Investment Q&A

Q: Hi, can I have your opinion on the best Canadian fund to follow the nasdaq. Thanks

Q: I purchased some ZSP last week for my Grandchildrens RESP, in an answer today you chose SPY , was the reason simply for currency diversification?

Q: Is there an ETF or fund that I can purchase that follows the Canadian Venture Index?
It has been beaten up so much that I would like to nibble at it, but I haven't been able to find a venue.

Bill

Q: Dear 5i team.

Can you help me understand the chart for CBO? Looking at the long term, it seems to be in a downward trend, even over 10 years? I assume this was caused by declining interest rates over the past 10 years? With raising interest rates, at what point does this turn back into a positive trend? Even with the past few months with rates starting to rise, it's been in decline. Is there a lag in closing out old positions and starting new ones with a higher yield? Just trying to understand roughly at what point this starts to look like a good entry point.

Many thanks for your help.

Q: Do you think XQQ has more much downside potential ? Could this be a decent time to add more XQQ to an existing position for returns 2-3 years down the road?

Q: I am thinking about buying this Pimco Canada bond fund. Do you know how the high distribution would be taxed (I know you guys aren’t accountants so I won’t hold you to it!). For example is it eligible for the dividend tax credit at all or is it just taxed as regular income?

Q: Hello Peter,

For a mid-risk investor who just retired and has a little cash to work with in a registered account what is your perspective on:

Opening a 1/2 position of VGT or just add 1/4 position to MFST or Appl to a full position.?

Which stock(s) would you be ok with today to be 6%-8% of a portfolio for a 5-10 year hold? Please rank the stocks if there is more than one possible choice.

Thank you
Debbie and Jerry

Q: I'm a new subscriber to your services this year and much appreciate your independent thought on investments. What is a good fully diversified ETF that is capital gains oriented over dividends? I've focused on dividend paying stocks over past 30 years, and while I'm enjoying working - want to avoid paying more than 1/2 my dividends income to gov. When I stop working I would convert back to dividend based investments to provide my income. Thank you.

Q: Peter,

I look at the S & P 500 index as the gold standard for performance measurement. It has been my theory that any portfolio performance should be compared to this index first. Do you agree?

For diversification purposes please list your top 5 indexes & associated ETF codes that you feel would be relevant whenever looking at an equity portfolio. This can be anywhere in the world. { Fixed Income I strictly take a ladder approach.} I would be interested in ones with a lower correlation , if that is realistic. It may not be.

Thank you

Paul

Q: Hi Peter
I have read alternative investments as a way diversify the portfolio beyond stocks and bonds.
There appears to be many types of alternative investments and complicated too.
If one were to invest in alternative investments, do you have any recommendations on how to approach such investments?
Are there any ETFs in this space that simplifies the investment approach?
My purpose is for income with a bit of ongoing growth.

Q: Can you please recommend a couple of BRIC ETFs?
Preferably Canadian, but perhaps a good US also.
Looking at a 3-5 year timeline.

thanks,

Paul

Q: For the income investor, would you be buying CVD right now as it hits some lows, or would you wait as it could continue to go down? What do you think is a good entry point? Or are there better options out there for the same type of dividend? And do I get the dividend tax credit in a non registered account? Thanks so much, your services are much appreciated in times like these.

Q: Hello 5i Team,

We recently settled my parents estate and the 3 sons (me included) received a fairly large transfer in the form of 5 ETFs including ZAG (9%), XEF (11%), XUS (3%), XIC (13%) and VFV (12%). This now represents almost half of the total portfolio whereas the remainder is invested in diverse stocks and some other ETFs mostly on your advice. I think you like ZAG for bonds but I’d like to ask if any of the other ETFs seem problematic to you or would you switch any with a similar focus? We also own some XQQ, WXM, IWO and VUN (all at about 2% each). Looking to retire in 10-15 years and with a pretty good risk tolerance.

Thank you for your help!

John

Q: What do you think of the Bloomberg commodity index going back to 2005, very big move off of the low. Commodity Cycles are very long lived are they not? Can go on for many years. They have been outperforming Global Equities for awhile now, do you see this continuing for the next 5 years?
What would your best way to participate in this shift.?
Thanks! Gord

Q: Stock picking is getting too challenging!
Slowly shifting to broader ETFs. Eg utilities, energy, banks.,
Now looking more broadly at the TSX, NASDAQ, Dow and TSX.
Long term it seems that even among the professionals it is tough to beat the indexes.
Hence my shifting strategy.

Are these indexes revamped periodically?
If yes, how is it done. How often. Criteria?

Would this be the main reason for beating most of the pros?

As usual thanks for your help

Q: Hello 5i,
Should I keep ZWH.U:CA in an unregisered American or an unregistered Canadian account?
Thank you
Stanley

Q: Don't have any bonds, just plain cash.
Interested in US corporate investment grade bond ETF.
Can you recommend one and would it be a good move at this point?
Thanks
jerry

Q: Hello 5i Team
Do you endorse shorting that Nasada index as a trade . Would the
SQQQ be one that can be used, I have never shorted a stock or a ETF .What is your advise doing so with today’s market?
Thanks

Q: Hi team. I have ~$15k for my TFSA and was wondering about SYZ and FIE for tax free income. I’m down quite a bit with SYZ in other RSP accounts but was wondering if it might be an opportunity now while waiting for some growth in the future. FIE has been good to me and the coupon is roughly the same as SYZ. Hate to be a dividend chaser. Should I buy now or buy something else? Appreciate your thoughts. Bill

Q: Hello 5i
I know that a managemnt team must manage a covered call fund so it is not a passive ETF. Is 0.72% too high an MER to pay for a covered call ETF such as ZWH? This seems more like payment for a mutual fund.
Thank you
Stanley