Investment Q&A

Q: I am re-evaluating my Fixed income holdings and looking to increase my holdings from 10% up to 20% of my total portfolio. Currently hold CBO and XHY and based on your answers to other questions am looking to add XIG and XBB.
In doing my research I notice that, with the exception of XHY, the Yields to Maturity after MER are well under 2% for CBO and XBB and around 3% for XIG, based on Blackrocks website. Given that XIG is US Bonds with Ave Maturity of 12.7 years I would think that any increase in US rates in the next few years would have a larger negative impact on this ETFs performance.
Given this info why would I not simply buy a 5 year ladder of GICs where I can get slightly more than 2% guaranteed for terms of 2-5 years with no possible loss of capital. (based on rated quoted in my discount brokerage acct.

Q: ETFs--ZPW,ZWA,ZWB..ZWH,ZWE--all yield 5-7% range . Are these ETFs a benefit for yield -- 3 yr. hold --- looking for income . Would like your assessment & thoughts

Q: For international exposure, I have some ZDM in my portfolio but should I be worried enough about BREXIT to dump it?

Q: I read an article today in the businessinsider.com by a Joe Quinlan extolling the virtues of buying stock in emerging market countries. He seems to think the upside is huge and the times to buy is now.
Would you agree with this opinion and would VEE be a good option for such an investment? With thanks, Bill

Q: I have held this in my rrif for some time as my short term Corp bond holding is this the most appropriate choice or should I be switching. This makes up most of my short term Canadian corp exposure. Thanks very much for your wisdom.

Q: I'm a conservative investor and planning on investing 60% of my Portfolio on the following ETFS.
ZLU, NMW, ZUQ, ZGQ, ZWH and FHC, what are your thoughts?

Thanks Valter.

Q: Good Morning- Wondering what your opinion is on the following - ZWH and ZWA. I am looking for a low risk income stream and trying to achieve a 5 % return. Thanks for your help. Ron

Q: I manage a part of my portfolio and have some with a wealth management firm that is strictly income. My wealth management firm has been buying a lot of ETF's lately, and I am concerned that I am paying fees to the firm as well as fees on the ETF's, and that overall it is cutting into my income more than I realize. I have been searching the internet for a site that will list the fees associated with ETF's so that I can make some calculations, but can't seem to find one. Do you know if wealth management firms get any sort of kick-back for buying ETF's, and do you (or another member) have a suggested site with fee information easily available?

Q: Could you give me your opinion on ZWE as a replacement for some idle cash and for dividend earnings in my RIF. Thanks for your advice.

Q: Hi, I have these 4 ETFs in my wife's accounts, in approximately equal weights:
XIC
CDZ
VDU
VUN

Does that look about right to you for an ETF investor?

Thanks,
Robert

Q: Can you please comment on the pros and cons of using a put write strategy to generate income, as these 2 funds do?

Thanks

Q: Morning, just wondering if there is a Canadian ETF which is focused on US industrial that you can recommend.

Thanks,
Harry

Q: The growing uncertainty about Apples short turn prospects (they have nearly 14.5% of this ETF) & the general flat performance of Googles Alternates have resulted in a rather poor quarter for XLK. Looking for your advise on either an alternate ETF or 3 to 4 of your best pics for a 1-2 year hold - Approx. $150K. Thank you.

Q: I am considering replacing vxc with 50% vti and 50% vxus in my Rrsp. This I think will save some small mer, better for taxation and less losses due to currency exposure. I would appreciate your thoughts and suggestions also about possible alternatives.

Q: I read a recent review in Morningstar and this sounded rather appealing. It would be held in a rrif as a conservative large cap hold. As the gurus seem to feel the C$ has gotten ahead of itself would it be a reasonable purchase time, although that probably matters less than the low fee. (Schwab US Dividend Equity)

Q: Given that these two ETFs have almost exactly the same holdings and similar MERs why does XRE have a 5.3% distribution yield and VRE have a 2.45% distribution yield?

Q: I own ZWB. When interest rates rise, I suspect that individual high quality rate reset preferreds will have a greater increase in price than ZWB. What do you think? If you agree, please provide the name of a few rate resets with the 5 year renewing base rate. Thanks.

Q: I have Zub to play the U.S banking,mainly for diversification, up a small amount,is this the best way or would just stick to Canadian banks.
Not interested in currency or tax issues.
Thanks,great work,Brad

Q: I note that this fund pays a 7.2% dividend and yet all the stocks they have in their portfolio might average 4%. Can you explain how they do this. Their MER is .85

Q: Hello Peter.

I am a income investor with a high concentration in blue chip preferred shares...both reset and perpetual. The later being the larger holding. In theory, when interest rates move the two asset classes...Reset/Perpetual should move in opposite directions. This is not the case. In fact I see them moving in tandem.
I'm looking for an alternative to hedge out my income portfolio. I was thinking an inverse long bond ETF (HTD) might be a good investment to protect my overall balance should there be another rate scare like we saw in January.
Your thoughts?