Investment Q&A

Q: On June 10 you answered a question on portfolio weights,saying that you would generally consider a good portfolio as having 25 stocks, making 4 percent a full position. How would etf’s figure into this scenario? I know that you have often said that one should have at least a 5percent position in an etf. Is that suggestion for a portfolio of 25 stocks?
Thanks again for the excellent site

Q: I would like to increase my international equity exposure and I was wondering if now is a good time to start a position in INDY? thx JR

Q: Retired income oriented long term (10 year focus) investor.
Already own CPD, CVD and XPF.

In the process of rebalancing asset allocations with the objective of increasing fixed income, and given the current interest rate environment can a case be made for buying one or all of these stocks? Why or why not?

Any other thoughts also appreciated.

Thanks.

Q: In your answer to a June 5 question from Russel ( about no withholding tax on US dividends when held in an RRSP), you said "However, the important distinction to make is not what currency the ETF is based in, rather what country the ETF is listed in." So, are there any Canadian dollar denominated ETFs listed in the USA?
If so, does that mean there would not be any withholding tax on dividends from them if they were held in an RRSP or a RRIF, and does that mean that there would be an advantage to investing in them ? What are your thoughts about this idea? Thanks.

Q: hi, within a long term focus rip, would you see benefit from holding VGG as well as ZSP ? If not both, which is preferable? Thanks$$

Q: Hi
I am increasing US exposure by 15-20% to a total of 35-40% from cash into ETFs. Portfolio Analytics suggests VUN for this exposure. I am thinking of using a more factored ETF, IWO or VGG. The US exposure would be the similar, the latter two have a lower financials weight (helpful for sector balancing also needed at this time), and possible relative out performance with small cap or dividend growth. Do you think 1, or a combination of 2-3 is better than the other? Any suggestion on weight (1/3 each)? Do not want to overlap too much nor one factor negate the other.

Any suggestions for adding some torque to passive component of US exposure welcome.

Thanks

Q: Thank you for your response to my question about a simple etf portfolio .
For the non registered portion you suggested using HXS instead of VFV and HXDM instead of VDU . After reading the horizon website on HXS for both registered and TFSA they do say it is advantageous tax wise to use this etf .
This answer seems a bit confusing since you have answered a previous question this way . .
Earlier 5i answered a question in april 2019 :
watched---default Horizons S&P 500 Index ETF (HXS)

watched---default Vanguard S&P 500 Index ETF (VFV)
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Q: Is this a a good play to the US market in a TFSA. Thanks

Asked by David on April 23, 2019
5I RESEARCH ANSWER:
Yes and no. It tracks the S&P 500 index, and we think this is the best way to get US exposure. The fund uses derivatives to convert dividends into capital gains, allowing tax deferral, which can help some investors save taxes. BUT...under the recent changes to the federal government budget, these types of ETFs are not going to be able to be run in the same way. Horizons says it will likely have to pay distributions this year. It is still an OK fund, but VFV would be better now, and cheaper, and follows the same index.

So I am confused .
Please clarify.

Q: Hi guys

Most ETFs I kind of understand what they are using to mimic an index, and to create the holding. With this ETF trading off the VIX wondering how they do this? What do you think of this as a short term holding. It just seems the VIX should have much more noise, given Trump, uncertainy, and trade issues, yet you wouldnt know it. Your thoughts?

Thanks
Stuart

Q: With interest rates stable or downward sloping why would a preferred share fund be decreasing in stock value? This should normally increase the value of the preferred shares in the fund, would it not?

Q: Follow-up: the ticker is HDGE by AdvisorShare

Question:
An ETF acting as an Hedge fund ? What is your take ?

Answer:
Do you have a specific ETF in reference here?

Q: In reading Jason Heath's article in the Moneysaver he comments that there is no US withholding tax on US ETF's held in an RRSP, but there is withholding tax on the Canadian equivalent. I am in the process of rearranging our RRIFS and have been switching to more ETFs, including US based ones. Many ETFs have both a Canadian dollar and a US dollar version of the same fund. For convenience, to avoid opening a US dollar RRIF component, I elected to go with the Canadian equivalent.

Does the withholding tax also apply to RRIFs as well as RRSPs. If so it follows that perhaps I should convert a portion of our RRIF to US dollars and then purchase the US based ETFs in that account. It is not difficult to do, just a bit inconvenient.
Your thoughts please.
Russell

Q: I'd like to simplify my rrsp and have a constant stream of income. I was thinking of selling my 30 stock over weight in canada and buy 5 or 6 ETF. Making easier to manage and have more investment outside of Canada. Do you like ZWC 20% weighting Ca, ZWH,20% weighting Us , ZWP20% weighting Eur , ZQQ 20% weighting Global tech company and Maybe ZRE for last 20% because reits usually goes up in a negative market. Please give me your opinion on my ETFs and your 6 picks would be? take as many question credit needed. Income and diversification globally are my goal.

Q: I have recently been making significant adjustments to my portfolio, based on the results of Portfolio Analytics. In particular, I am significantly decreasing my financials and energy, and making large increases to my US and international weights.

Despite my changes, I am still overweight by 6% based on the recommended financials, and by 5% for energy. I am underweight international by about 6%. What is your recommended tolerance? How much leeway do you suggest for the recommended allocations?

Also, I am currently invested about 11% in VIGI. What is the maximum allocation you suggest for any ETF? I am a fan of the dividend aristocrats/growers strategy. Is there any other international dividend ETF which you would recommend (if possible, sold in Canadian dollars) along these lines?

For the US dividend growers, I have DGRO, VGG and ZDY.

Thank you for this incredible service that you offer!

Q: For the purpose of simplicity I would like your opinion on these 3 ETF portfolios.
My idea is to rebalance 1 / year.
non registered: VFV 30% VDU 30% VAB 40%
TFSA: VFV 50% VDU 50%
RRSP: VOO 30% VIG 30% IWO 30% VAB 10%
Any suggestions as to changing the etf's used for better tax purposes ?
Are there better etf's that you would recommend using?
Thanks for your help .
Victoria

Q: Any specific reason for the continued drop in value in ZPR.

Thank you,

Bob

Q: Do you have a favorite gold bullion fund or etf that is either long one of the following currencies CDN, CHF, JPN, or the Singapore dollar?

Q: I have cash sitting in most of my accounts. I am retired and would like to put some of this cash to work for me. I don't even think my bank is providing interest on some of this cash. I have DRIPs in several bank stocks and telecommunication companies. Can you suggest some ETFs that might be useful here. I am interested primarily in ex-Canada and in seem of the other industries besides financial and telecommunications unless they are based outside of Canada. Thanks.

Q: From your suggested ETF list you provided for my Portfolio Analytics which ones would be best to incorporate in my RRIF and TFSA? Hope you have access to those ETF's. Thanks.

Q: Good morning, if i wanted to buy just one well diversified etf ex-Canada, but cdn dollar denomination fund, for about a five year hold, what would you recommend? Moderate risk.

Q: This is a relatively recent ETF that I took a position in a few weeks ago. Yield looks good, I just wonder about some of its holdings and the ETFs viability in these uncertain markets. I would appreciate your thoughts on the ETF and its holdings. Many thanks for your time and efforts on our behalfs. Mike