skip to content
  1. Home
  2. >
  3. Investment Q&A
You can view 3 more answers this month. Sign up for a free trial for unlimited access.

Investment Q&A

Not investment advice or solicitation to buy/sell securities. Do your own due diligence and/or consult an advisor.

Q: I just read your answer re the above symbol, Larry Bermans newest addition. My question would be, what would you recommend that has a longer track record and is similiar to zpay's philosophy, maybe not quite the best word for an etf !!. Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Maureen on May 15, 2020
Q: Hi,
I'm trying to create a well balanced bond fund for that portion of my portfolio and have come up with this: HFR-T, CBO-T, CLF-T, TLT, XBB-T, CVD-T, SHY, FLOT, IVOL, BNDX, VSG-T
I guess I should have something that will generate monthly income as well? If I am overdoing this, please let me know...it seems like a lot of holdings. Is there a better way? A mutual fund?
Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Gregory on May 13, 2020
Q: I have a question about data centers. Can you identify some possible investment opportunities in this space?
While the largest tech companies (Google etc) seem to be building their own data centres, it seems everyone else will need to rely on 3rd party data centres to hold the massive amounts of data we/they will be using.
Can you suggest some individual companies that are interesting to you and if there are any reasonable ETFs that focus on this space / have significant holdings in this space?
Thanks!
Michael
Read Answer Asked by Michael on May 13, 2020
Q: I have both these 2 ETF in a RRSP account but at a 3 % weight each.these 2 ETF. I will not need to start withdrawing for 10 years and wondered if I were to buy more for a 5% weight , buying 1 % now and then another 1% in a few month or best to wait longer to see if these 2 ETF start to perform better?
Thanks
Read Answer Asked on May 13, 2020
Q: Hi team
I have about 40,000 in US dollars to invest
aim is to put 30% in US equity (SPY which I have a current position)
and put 70% to generate dividends and some growth (VIG which I have a current position)

it is going to be in a non-registered account, so I know that tax withholding taxes
is going to lessen the return (no intention of filing a US return)
can you give me 2 Cdn ETF (investing in US div stocks and
general market) equivalent to VIG and SPY ?
of similar returns and risks

Many thanks
Michael
Read Answer Asked by Michael on May 13, 2020
Q: I am considering an appropriate asset mix, and I am leaning towards a minimum 40% US by acquiring VFV, HXS, a minimum of XQQ, and HXQ. For Canadian stocks I am aiming at 15% Tech, 15% Utilities, 10% Industrials, and 15% REITs. I would appreciate your opinion, thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Dennis on May 13, 2020
Q: Is it better to own QQQ and pay the extra fees for converting Can to US dollars through my broker ( TD ) or buy hxq, znq even though they have small market caps and have low trading volumes? Both seem to have better performance over the last year than QQQ.
Thanks, Michael
Read Answer Asked by Michael on May 13, 2020
Q: Hi
I am slowly selling into the rallies and consolidating my portfolio.
Of the two VCIP/VCNS which is safer to hold for 1 to 2 years.
Or should I simply put the money in a Hi Savings a/c or in an ETF like PYF/PSA. I won't need the money to survive for 1 to 2 years. But will need it to "wade into the market" as per your suggestions. Is PYF bit too fancy a place to park? One of the gentleman on BNN mentioned this product recently. I wasn't even aware of this product!
Thanks in advance.
Read Answer Asked by Savalai on May 13, 2020
Q: Bought ZRE in a non-registered account just weeks before COVID. Down 33%. Yikes. Would you suggest waiting it out? And if so - looking at your trusty crystal ball - when would you see share prices for this ETF rising to pre-COVID levels (a year...two years)? Alternatively, is it time to cut my (considerable) losses and invest in another sector (tech, consumer cyclical?) which would have a better chance of seeing a faster recovery? Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Maureen on May 13, 2020
Q: Peter.
VOO vs VFV

Both these ETFs track the S & P 500. VOO cost U.S. $ $269 and yield 2.5%. VFV cost $72.48 CDN and yield 1.7%. Assume 1) purchase for long term hold 2) to simplify assume FX rates stay the same as today. 3 )can will invest either Cdn$ or U.S. $. How would you determine which is better? Would you normally get hosed on fx conversion with VFV?
Thank you

Paul
Read Answer Asked by paul on May 12, 2020
Q: I'm trying to make decisions for my retired mother's taxable account.

In the current environment, do preferred shares make more sense than bonds or other fixed income strategies? If so, can you recommend a few of the best preferred share funds (or would an ETF like CPD or ZPR be a wiser option)?
Read Answer Asked by Kevin on May 12, 2020