Investment Q&A

Q: Any thoughts on these new ETF investment options? Thanks. Peter
VCNS,VBAL,VGRO

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

Q: I would like your opinion as to whether you like SLF over FLI for exposure to insurance, FLI being somewhat diversified in Canada and the US? Do they hedge their US exposure?

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

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

Q: What can you tell me about ARKW? Thanks

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

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

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.

Q: Do you like Real Return Bonds today...how will they react in a rising rate environment and do they offer good protection if stocks fall? Thanks as always.

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.

Q: Did GBTC split a 100 to one? It is trading now @ $19.65. thanks!

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?

Q: I want to invest in blockchain technology. Your opinion of these three ETF's would be appreciated. Which would you choose and why?
BLOK,BLCN,LEGR
Many thanks for your great service!

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>

Q: Do you guys know what it would take for this etf. (ZPW), to move up, it really hasn't performed very well in it's relatively short existence, thanks?

Q: Hi, ZUT and ZRE both sold off during 2016 and Q4 2017 on rate concerns but now they are diverging with ZUT sharply down (which makes sense) but ZRE sharply up (???). Any idea why? Thanks.

Q: Currency question:
I want to buy an emerging market ETF and a US market ETF. If we assume that the American dollar continues to drop, are we better to have a Canadian dollar hedged fund or to purchase in US dollars? Thanks in advance.

Q: I have owned these Bond ETF's for the last few years and have seen the unit prices drift lower with the rising rate environment. If I had bought the bonds directly the maturity date would restore the capital. Does the same thing happen within the ETF's to the same effect? How doe s it play out over time?
Thanks
Paul

Q: In the current interest rate environment what bond ETF would you recommend as a core bond holding in an RRSP. Time frame would be long.