: In Oct. 2014, I noticed that IRG was about to initiate paying a dividend and, following your general observation that it is a good sign when a company does this, I bought some shares that are now up 62%. The shares do seem now to be in holding pattern and I am writing to ask if you think it is time to move on or if you see a continuing upside and would suggest hanging on.
Thank you for your great service,
Bob.

Q: Given today's market and the expectation of a US rate hike, could you identify 5 ETF's that you would be comfortable with to provide safety of principal and income. Thanks.

Q: Can you recommend this ETF as a fixed income equivalent, with better tax efficiency ?

Q: What is your opinion of this company? It just initiated it's first ever dividend, paid on May 30. You have always mentioned that the first ever dividend is a significant milestone. Do you think it is too high at 6.4%, and is it sustainable at that level?

Q: I am thinking about parking some cash in one or both of these ETF's (perhaps a 50/50 split) for the next 12 months. I understand that rate increases could adversely impact the unit price but given that rates are not expected to increase in Canada anytime soon and these are Canadian corporate bond funds not American would there be any impact from a US rate hike? If so, why? Secondly, what do you think of the downside risk and is there a better option you would suggest.
Thank you

Q: Hello 5i Do you think that ZPW could act as a hedge against choppy markets while collecting a nice dividend. Thanks. Gary

Q: Ours is a very conservative portfolio, with one third in dividend-paying equities, half of that individual stocks and half no-load funds. The latter's performance doesn't seem to justify the MER's so I would like to reduce, maybe eliminate, that cost, roughly $5,000 per year. Any thoughts you might have on how best to effect that change and what form that should take, eg less funds, more stocks and/or ETF's, will be much appreciated.

Q: I have some cash in my account and am thinking of adding to MAL and to XHY. Recent news and performance of MAL has been good, but I am concerned about the effect of US rate increases on XHY. My account is well diversified. I would appreciate your comments on both.

Q: Alerion appears to have begun recovery from an extended down trend with what looks like significant accumulation. However, doubts have been raised with respect to volumes for transport in part related product price and demand issues. Do you have an opinion on this issue and AMLP prospects please.

Q: CPX has been moving up quite quickly in the last week or so, is there a reason why, and do you see this upward trend continuing in the short term?