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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: Dear 5i,

Please critique the following proposed index ETF portfolios (only equity portion provided, fixed income allocation will be identical in each)

1.
20% VCN
20% ZLB
40% VFV
10% VIU
10% ZLI

2.
20% XIC
20% ZLB
20% XUU
20% ZLU
10% XEF
10% ZLI

3.
40% XMV
40% XMU
15% XMI
5% XMM

With these portfolios, I am attempting to achieve greater sector diversification than if I went with strictly broad-market indices, with a defensive tilt. Which do you think is best (in terms of long-term, risk-adjusted total return potential) for long-term hold/accumulation with annual rebalance to initial weights, and what changes would you suggest (if any)?

Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Walter on June 22, 2017
Q: I presently have no exposure to Europe in my portfolio and wish to add a 5% position by buying a ETF. Should I buy edge or not edge ETF, seeing the weakness in the currencies? Income is not the primary goal but I want good total return of course. I prefer good quality companies, participating in the recovery as opposed to momentum plays or startups. Could you suggest one or two Canadian ETF.
Read Answer Asked by Rene on June 21, 2017
Q: If memory serves me well, at one time you were recommending the FEZ ETF for European exposure. I bought some two years ago. More recently you have been recommending VE. What I like about FEZ in the current environment is that it has no direct exposure to the UK, a country that seems to have a cloudy economic future these days. VE, in contrast, has 29% of its assets in the UK. FEZ’s MER is a bit higher, but not by much, and its yield (before withholding tax) is also higher. FEZ has 50 holdings while VE has 1262. Are you leaning more toward VE these days because it can be bought directly in Canada while FEZ must be bought in the US market? Or is it the (modest) small cap exposure in VE that you like? Or the much greater number of holdings? Or something else?
Read Answer Asked by Philip on June 21, 2017
Q: Hi 5i Team:
A couple of thanks first before getting to my question.
1. Thanks for the fantastic job you did on my portfolio review and the suggested transactions.
2. Thanks for your opinion and feedback on annuities.
I have some money to add to my fixed income. Are you still liking CLF for government bonds and CBO for investment grade corporate bonds. Time horizon is very long term. Or do you have some other suggestions.
Thanks so much.
Read Answer Asked by Dennis on June 21, 2017
Q: I hold the following ETF’s in a Non-Registered account. It is sort of a general purpose portfolio with a bit of emphasis on the health care sector (just because I think it is coming due). My question is with additional cash to add should I look for another ETF or add to the existing ones? I guess I am saying do I need more diversification or is there another particular sector I could emphasize?

Canada
iShares S&P/TSX 60 Index Fund

US
Vanguard US Total Mkt Ind ETF
AdvisorShares Focused Equity

Europe
Vangrd FTSE Dev Europe All Cap

Health Care
BMO EqWt US HthCare Hedged CAD
iShares Global Healthcare ETF

Emerging Markets
BMO India Equity Index ETF
Fairfax India Holdings
Fairfax Africa Holdings


Read Answer Asked by David on June 20, 2017
Q: Would you put money into biotech seasonally ? In the past I have done well on Celgene ... However , I have taken quite a hit on Gillead, so I am cautious.
Or should I look at the ETFs for a broader/safer play ?
Read Answer Asked by Thomas on June 20, 2017
Q: I don't currently have a stake in the US technology industry, and am thinking of using the recent pullback as a good entry point. What do you think of the US tech sector for a long-term hold? Could you comment on using XQQ to meet this objective and an appropriate percentage allocation? Are there any other TSX/CDN$ ETFs with large holdings in US tech that you would recommend instead?
Thank-you
Read Answer Asked by grant on June 19, 2017
Q: Hi 5i team,
I currently have the above ETFs. I find that the dividend are a bit low (~2%). I was wondering if there are alternatives to the above in the 4-5% dividend range for income?

Andrew
Read Answer Asked by Andrew on June 16, 2017
Q: In my portfolio I am overweight in Canadian Financial (Banks) and the US tech stocks, but I have no exposure to the Materials sector (except gold.) Can you please recommend me a few materials and mining stocks (in the order or your preference) or do you suggest an ETF.
Based on the recent weakness of the sector is this the right time to get in this sector? or do you suggest that you should stay away
Read Answer Asked by Jacob on June 16, 2017
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