Investment Q&A

Q: We are typically buy and hold investors. It has been suggested that we sell our Capital Market Weighted Index VTI (unregistered) and purchase RSP which is Equal Weighted (unregistered). Apparently, the larger companies in VTI are getting very expensive and have started to under-perform since November 2020. Other than capital gains from the sale of VTI what are the advantages and disadvantages of switching?

Q: What do you think of these two ETFs and which do you prefer for a long term hold?Can you recommend one or two CDN materials/metals ETFs?
Can you recommend one or two US or world material/metals etfs?

Q: Good morning,
Although a big fan and long time holder of all Mawer equity funds in my family portfolio, I'm now looking for the second time at dumping the MAW106 as a core holding given its inability to beat its benchmark index in the last few years probably due in part to its increasing popularity and size.
Would you kindly suggest a suitable ETF and/or a mutual fund replacement for MAW 106 or should I simply add to some my other existing core ETF holdings. I currently hold XIU, XIC, XDV and XEI.

Q: Assisting a family member looking to start new RRSP with a 20 year time frame. They are looking for lower risk growth ideas. Can you provide 2 or 3 ETF's that could be suitable options? I was considering VGRO as an option. Also, with no commission fess (WealthSimple) would you support dollar cost average purchases (ie monthly)?
Thank you

Q: Would much appreciate your analysis of this new US covered call ETF from JP Morgan. Is any part of the monthly dividend return of capital? Any cautions here or would you say this is a reasonable diversified covered call ETF with a steady monthly income stream at a reasonable MER? Lastly any similar US ETF you'd prefer instead? Thank you very much - Ken

Q: What is the difference between
QQQ vs VGT
VFV vs VGRO

From a pure growth perspective, if you had to choose one from each groups, which would you choose.

Q: In my RRSP I would like to take a long term, very low maintenance approach. For this reason I have it all in index funds. I have a 30 plus year time horizon. Which funds would you recommend here? I currently have $60,000 invested in VFV, VUN, VGRO and XAW. Looking to front load these with $2000/ mo for the next 3 years and then stop contributing as I will be "semi-retiring." I'm 29 for context

Q: hi Peter and 5i Staff, Any chance of these rebounding within the next 3 months. If so which would you buy for a 5 year hold.
Thanks as always for the great service
Ivan

Q: Can you please suggest 2 or 3 ETFs for long term growth in a small RRSP, about 14K , for a young person. Keith

Q: Can you suggest a few good ETF’s which should form the basis of one’s portfolio.

Also please suggest ETF’s for specific applications like..... high risk/ growth, dividend, US equities, Canadian equities, dividend stocks, tech stocks, emerging markets ..... and your choice of basket of ETF’s which a person could use to build a portfolio ( with % allocations)

Q: In an answer about this fund on March 24 this year you said you thought there were better funds. Could you name a few and explain why please?

Q: I am asking this question on behalf of my son. He does not like to invest on his own, he has no interest and probably never will. I am thinking of setting up some kind of weekly investment program using Wealthsimple (to save on commissions), to acquire a fixed dollar amount of shares/ETFs every week. This will serve as his pension in the long run. He is 31 years old. He is fairly conservative but still young so can easily assume some risk.
1. Do you think using Wealthsimple is a good choice.
2. Do you think that investing a fixed amount every week in the same shares/ETFs is a good strategy OR would you recommend doing so every 2 weeks or on a monthly basis. (If the markets (on average) don't move too much from week to week we can increase the investment window.) Would you recommend a different investment strategy?
3. What would you recommend as a good mixture of ETFs and stocks for somebody of his age and risk appetite (to acquire and build on over time).

Thanks again.

Q: Hi, a sector rotation in the market, in recent months from high growth names to value has been quite visible. Value, I believe, also includes cyclicals like financials, industrials and consumer discretionary sectors. Materials and energy, seem to have already shot up multifold. Portfolio Managers appear to agree for this trend to continue for a while. I am trying to catch some more exposure to the Canadian value companies, in those sectors. We own banks 15% and rails 5%. Looking for your expertise to have a list of your preferred names, which are not overly expensive and have room to grow. Also, if you could recommend an etf for Cdn companies to have exposure to value. Thank you

Q: The Evolve ETF, TECH currently shows price discovery at $10.12 Canadian. The US $ version, TECH.U, also shows the same price. I'm confused.

Q: Recently, I transferred the following mutual fund 'RBC SELECT GROWTH PORTFOLIO FUND' into a self-directed online brokerage in the approximate sum of $40,000.00.
Can you please recommend a similar ETF(s) that are comparable? Thanks
Matt

Q: Do you have a US$ ETH etf you could recommend?
Thanks
Mark

Q: When attempting to diversify the sectors in a portfolio does it make sense to hold individual stocks as well as ETF's in the same sector or is it one strategy or the other?

Thanks

Q: Do you know of a German Small Cap or Micro Cap ETF that is available for purchase.
My reasoning is Alot of Smaller German banks lend money for Business Development, Not just Asset purchases like Real Estate
Thanks Gord

Q: HFR's indicated dividend is .01 per unit but it says it offers a 2.25% yield, what am I missing?

Q: What might you suggest for the following situation?

There is $27,000 held in registered accounts with an expectation to augment those savings at a rate of about $1,100 per month to address two prime objectives. The first is to accumulate sufficient funds for a down payment on a condo within five years. The second is to adequately augment savings for retirement, hopefully, 16 years from now.

A financial advisor is suggesting investing in a low risk, balanced fund with a MER of 1.9%. The management fee seems high and the expected return from the investment not particularly exciting. We have a relatively low threshold for risk, especially for those funds earmarked for retirement, but are willing to try something other than a balanced fund to improve returns. Taking on additional risk is especially palatable for that portion of the savings earmarked for the condo purchase, likely about 50% of the overall savings.

Thanks in advance for your input.