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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: Happy Monday !
I am looking to play a little defense, with the current high valuations of stock market, without getting out entirely. Thinking about consumer staples, in an etf basket. Which do you prefer, better valuation, liquidity, other metrics ?
KXI.. a global etf, XLP ...U.S stocks, or XST ...Cdn stocks, ..(not my fav)
Read Answer Asked by Bernie on January 16, 2018
Q: Hello,

I have been holding TDB902 Mutual Fund which tracks the S&P500 over the last few years. The approx return for TDB902 from Jan 2014 to Jan 2018 is 77%, XSP has been 52% and VFV 78%. However, the one year return for TDB902 has been 16.21%, VFV 16.42%, but XSP has been 22%. XSP is CAD hedged, and I'm looking for the best investment to track the S&P 500. Is it better to have XSP/CAD Hedged ETF? My understanding is that on average CAD to USD has been approx .80 (outside of the few years when CAD was on par with the USD), I think there may be some fluctuation between .75-.81, but will stay around .80 (or decline). Which ETF would have the best returns and track the S&P500 accurately, and should I consider a CAD hedged ETF?
Read Answer Asked by Neeraj on January 16, 2018
Q: Dear 5i
I`m anticipating retiring in a little over a year so as such have a portfolio with 50% fixed income (35% clf , 35%cbo , 15% xhy and 15% cpd )
I'm thinking of following your Outcome Oriented Fixed Income portfolio and thought i would reduce clf and cbo down to 20% then add vsc and zef at 15% each .. I just feel i need a bit more diversification within the fixed portion of my portfolio.
Does this plan seem reasonable or do these changes make the fixed portion too aggressive ?
Thanks
Bill C.
Read Answer Asked by Bill on January 16, 2018
Q: I have never held bonds only equities. About a month ago bought xbb and xhy, now 15% of my holdings in my portfolio. I'm down about 2.12 % in XHY and about 0.7% in XBB in a very short time. Please tell me why I'm holding these bonds. When I can typically expect them to gain or lose; What sort of insurance/protection they offer me if that is the right word.
Read Answer Asked by Neil on January 16, 2018
Q: Dear 5i team: would you rate any other products out there etf's or mutual funds that you may find as a better option as a monthly payer or a total return type product for a retired investment? Or are these as good as any except of course a group of individual stocks.thanks Larry
Read Answer Asked by Larry on January 15, 2018
Q: Good morning 5i Team.
I'm starting to be concerned about the potential for a significant correction in the markets. I'm interested in your opinion on using a bear ETF on the TSX or S&P as a cost effective way to at least partially protect investments from significant correction? I've read that these tend to decay over time and should only be used for short periods. Is that correct? Does it apply only to the leveraged bear/bull etfs or all?
If the etf idea is not advisable, what would you suggest?
I've got a few questions in there so please take as many credits as necessary.
Thanks
Peter
Read Answer Asked by Peter on January 15, 2018
Q: I am considering one of these two ETF’s to invest in. Which one would you recommend as being the one to offer a better rate of return and what is your assessment of both. I like these two because their 10 top holdings. I also really like a large number of their holdings but specifically want exposure to following: Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Alphabet, Facebook, Netflix to name a few. Are there any other ETF’s that you would recommend that may be better?
Read Answer Asked by Laureen on January 15, 2018
Q: ZBK- BAC,JPM,WFC,C, =20% of holdings, rest are midsized banks, 2017 return 10% TER 0.74%
ZUB 2017 return 17% TER 0.80 %
XLF- BAC,JPM,WFC,C, = 32% of holdings + Berkshire H at 11%,rest are regional banks, insurance, financial services, 2017 return 22% TER 0.14%

Is this accurate?
I am 50% non reg., 45% RSP, 5% TFSA, retired living comfortably
Looking at 3% position
Your choice (or choices i.e. split) and why
What account
Thanks
Derek



Thanks

Read Answer Asked by Derek on January 15, 2018
Q: I have a position in my US dollar rrsp account in HACK and read of the management issues currently in litigation. What would you suggest regarding this holding - is it a buy sell or hold and what are your views concerning this issue. Is this likely to adversely affect this ETF longer term. I appreciate your thoughts on whether I ought to hang in or otherwise. Thanks so much.
Read Answer Asked by Ken on January 15, 2018
Q: As an additional comparison to my question of jan.11 re: xtr and zmi do you feel plv would be a better long term hold with more upside potential considering the payout is much more in line with a sustainable payout with maybe not having to rely on roc to meet the higher payout s of the xtr and zmi ? Also would consider any of these to be overvalued and or should an investor wait out a market correction? Thank you kindly Larry
Read Answer Asked by Larry on January 15, 2018