Investment Q&A

Q: What do you advise about Risk Parity as a strategy to reduce risk while generating a reasonable return. Of the 4 named risk parity ETFs do you have a preference?

Q: I am down in XEI and ZRE about 20% and 25% respectively;
in DGRO 2%.
Do you think it is worth waiting for a turnaround or should I
look to exchange for something more hopeful?
Although DGRO is only down a bit it has never gone up.
Would something like VUG be more growthy?
I would appreciate your assessment.
Thanks.

Q: Hello 5i,
As always, a huge thank you for all you do!!!
Income-focused investor.
My question is in response to a previous question, in which answer to, you seemed to favour PID over ZDI. I hold ZDI and have previously discounted PID as an option for two specific reasons: 1) ZDI is almost 3x larger in market cap (328 million versus 124 million (from Globeinvest)) and also the average volume is many times greater (today's volume notwithstanding - PID seems relatively illiquid). I have seen previous answers re: ETF's in general where you are less keen on what are almost micro-cap ETF's for other than the most niche of offerings. I have occasionally had concerns about ZDI's relatively small market cap as it is. The yields between these two are only about 1% with ZDI being marginally higher. So, given the foregoing, do you see the growth profile of PID so much of an advantage that you would still endorse it over ZDI? I would have no problem switching, but my previous concerns would need to be allayed somewhat before considering the move.
In general, what would be the "line" for an ETF market cap below which you would not endorse?
Your thoughts??
Many thanks - be well and stay safe!!
Cheers,
Mike

Q: What ETF's are available to a Canadian RRSP investor that are not subject to a US withholding tax on the US market holdings within that ETF? The added cost of HXS makes it virtually equal to ZSP with the US tax withheld so anything other than HXS. Thanks.

Q: In recent questions, you have recommended VEE as a Canadian emerging markets ETF. In the past, you often recommended ZEM. Is this observation correct? If it is correct, why do you now prefer VEE to ZEM?

For a TFSA account, would you still prefer VEE to ZEM? If I am reading the company information correctly, ZEM appears to be more tax efficient and has had a higher return over the last 5 years.

Your advice is most appreciated. Thank you.

Q: Thanks for the presentations at the Canadian Fin. Summit.

My question is regarding taxation of ETF's. I'd like to know if I understood correctly. I have VWO, GDXJ and ZID all in my RRSP (USD and CAD accounts respectively). Are you advising that they should be moved to non-registered accounts?

Q: Good day!

I've noticed a trend with respect to your recommendations for RESP ETF holdings with a longer timeframe (10-15yrs). You seem to like VGRO +/- IWO. I'm looking for growth and can tolerate risk. Currency doesn't matter.

VGRO has a 19.9% weighing of bond ETF's and the rest are a combination of other vanguard ETF's. In looking at performance since its inception, it lags behind IWO which often lags behind the S&P 500 ETFs. From a non-expert viewpoint it would seem that a combination of large and mid cap US/CAN ETF's would achieve similar purpose and improve returns by eliminating the bond component.

1. What am I missing re VGRO? is it that the bond component satisfies the usual 80/20 combination as an all-in-one and is simply easy?

2. If you were to improve the 'all-in-one' VGRO using a combination of ETF's, which US/CAN growth/index ETF's would you assemble to eliminate the bond component? Perhaps a combination of XIC, VFV/ZSP/VOO, VTI, VUG, ZQQ or others you think work better?

3. Out of the S&P 500 ETF's, do you have a preference between ZSP or VFV? Is there an advantage to holding the US listed SPY, IVV or VOO vs the Canadian-listed? and if so, which do you prefer?

4. If you were to devote 25% of the RESP to high potential equities, which would you choose?

Thanks!

Q: I would like your view on ZUT please.

Q: Hi guys,
RE: FNGS .. MicroSectors FANG+ ETN
I came across this while researching tech ETF's.
This is the description on the RBC Direct Investing website.
The investment seeks to link the return to the performance of the gross total return version of the NYSE® FANG+™ Index. The index is an equal-dollar weighted index designed to represent a segment of the technology and consumer discretionary sectors consisting of highly-traded growth stocks of technology and tech-enabled companies. The notes are unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of Bank of Montreal. Each note will have an initial principal amount of $50.
BMO Investorline does not have it in their menu.
Please give me your insights and opinion on this product.
Thanks as always,
Steve

Q: My wife and I are 80 years old and we live off the dividends from our RRIF's which are totally invested in stocks as well as the CPP.
Looking ahead my wife who has not been involved in the stock market would have a difficult time managing on her own. With this in mind I am contemplating going from stocks for some or all and switching to ETF's covering the different market segments making a passive portfolio that would require little maintenance . Appreciate your thoughts on this strategy and what would be your favourite ETF's by market segment. Looking for approx 4% or higher dividend with little or moderate growth.
Regards

D

Q: WHAT ARE YOUR CURRENT THOUGHTS ON ZWK ?

I HOLD A FULL POSITION IN US BANKS.
IS ZWK A GOOD HEDGE AGAINST A SLOW RECOVERY FOR THE BANKS ?

THANKS, HUGH

Q: I am looking to gain some exposure to world markets. My portfolio is currently overweight in Canadian equites. I have found URTH which seems to be the only ETF that tracks the MSCI World Index. Would you consider this to be a good choice or are there other ETF's that I should consider?

Q: Is ZZZD a good long term hold for a dividend ETF, or is there a better choice?

Q: Good morning 5i,
I notice that you give lists of stocks. So, I will ask a similar question but perhaps more difficult. If one were interested in building a socially responsible portfolio, I hear that 15 to 20 stocks would do, what would you choose, given the need for domestic, US and International?
thanks

Q: Looking for some feedback on my International holdings in my RRSP. Currently have zwp; zem; and Zdi.
I am interested in PID to compliment my existing holdings. I would split my current zdi holding to make 4 equal positions.
Pid has had better performance over the last 5 yrs, covers the same geography as zdi however with different country and industry weighting’s. Pid’s MER is higher than Zdi with a lower dividend.
Is it worthwhile to split my zdi position, convert entirely to Pid or leave well enough alone.
I do not have to Rif for another 9 years

Q: I would like to invest in clean energy storage companies but can't find companies listed in the stock market. I did find an etf which is YLCO and I would like to have your thaughts on this. If you know of companies that are worth investing in please let me know.
Thanks for the help

Q: Would you be buying a gold ETF or any particular gold stock at this point?

Q: QQQJ is a recently listed ETF. How does it differ from QQQ. What advantages does it have over QQQ?

Q: Regarding etfs, are there actively managed etfs? Etfs initially tracked a particular index and thus were passive and required no judgment hence their low fees. But are there now etfs with someone at the steering wheel. For example, if you have an etf investing only in tech stocks, is that etf necessarily just tracking the tech sector of a particular index, or is there actual stock selection going on? If it is actively managed, how is that etf different from a mutual fund and if the answer is just lower fees how can the etf sufficiently pay its manager compared to a mutual fund manager?

Q: Is XSP the best ETF to reflect the S&P in a Canadian dollar account? Is XGD the best ETF to reflect Canadian gold mining stock? Ie MER, size, flexibility, your favourites....