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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: I read an article in the Globe and Mail by someone named Bryden Teich in which he predicted that the lack of liquidity in the corporate bond market would cause bond ETFs to tank at dizzying rates in a market panic. Is there anything to this, and if so, how would it impact popular bond ETFs such as CBO, XSB, and XBB, and what would be the long term effect?
Read Answer Asked by Bryan on October 17, 2016
Q: I just sold about $5,000.00 in stocks inside my TFSA, with a little profit of $500.00 over the period of 8 months. I did it so I can add it to my self directed RRSP account to lower my taxes this year. In my RRSP I own approx 20% oil,15% financial, 10% utilities, 10% auto, 5% marijuana and the rest is in CDZ. I want to diversify this portfolio. It accounts for 75% of my investments. I am considering a REIT and some technology. What do you recommend?
Read Answer Asked by Grant on October 14, 2016
Q: Our advisor has recommended that we sell some of our equities and purchase more fixed income funds. His recommendations are Manulife Strategic Income F (CAD); TD Retirement Balanced Portfolio F Series; Fiera Defensive Capital Global Equtiy Fund and Lysander-Canso Corporate Value Bond Fund. We are already invested in Pimco Monthly Income Fund (PMO 205), DFA Five-Year Global Equity and CBO. We are leaning in favour of investments we already own as well as XSB, XBB and CLF. We are looking for Canadian, US and International diversification. What would you recommend?
Read Answer Asked by Bradley on October 14, 2016
Q: Hello 5i team,

Which ETF is best suited for a long term hold (30 yrs) in a TFSA that will be DRIPPED and contributed to annually. I like the equal weight positions of ZRE but with a higher MER of .61% over the long term it seems the fee's could really start corroding my capital. VRE is the cheapest but also has the smallest yield and is market cap weighted. Is it possible BMO could lower these fee's in the future to stay competitive? I would eventually like to draw income from the holding.

Always appreciate the you insights
Read Answer Asked by Keith on October 13, 2016
Q: Peter and Team,

My total portfolio is approximately 5% Gold Bullion, 9% Short term bonds (Brookfield Infrastructure 5 year and CBO), 86% Equity. The equity exposure is currently 7.5% in US Stocks (JNJ, SBUX, XYL, V) and 78.5% Balanced Equity Model Portfolio.

I was thinking that I am missing international exposure and am thinking that I should be adding some sort of ETF for this. I originally was thinking of building a portfolio including Nestle but I think that the weighting will be too small to build individual positions.

Can you please provide your ideas for ETFs that would provide international diversification given my current holdings and, if possible, any weighting I should be aiming for in terms of international position? I would describe myself as very much in line with the risk profile of the Balanced Equity portfolio.

Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Marc on October 13, 2016
Q: Hello Peter, I have some US cash to invest in an RRSP. Can you please suggest four US 'growthy but somewhat conservative' stocks for a long-term (10+ years) hold. There is no need for current income. Also, I know you've suggested IWO as a US growth ETF. Would you be inclined to favour that for an investment now, or do you think that, with current near-highs and the upcoming election, it makes sense to wait until closer to year-end. Thank you for the terrific service!
Read Answer Asked by James on October 07, 2016
Q: Good afternoon,
You recently responded to a question concerning put write etfs. My understanding is that such an etf may perform poorly in a bear market. Is there an etf trading in Canada employing an option strategy that would benefit from a bear market, apart from the highly leveraged short term products?
Thank you for your advice.
Read Answer Asked by Peter on October 07, 2016
Q: Why are the put write index etfs so far under the radar? In Canada there is only ZPW which has a market cap of 110 million, and in the U.S. there is only HVPW with a market cap of 38 million. There is also ZPW.U which accepts only U.S. funds but it's extremely small at 5 million. The dividends on these etfs are over 7% and they don't seem any more unsafe than a covered call etf, though it is clear that the share prices could deteriorate as much as any etf under certain market conditions.
Read Answer Asked by Jerry on October 06, 2016
Q: I am supposed to increase my fixed income exposure via one or more ETFs. I see you usually recommend CBO, but what about VSC. VSC seems to be a better performer over the last 1, 3 and 5 year periods. Which is better in your opinion and why?

I have about $21K in cash in an RRSP to invest in fixed income products. Should I buy two or 3 ETFs, or all in CBO or VSC is sufficient?

Should I buy now, or wait until after the US election, or even after FED meeting in December to see if they increase interest rates? Does it really matter at this time?

p.s. I have been invested in over 90% equities for the last 25 years (now 53 years old) so I am struggling to get myself to buy fixed income products. I am reluctantly buying fixed income products only because I know I am supposed to have better asset allocation and not be so heavily equity focused, but today the returns are so small I wonder if I would just be better off buying stocks like BCE, T, SLF, FTS, IPL, PPL that pay around 4% dividend.
Read Answer Asked by Paul on October 04, 2016
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