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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: Cheers 5i team, very glad to be a new subscriber.
Understanding that you cover quasi exclusively Canadian equities, my question pertains to FMX. I am looking for exposure to EM. What do you think of this company with exposure to Mexico, Latin America and the Philippines? Would you be a buyer? Also, what is the level of currency risk one would be undertaking with this stock. Feel free to name other preferences of yours in the EM space.

Thank you very much.

KR.
Read Answer Asked by Karim on August 30, 2016
Q: my teenage daughter has just registered her tfsa. She has a small amount of $ (4000) to start. she is thinking for simplicity and risk sake at this point in her life to go with the global couch potato. Which 4 ETFs would you recommend for her. she needs a CAN equity, US equity, INTER equity and a bond ETF.
Do you think this is a good idea or would you recommend she stick to specific company stocks instead?
thanks
michele
Read Answer Asked by michele on August 26, 2016
Q: Hi 5i!

New member and I have found your wealth of knowledge very helpful in providing guidance for a relatively new do-it-myself “Core & Explore investor” and have prompted me to make some changes to my investment strategies and portfolio. My question is “Core Portfolio” management based and specifically regarding switching to Index ETFs from Index Mutual funds. I’ve been a regular monthly contributor to my RRSP built up and directing most of my funds towards a TD Canadian Index Fund TDB900 – e series and a lesser amount to the same e series TD International Index Fund TDB911 as they have very low MERs of 0.31% and 0.51% approximately. My strategy, since I dollar cost average into the indexes, is to continue to contribute to these TD mutual funds monthly but then funnel from them to ETF index funds so I can take advantage of the lower MERs of the ETF. Could you recommend ETFs to replace my current TD mutual funds? Would you also recommend adding a DOW Jones Index or another US index? What ratios would you consider appropriate for a portfolio? Any other thoughts are welcome and I’ll save my “Explore portfolio” questions for a later date.

Cheers!
Read Answer Asked by Duane on August 23, 2016
Q: I've been to China 5 times in last 24 months and on my recent trip I observed more and more people have smart phones than previous trips. Speaking with one of my Chinese colleagues on this trip, we discussed how most people in China with a smart phone use WeChat as their messaging app. WeChat is not just a messaging app, you can make payments and shop. Travelling thru several cities, most retailers requested payment thru WeChat. I was amazed at the adoption of this app. It is owned by Tencent and trades OTC in the US. Do you know anything about this company and do you have any concerns with buying stock on the OTC?
Read Answer Asked by Rob on August 18, 2016
Q: Hi 5i team,

As infrastructure in various countries are now in an expansion/renewal phase, infrastructure stocks may be the new 'utility' stocks of the future. I currently already owned BIP.un. Given the current market conditions, please recommend some Canadian or US listed infrastructure stocks or ETFs that are worth investing in now. Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Willie on August 18, 2016
Q: I currently hold BPY (up 50% over cost) and H&R in my portfolio 4% and 3% respectively.
I am considering swapping BPY for BEP for the additional income. Your thoughts?

I also plan to crystallize my capital losses and purchase the following ETFs:
Non registered:
ZPW – US Put Write
ZWE – Europe Covered Call hedged to CAD.
ZWH – US covered call
CPD – CAD preferred
XRE – Capped REIT

Registered (RRIF):
PGX:US – Preferred.

Each would constitute 2% - 3% of my portfolio. Diversification is my intention, but risk and surety of income is the primary consideration in all of the above noted.

Again, your thoughts.

Thank you for considering my questions

Gail
Read Answer Asked by Gail on August 02, 2016
Q: Hi, I have been comparing low-volatility developed ETF options traded in Canada with the options (to my knowledge) being ZLI and XMI. My analysis has sided with ZLI and I want to layout the logic here to hear your thoughts. Positives for ZLI: Smaller market cap while not too small offers better opportunity for alpha, Fewer holdings so more opportunity for alpha, Not based on major index (MSCI) so less opportunity to be front-run, BMO has a good track record for other similar funds (e.g. ZLU). Positives XMI: Longer operating history , Slightly lower MER, more resources for investment research(?). Thanks as always.
Read Answer Asked by JONAS on August 02, 2016
Q: Now that the Brexit vote uncertainty has diminished a bit, would it be a good time to add to European market exposure? Presently hold ZWE for income. Would you add to ZWE or open a position in another etf? If so, which etfs would you recommend for income? Which for growth? Possible ZDI ?Looking at 2-3 year time frame. Many thanks for the terrific service.
Read Answer Asked by Don on July 25, 2016