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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: Good evening,

Multi-part question.

Had just finished reading ‘The Little Book of common sense Investing’, decide to make the switch, and am beginning to plan my transition to CPD, ZAG, VFV, XEF, VCN, VEE, and XRE, when I come across the new Vanguard products, of which VBAL to me seems the most interesting.

I see the pros of this ETF as being straightforward and dropping from 7 commission fees (re-balancing myself), vs just one trade a year to add money (portfolio currently around $26,000).

Cons: no preferreds or real estate. Less control (e.g they decide the asset allocations).

Do you have an opinion on this ETF?

Not sure the yield on VBAL but am guessing 2.5-3% maybe? Any idea?

Also, If I go ahead with VBAL would you give it some time to settle down (trading looks a little erratic), or is that volatility purely a product of price changes of its holdings already?

Thanks!

Read Answer Asked by Jeff on February 02, 2018
Q: Hi Peter, Ryan, and Team,

I manage a TFSA for my daughter-in-law. She holds 165 shares of GUD and is presently down $419. I know that you're still positive on GUD, but she's beginning to lose patience. Would you be OK with selling GUD to buy COV (realizing its size makes it more risky) or perhaps buying XHC (which we can do commission free) to stay in the same sector in an otherwise balanced portfolio?
She's 49 years old and is using her TFSA as forced savings by adding $100 each month. (I invest the $100 in a commission-free ETF by looking at the 'best ones' and invest in the one that's down the most on the day that the $100 appears in her account.)

Thanks in advance for your insight.

Read Answer Asked by Jerry on February 02, 2018
Q: Banks-increase in interest rates, no increase in savings rates, spread widening.
Insurance Co’s-increase in yield on long term bonds,thus spreads widening.
What is your opinion on owning the above securities. I currently own all except FLI. Thinking of buyingFLI to diversify into insurance Co’s. Thank you for your help
Read Answer Asked by Roy on February 02, 2018
Q: Can you recommend 2 or 3 bond funds in Canadian $ that would be the least volatile and offer a return for a 3 to 5 year hold? I would prefer one Canadian and one U.S. or international. This would be my sole fixed income holding. Thanx
Read Answer Asked by Steve on February 01, 2018
Q: Greetings Peter and Team:
As i understand it real return bonds have three parts ( ie ) an issue price
a stated interest rate and an inflation factor which applies to the last
two. If they are purchased or sold before maturity the loss in the
value of the principal could exceed the inflation gain if interest rises
very much. Hank Cunningham thinks they are dangerous instruments.
Is my understanding correct? They are also very thinly traded at present,
which may change as rates rise. I am interested in USA Tips. Could you
please advise if they are much the same or can be redeemed before
maturity at par because they are treasury bills, or are they essentially
bonds like real return bonds? Also are TIPS readily available or are spreads wide? Please outline the traps with both but mostly TIPS.
Thanks,
BEN
Read Answer Asked by BEN on February 01, 2018
Q: I have owned shares in VSB for 16 months and as of today my unrealized loss is greater than what I have received in income. If interest rates continue to go up I would expect the unrealized loss to grow. On the other hand I remind myself that all bonds are supposed to mature at face value so in the long run I think I shouldn't really lose money.
Can you help me sort through these opposing thoughts? If I am really likely to end up losing money over a 5-10 year period with VSB I will just sell it and buy GIC's that I will hold to maturity.

Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Morgan on February 01, 2018
Q: Should I just rut all my money in these Bank ETFs and hibernate for the rest of the year. 3 more rate hikes by the FED should be good for US banks and also Canadian Banks as spreads widen ? Any others you like ? RAK
Read Answer Asked by bob on January 31, 2018
Q: Good Afternoon, Curious as to your thoughts on starting a growth oriented TFSA with the following, and your alternative recommendations if any. Thanks
ZLB,XWD, TDB3098,TDB3099. About 20k to start which is why I have not chosen individual stocks.
Read Answer Asked by Lavern on January 30, 2018
Q: You have described XDV as a high dividend payer vs a dividend grower. I prefer to take the higher dividend now rather than later. Can you tell me if the etf earns all of the dividend paid or is there a return of capital factor. In addition, you don't like the high financial sector weighting. In a rising interest rate environment could the overweighting be a positive? Thank you 5i.
Read Answer Asked by Richard on January 30, 2018
Q: I am retired living on dividend income. I am interested in ZWU to increase my dividend income with its yield of 6.30%.
However, I noticed that it's cash distribution has been decreasing since Jan 2017. How is its cash distribution determined? With rising interest rates, will it's cash distribution continue to decrease? What income etf yielding over 4.5% would you recommend in this market? What percent position would you recommend for income ETFs?
Read Answer Asked by Curtis on January 29, 2018
Q: I originally purchased this holding in a registered account when it was an income trust. It converted to an ETF a while back. Since acquiring it this has been a steady dividend payer and I do rely on its income. My cost is greater than its value today. What is your opinion of this stock going forward? Should sell my small position and look to another area>
Read Answer Asked by Ronald on January 29, 2018
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