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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: Hello 5i team,

Need an opinion on resizing my healthcare investment.

I hold GILD, ABBV, PFE in our portfolio; ABBV & PFE are doing well while GILD is barely breaking even. Your thought in replacing GILD with JNJ or go to IHI - a medical devices ETF.

Thank you !
Read Answer Asked by Nhung on March 28, 2022
Q: I have held Middlefield's IDR for a short time in a RIF and am down 6.05%. Found it has been merged with 2 other ETFs or funds. I am feeling very uncomfortable with it. Can you comment what has happened and if MREL is worth holding? Losses do not bother me much & I can easily move on.
Thank You
Read Answer Asked by William on March 28, 2022
Q: As concerns ZWC vs ZEB: I had assumed that the former's high return-of-capital component were accounting-speak for capital gains from the sale of covered calls - essentially, a way to defer capital gains taxes until the position were closed. So what's not to like about deferring capital gains taxes, particularly for an stable, NAV-appreciating, income-oriented instrument like ZWC, which we would expect to hold for a long time? I.e., what am I missing about why lower return-of-capital should be 'better' - or, more generally, is there a threshold above which high return-of-capital creates some sort of weird risk?
Read Answer Asked by John on March 28, 2022
Q: Hi, looking to start one or two Canadian based etf. Retired, no investment out of Canada. I think I should have some. Would like monthly income, 4%+ ,moderate risk, some growth if possible.
I think Cyh is the only one with a little growth?
Could you suggest two etf’s you prefer, or suggest two from above you might have confidence in.
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Brad on March 28, 2022
Q: My fixed income holdings are comprised of - LYZ801A & MMF559.
I am with a full service advisor - up until a few years ago we bought individual bonds - then on his recommendation switched to these funds. What is your opinion on their performance. What are some alternative better performing mutual funds and ETF options or should a person go back to buying individual bonds? I read an opinion that said with individual bonds (held to term) you get the principal and interest with funds not so much. Your expert opinion would be appreciated as usual.

Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Reg on March 28, 2022
Q: Other than NTR what would be your 5 top picks for wheat and corn exposure
Read Answer Asked by hal on March 25, 2022
Q: Among banks, 5i seems to favour TD and BNS, though since 2019 patient investors have done well with just about any of the Big-Five-plus-NA.

But supposing interest rates are now set to rise, won't banks tend to find a trading range? In which case, wouldn't ZWB, with its covered call component, provide greater total return? Or do its MER and trading expenses claw back too much of its income?

Interestingly, since inception, ZWB's share price seems to have done as well as (for example) BNS, in spite of the potential for its positions to be called-away.
Read Answer Asked by John on March 25, 2022
Q: Hi 5i team,

As many do, I currently hold part of my portfolio in fixed income (bond etfs). I am wondering if you can recommend any fixed income or "fixed income like" investments that might hold up best in the current rising rate environment that seems to have a long way to run. I had held ZAG but have switched to VSB with rates rising. Currently even cash is doing better than these however. Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Peter on March 25, 2022
Q: Hello. In reviewing my portfolio, I realize that I lack exposure to US markets. I am therefore thinking of purchasing an VFV ETF. I am 66 years old and receive a reasonable pension. While I have an RRSP, I have not contributed to it for many years, choosing instead to build my TFSA. Given that my TFSA is now topped up, would it make sense to add VFV to my RRSP (better tax advantages??) or add it to an open investment account that I currently hold?
Read Answer Asked by Heather on March 21, 2022
Q: I am looking for some suggetions for smaller cap gold stocks or an ETF for jr. gold.
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Madeline on March 18, 2022
Q: My question is on gold /silver / precious metals. Starting to look like gold / metals should be a full position in portfolios. (plese comment)

Can you comment on Etfs verses individual stocks +

Please give me some names I am thinking that some physical gold etf like PHYS should be held please comment also a good etf that covers all the metals c/w mix % suggestions. Thanks for your help with this.
Read Answer Asked by Terence on March 18, 2022
Q: My son (30) has some money and wants to put it in your small cap growth model. He wants to include a number of ETF's to have some other exposure. He would put 30% of his money in the small caps and 70% in ETF's. Here is the list of ETF's he is considering, but is worried it is too many. Can you please help with the ETF list as he is concerned that he has too many. Please take as many credits as needed. Thanks.

XIC 15%
XIU 15%
CDZ 5%
QQQ 10%
IWR 7%
DIA 10%
SPY 10%
SDY 5%
VTI 8%
IDV 5%
VXUS 5%
VEE 5%

Read Answer Asked by Gregory on March 18, 2022
Q: I presently own Mawer US equity 108 and 150 global small caps
Would like your recommendations as to buying two more Mawer funds that are down a lot and may have some good upside in the next two/three years
Alternatively can you recommend an ETF instead of the mawer funds you choose since the etf would have lower fees
Finally would You choose the Mawer funds over the ETFs you recommend in spite of the higher Mawer fees with the expectation of better returns from Mawer ?
I would like to purchase with Canadian dollars
Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Indra on March 17, 2022
Q: Hello, conservative investor and thinking about adding an oil and gas ETF into my portfolio and am looking at XEG vs HEE. Now, I know HEE writes covered calls, so I was surprised when looking at 5 and 10 year returns that HEE's return was lower than XEG. Conversely, in up years, HEE had higher returns than XEG. I would have expected this to the be the opposite. Are you able to say why this has been the case? Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by jeff on March 17, 2022
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