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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, I know that going forward, with the trend in ETF investing, mutual funds might not be a lucrative for fund compagnies like CIX and IGM, but as these compagnies are trending down in prices, at what point do you think they represent good value? I know a lot of people who are still invested in mutual funds and don't have any intention to change. Also, CIX, with the acquisition of First Asset, seem to be adjusting to this new trend. Which one would you recommend and at what entry point? Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Bernard on August 18, 2016
Q: I have a small amount of CIX in an RSP account. I originally bought it a few years ago for the dividend, a bit of growth and the prospect of the company being purchased. I am not terribly unhappy with it as i've collected the nice dividend over the years and the current price is still over what i paid. But now with the industry moving away from high fee mutual funds it seems as CIX is dead money at best and the only attractive thing is it's dividend. I'd like to sell CIX and move it to another financial that has a bit more of a growth component to it. Would you consider a cdn bank as a good replacement? Or a US bank? An insurer? I'm not interested in DH corp, HCG, or EFN. Thanks for your advice
Read Answer Asked by Richard on August 18, 2016
Q: Can I have your opinion on this ETF. It has the best 1/3/5yr returns when compared to others in the Canadian Dividend and Income universe. For example it has outperformed CDZ by almost 3% annualized over the past 5 years. What has contributed to this over achievement and is there any reason why it won't continue to do so over the next 5 years?
Thank-you.
Read Answer Asked by Albert on August 16, 2016
Q: In your answer to my question yesterday you noted "If the NAV falls below a certain level (found in the prospectus), the payout will be cut and that will likely be a huge hit to returns."

To be more precise the prospectus says:

"No regular monthly dividends will be paid on the Class A Shares in any month as long as any dividends on the Preferred Shares are then in arrears or so long as the Net Asset Value per Unit is equal to or less than $15.00 (calculated as described under Details of the Offering Valuation of Assets ). Additionally, it is currently intended that no special year-end dividends will be paid if after payment of such a dividend the Net Asset Value
per Unit (calculated as described under Details of the Offering Valuation of Assets ) would be less than $25.00."

When I look at the actual dividend history, I see that DFN has consistently paid dividends of $0.10 per share every month since inception -- including 2008 & 2009 when the markets were so unsettled.

I also note that DFN shares have traded below $15 since Jan 2008, reaching a low of %4.66 in 2008 and trading in a range of $10 - $12.50 since July 1, 2009.


My questions are:

1. Does it seem like they like have more flexibility to continue dividends than the prospectus indicates?
2. Given the this history of consistent dividends over a fairly long period, covering the scary 2008 -- 2009, why would you not consider DFN a screaming BUY?




Read Answer Asked by Douglas on August 09, 2016
Q: The proverb about our hometown life giant goes …
“ don’t buy Great West Life's funds, just buy their stock "

This WAS a "put-away stock” ( added to through the decade ) .
Now our investment has been seriously eroded due to my non-reaction to Brexit.
Listening to David Baskin’s comments on bonds and lifecos , perhaps I should trim the sector anyways .

Does one sell GWO here , or is the plunge an over-reaction that we should ignore ?

Thanks you
Read Answer Asked by Thomas on August 09, 2016
Q: I am thinking of adding US financial services to my diversified rsp portfolio. I am ideally looking for a CDN dollar etf that invests in/takes advantage of value priced US financials at close to book. Bank of America, Citigroup are examples. Time frame is 7 to 10 years. Thanks as always
Read Answer Asked by Harry on August 02, 2016
Q: Have some monies sitting on sidelines. Can you name me a cheap (excluding energy) sector if any and a couple of recommendations? Thank you. Bill
Read Answer Asked by Bill on August 02, 2016