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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: Hi Peter! I have 50% of my total portfolio in well diversified Canadian stocks, mostly from your equity portfolio. Of the remaining 50%, 5% is cash; 25% is in US stocks; 5% each in Europe (FEZ) and Emerging Markets (EEM). I'm thinking of diversifying further by placing the remaining 10% or so into specific countries such as Japan and/or India.
Can I have your thoughts on this plan and can you recommend any specific ETFs?
Thanks! Michael
Read Answer Asked by Michael on November 05, 2014
Q: Hi 5i Team,

What are your thoughts on FIE (iShares Canadian Financial Monthly Income ETF)?

It looks good on paper - good diversification, good dividends, but on the other hand performance over 5 years pales in comparison to something like BNS.

Is it worth it for the instant diversification in the financial sector, or are you better with 2-4 stocks?

Thanks,

Mike.
Read Answer Asked by Michael on November 05, 2014
Q: Hi, What do you think of RWO, or do you think something like TCN would give a better return? I'm looking to gain from US housing as it rebounds.
Read Answer Asked by Carla on November 03, 2014
Q: Hello 5i, Could you recommend 2 ETF's, one for corporate bonds and the other for preferred shares. Also would these ETF's be good as income for a persons retirement by being more secure as a buy and hold. Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Michael on November 03, 2014
Q: I 've read that you are recommending CDZ and XDV for dividend paying ETFs. The yield on XEI exceeds the yields of CDZ and XDV. As well, fees charged for XEI are less. Would you also recommend XEI ?
Read Answer Asked by Terry on November 03, 2014
Q: Please recommend several fixed income etf's. Thank you for your advice. MR
Read Answer Asked by michael on November 02, 2014
Q: is there a TSX equivalent to the GLD. Please and thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Richard on November 02, 2014
Q: RBC Canadian Dividend Series A mutual fund has been a double for me but the mer of 1.78% is quite high compared to that charged by etf funds. Could you suggest some etf products that would work as well as the mutual fund but are cheaper?
Thanks,
Dave
Read Answer Asked by Dave on November 01, 2014
Q: Hello Peter- I have a lot of US dollars earmarked for the fixed income portion of my portfolio. I realize that 'safe' investments pay less than two percent (if that). I am trying to get 4-5%. I realize that I will have to take a little bit of risk to do this. My two choices are IShares Emerging Market Bonds EMB-N (this pays 4.4%)or the other option is to buy individual rate reset preferred shares. I believe that they work pretty well the same as the Canadian ones and they reset at Libor + 3 to 3.5%. BAC and C both issue these shares. I think that it is better to buy the resets as opposed to the perpetuals. Do you have any comments on this or any alternative suggestions?
Read Answer Asked by RANDY on October 31, 2014
Q: Hi. your response to Gervais re United Health Group versus the etf VHT, indicated that VHT held only 21 securities. Vanguard's
website indicates 307 companies. Pls clarify.Thanks T.
Read Answer Asked by Terrance on October 31, 2014
Q: Due to recent maturing of some bonds and GICs I now have about 15% of my substantial RRIF in cash. I will not need this cash as my bond ladder will cover the next 5 years of withdrawals. I originally planned to use such cash to extend my bond ladder but do not want to be tied to current low interest rates for 6+ years. Can you recommend an etf, or individual stocks that offer good income and low risk for a long holding period.
Read Answer Asked by Preston on October 30, 2014
Q: Can I get your opinion on this dollar hedged ETF. I have enough US dollar denominated investments in my portfolio but I want exposure to the US Financial sector. Is today's price a good entry point as well?
Read Answer Asked by Rob on October 30, 2014
Q: I have held a one-third position in this ETF for a few months and am down 17%. Should I hold or sell and perhaps but First Quantum. It is my only stock in the metals/mining.

Ray
Read Answer Asked by Raymond on October 29, 2014
Q: As part of my US portfolio I hold Peritus HYLD. Over the past month or so this high yield bond fund has dropped about 6 percent. Is it time to get out of high yield bond funds. Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Ray on October 29, 2014
Q: I have Canadian oil and gas stock, pipeline, and power company representation. But I can't help thinking solar is an increasing part of the future, and fear I may be holding too much "old technology" investments, even given some of them have a small part of their income in windpower.

What do you think of Solarcity as a way of rounding out my power investments? Would there be an ETF that would capture solar that would be more appropriate?
John
Read Answer Asked by John on October 28, 2014
Q: Hi team:
I owned the above and my US exposure is relatively low as most of my equity is in the Canadian market
I would like to add the above as I have some cash
Would you say that it is safe to put 1/3 of my money in and wait for another 2 months to add another 1/ to see how the market would be ?
I am holding it for 3-5 years period, thanks Team!
Read Answer Asked by Michael on October 27, 2014
Q: I have a sum of new money to invest and would like to invest 20% of it into the 'bond side' for balance. Ignoring what I may already hold in bonds, could you suggest an ETF or ETF's that would be an appropriate purchase? Would the ETF's in your income portfolio be appropriate?
thanks
Read Answer Asked by Joe on October 27, 2014
Q: I want to buy above US index in Canadian $.Please advise how(mutual fund,ETF etc) Thanks a lot. Looking forward to seeing You on BNN"s Market Call on monday morning
Read Answer Asked by Peter on October 27, 2014
Q: If I hold ZUH in an investment account(non-RRSP or RIF) am I correct in assuming that the U.S.withholding, tax which is minimal on a $0.11 dividend,is the only detriment in holding the above ETF outside a registered account? Thank you. Don.
Read Answer Asked by Donald on October 24, 2014
Q: I'm looking at ETFs for a "couch potato" approach to my RRSP acount so I can focus on my much larger non-registered trading account. I tend to follow the latter and forget about the RRSP account so it always underperforms. I want to have exposure to the S&P500 mainly for diversification and I'm looking at Vanguards ETF VFV. Do you think this a good fit or should I be looking at a different product(s)?
Read Answer Asked by SHANE on October 24, 2014
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