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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: Can you help us understand the value of holding an ETF such as VEE for foreign exposure and why it is highly recommended to own this ETF? Returns are low with high volatility. The ETF remains below 2018 levels when BABA and Tencent were ~30% less and they make up 12% of the portfolio. Maybe we are nuts but something seems amiss. Why not just buy BABA and Tencent instead? Are there other recommendations for capitalizing on Asian growth outside of China as we do not believe VEE is going to deliver returns for the expected growth in those regions.

Thank you for the great Service
Debbie and Jerry
Read Answer Asked by Jerry on August 26, 2020
Q: I am thinking of adding the following positions to my portfolio at about 2.5% each, would like your opinion on prospects for the following companies: bidi (Baidu); SONO; Mu (Micron); AMBA (Ambarella);; espo (VanEck e gaming etf); find (global fintech etf). These are all a play on the 5G rollout/stay at home revolution/play at home, your comments would be most welcome
Read Answer Asked by John on August 26, 2020
Q: Morning 5i team,
I'm looking for a few suggestions on an ETF that covers consumer staples in the NAM? Some that came to mind were XST and STPL, but they seem to lack US exposure?
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Phillip on August 26, 2020
Q: Hi Everyone at 5i! I hold some Mawer150, and was wondering what you thought of it and if there was a comparable holding in an ETF format? Cheers, Tamara
Read Answer Asked by Tamara on August 25, 2020
Q: Good morning 5i. I am considering "parking" about 10% of my portfolio in "cash equivalents". Are CVD and CPD your preferences in this case as I see they pay out roughly 5% which seems a reasonable risk/reward scenario? Are there other options or recommendations that you might consider? Thank you in advance.
Read Answer Asked by Peter on August 25, 2020
Q: Hi Team,
I hold small position of ALPS in my RRIF us a/c at a loss of 45%, could you please comment on this ETF and should I sell ?
Appreciated your service and thanks as always!
Tak
Read Answer Asked by Tak on August 25, 2020
Q: Retired dividend-income investor. Sitting on 6% cash. Looking to add some gold exposure. Do you think there is more upside to gold over the next couple of years? For the most part, I am a buy-and-hold investor, not a short term trader. Is there an ETF that a) pays a dividend > 3% and b) that contains both the miners and bullion? If not, what would be the best route to get sector exposure, leaning to the conservative side? Thanks...Steve
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on August 25, 2020
Q: Retired dividend-income investor. Sitting on 6% cash. Looking to add to healthcare exposure in my portfolio. Do you still prefer LIFE over HHL? Would you buy now or would you wait until after the USA election? Thanks...Steve
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on August 25, 2020
Q: Will there be a correction before the election? Will it be as bad as the March one? No one knows for sure however many like me believe that a correction is coming and I was hoping you would have advice on where to park equity investments that I will have turned to cash. I do not intend to put it under my mattress or buy GIC’s. What are your thoughts on bond ETF’s like ZTL or so called sleep at night ETF’s like ZZZD. I would appreciate your advice on the above and suggestions on where to invest this cash in a safer investment until after the correction please. Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Norm on August 25, 2020
Q: TD Asset Mgmt. recently introduced two new ETFs. Symbols TGED and TUED.
Both described as "Enhanced Dividend". "G" is Global, "U" is USA. Described as
actively managed blend of growth and dividend equities with various derivatives
overlaid to enhance yield. Comments/opinions about these please and cost/risk/benefits associated with the non-domestic components.

Thank you
IslandJohn
Read Answer Asked by John on August 25, 2020
Q: My question wasn't understood. I wasn't referring to the % difference in share price but I was meaning to point in the share performance. For example today CGL down -0.55% and PHYS -0.83%. Cgl goes up more when gold goes us and less when gold goes down. Why?
Read Answer Asked by Thomas on August 24, 2020
Q: Hello 5i Team
To increase my fixed income allocation, I need to add fixed income to my non-registered account.
I am looking at the Horizon Corporate Class ETFs, in particular the Horizons Cdn Select Universe Bond ETF (HBB) in comparison to BMO Discount Bond Index ETF (ZDB), BMO Aggregate Bond Index ETF (ZAG) and/or iShares Core Canadian Universe Bond Index ETF (XBB). I am not familiar with the concept of Corporate Class ETFs.
1 - Is HBB a reasonable alternate to the listed major bond funds?
2 - Please confirm HBB does not pay a distribution and that “income” is reinvested in units of the ETF resulting in potential increase capital gains in the future.
3 - What would be the impact of a future increase in capital gains inclusion rate (from 50 % to 75%) have on corporate class ETFs?
4 - Is there a minimum dollar amount where the corporate class ETFs start to make sense (i.e. is better to pay the tax on a distribution from XBB when the dollar amounts are relatively small)?
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on August 24, 2020