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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: Thank you for your Portfolio Analytics feature, I am finding it a useful tool for helping with overall perspective.

Here is a sounding board fixed income ETF allocation question.

In registered accounts I currently have 1% XBB and another 4'ish% spread generally evenly between VSC, CLF and CBO.

For general simplification purposes would it be a better idea to only hold a couple of ETFs or maybe even just a single bond fund?

Possibly keep XBB and choose one of shorter-termed VSC/CLF/CBO products? Would you suggest different ETF(s) instead? Thanks for any ideas and I recognize you are not giving individual advice.
Read Answer Asked by Richard on July 25, 2019
Q: Is CEF and CEF.U a good choice as a holding of gold and silver bullion. I realise there are storage costs involved but can you suggest an alternative that also holds the actual metals in storage. Preferably with lower MER than what Sprott collects on CEF at .73%.
An e.t.f. perhaps? Or just go with a solid producer such as AEM and forget bullion.
The maximum 5% holding is for portfolio insurance.
Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Gerald on July 25, 2019
Q: I am looking to hold some cash for 6-12 months. My broker - RBC Direct Investing - does not allow me to purchase PSA or CSAV. Would you consider HFR to be reasonably safe, or do you have another suggestion? I am somewhat reluctant to change brokers, but maybe I should.
Read Answer Asked by David on July 25, 2019
Q: After using your portfolio analytics tool I have learned I should make the following adjustments. 1. I need to increase my international exposure. 2. I need to increase my exposure to health care, utilities and telecom. Any suggestions that might accomplish both at the same time? Or failing that, your best overall pick for each sector. I do own VOX which is currently a 1.5% weighting, GWR/Global Water Resources @ 2% and GUD/Knight @ 1%.
Read Answer Asked by ralph on July 24, 2019
Q: Over the weekend I was reading about the potential for mean reversion producing a rebound in value stocks in the US. Do you think this makes sense overall, or is it just about as likely as any of the ten thousand other 'this is what is going to happen' stock market ideas? And, do you have any CAD US based ETFs that would fit this profile and that you would recommend? Thank-you, again.
Read Answer Asked by Alex on July 24, 2019
Q: How can you find out what Company comprises an ETF. Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Lucille on July 24, 2019
Q: hello 5i:
could you give me your opinion on incorporating BTAL into a portfolio and/or the strengths/weaknesses of such a strategy? Can you compare it with something like SH (ProShares Short S&P500)?
thanks
Paul L
Read Answer Asked by Paul on July 23, 2019
Q: Ray Dalio and David Rosenberg to opinions i highly respect sure paint a gloomy picture of the next 10-20 years.
Rays suggested Portfolio weightings 7.5% Gold 7.5% other Commodities, 40% Long term bonds and 15% Intermediate bonds 30% stocks and 7.5% other.
My question is on Bonds, Specifically Govt treasuries , this would be the TLT correct?
and wouldn't Govt treasuries be seen as much safer than say the XLB which are municipal bonds, I have heard some fund managers on BNN say they wouldn't touch an Ontario provincial bond because of the provinces Debt. So that being said is there a version of the TLT that is available for me to buy?
Thanks Gord
Read Answer Asked by Gordon on July 23, 2019
Q: I previously asked why ZPR has decreased lately with the trend for interest rates declining. ZHP the identical fund of US preferred shares is increasing with an increased trend of lower interest rates. Decreasing interest rate trends should increase bond and preferred shares yet the CDN version has not acted liked the US version. I can see no logical reason for these different trends?
Read Answer Asked by Edward on July 23, 2019
Q: I have been looking to add some funds to this ETF- I like the strategy, active management, sector/ smaller number of holdings. Would you still recommend it for a bit of global diversification?
I notice it is called a dividend fund however do not see a distribution from 2018 and the 12 month trailing yield of 0% with an annual payout listed- is this a concern? (the focus really doesn't seem dividend focused) Are there any other actively managed cad$ ETFs with a similar strategy you can recommend
Read Answer Asked by Kyle on July 22, 2019
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