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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: Good morning,
I see "Sprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust Updates Its 'At-The-Market' Equity Program" and may issue up to one billion dollars of new units. If I understand this correctly, Sprott will issue new units at the market price. So say gold and or silver go up, Sprott will issue new units, does this not stop the price of CEF from participating in the price rise of the metals and they issue new units and therefore reduce the demand from the market for units currently available and cap the price rise? If one wants to participate in the rise in gold and or silver appreciation it seems to me CEF is therefore not the way to do it.
Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by John on April 15, 2021
Q: Hi 5i,
Further to my previous question about return of capital, you mention that some investors, over time, can see their adjusted cost base go to zero as result of return of capital. What does this signify, that you now own it for $0 cost. Would the investor expect share prices to be severely impaired?
I am trying to decide if one of these health funds might be a lower risk way to generate some stable income while providing lower risk to principal.

Thx
Jim
Read Answer Asked by jim on March 25, 2021
Q: Hi 5i
A question was recently asked concerning the "return of capital" required to support the high distributions of FHI.

What percentage is required for HHl,and LIFE ?

What is long term net effect of "return of capital" on the share price of these funds? Does it continue to fall?

Does it ever get to a point where all or most "capital" has been returned ?
Just looking for very general understanding if return of capital is good or bad.... or maybe not an issue?
Thx
Jim
Read Answer Asked by jim on March 25, 2021
Q: What are your thoughts on this income fund, I’ve held it for over a year and see its the price has been climbing this year, up from a price in the low $10.00 range last year.
It provides a very healthy yield (+10%) and was a Gordon Pape suggestion over a year ago at this price level. Is it a good steady fund to own for income in one’s RRSP?

Thnx
Read Answer Asked by David on March 24, 2021
Q: Hello
I read about the new Brookfield global transition fund. Can you comment on this new fund and is this fund available to the public if I want to invest in it ?
If so, can you tell me how can I get access to it ?

Thank you
Kristelle
Read Answer Asked by Kristelle on February 16, 2021
Q: Just wondering about the wisdom of purchasing this stock just to capture the dividend then selling it. You would only need to hold it for the time period necessary to be guaranteed the dividend which would be just a few days. I suspect the share price would not drop substantially in those few days. I do not care about share price appreciation that one would get with a buy and hold strategy.
Read Answer Asked by Bradley on February 09, 2021
Q: Hi,
I'm curious about CEF's and came across this one that appears to offer a decent dividend, with a bit of growth. However, I don't know anything about these types of funds, so would appreciate any thought you might offer on them. Are they a reasonable investment, or very risky? They talk about these funds being leveraged and that makes me nervous - should I be, or is that just my lack of understanding how these funds work. I'm much more familiar with ETF's and certainly comfortable with stocks - either Canada or US markets. Thanks for all your great advice over the years!
Dawn
Read Answer Asked by Dawn on February 09, 2021
Q: Can you please explain this notice, the dates are confusing:
Annual Redemption Valuation Date: June 15, 2021

Annual Redemption Payment Date: On or before the 15th business day following the Annual Redemption Date.
BMO InvestorLine has been advised of an Annual Redemption Privilege for THE BITCOIN FUND CLASS A UNITS.
Terms:
Option 1: Cash - (USD) Annual Redemption Privilege
To receive a redemption price per Unit equal to 100% of the Net Asset Value per Unit determined on the Annual Redemption Date, less any costs and expenses associated with the redemption, including commissions incurred by the Fund to fund such redemptions.
Important Notes:
As per the Prospectus dated March 31, 2020:
Units may be redeemed at the option of Unitholders on the first business day following the 15th day of June in each year commencing on June 16, 2021, subject to the Fund's right to suspend redemptions in certain circumstances. Units so redeemed will be redeemed at a redemption price equal to the Net Asset Value per Unit on the Annual Redemption Date, less any costs and expenses associated with the redemption, including commissions incurred by the Fund to fund such redemptions. Units must be surrendered for redemption on or before the last business day of the month of May preceding the applicable Annual Redemption Date. Payment of the proceeds of redemption will be made in U.S. dollars on or before the 15th business day following the Annual Redemption Date
Read Answer Asked by Cheryl on January 27, 2021
Q: Hi, I’ve read through the information on the company’s website. Wondering what are the implications of a 3 year closed fund with two one year extensions. Does this mean the fund will be closed or potentially closed after 3-5 years and funds returned to unit holders? If so, at what value? Would a closed fund of this nature typically be wound up after a set period or is this more of an option of the company? Thanks.

“Three-year closed end fund, with two one year extension options
Targeted annual pre-tax distribution yield of 10.5% per annum, paid monthly”
Read Answer Asked by Gary on January 25, 2021
Q: Peter;
Closed Funds (CEFs).
Intrigued by your recent articles on DIY investor’s advantages and becoming a fund manager again, I re-read a couple of my books on hedge funds by Seabastian Mallaby, Edward O. Thorp, and Simon Lack’s “The Hedge Fund Mirage: The illusion of big money and why it’s too good to be true”.
In the latter 2012 book Simon Lack argues large hedge funds and most institutions ignore closed funds which leaves good opportunities for small hedge funds and sophisticated investors of which there are very few in his opinion. In Lack’s opinion the CEF space is dominated by individual retail investors who chase yield that is mis-stated (CEFs publish a distribution yield rather than the actual yield so are engaging in ROC) and foolishly buy IPOs of CEFs. Lack says numerous articles and books have been written on this subject and how to evaluate CEFs but my research did not produce very much at all. Do you have any views and suggestions on how an individual could or should approach this opportunity if it still exists?
WRS.
Read Answer Asked by William Ross on January 18, 2021
Q: I am still very curious about QBTC.U and how exactly they invest capital. I haven’t been able to find out much about it. Is BITCOIN the only asset the fund has? Do they trade bitcoin to gain value or is the value directly tied to the price of bitcoin? If they are holding bitcoin as a static asset, why would the value of the fund drop when they issue new shares if that new capital goes directly into additional bitcoin coins?
Read Answer Asked by Robert on December 30, 2020