Investment Q&A

Q: In a recent fixed income question, the option of a bar bell approach was suggested using XSB/XLB for short/long bond exposure. Is there an ETF option for this?
I see few questions recently on the covered call version for long bonds (HBND) is there a short bond version of this available as well?

Your comments on up to date pros/cons of this strategy also appreciated.

Q: Dear 5i
Could you please confirm the MER's for the above stated high interest funds and that the stated 12 month yield is net of the MER . Also is it more important to go with the fund with the higher yield or the fund with the tighter bid/ask spread or the fund with the tighter 52 week differential or try to determine the best when considering all three factors knowing there is some compromises ?
Thanks
Bill C

Q: Hi 5i,
In today's environment; October 17, 2023.
If one wanted to purchase a Canadian Passive Fixed Income ETF to hold in a TFSA for 1 to 3 years and then potentially sell. Can you suggest some ETF's that might give out sized Total Return. My goal is Total Return and not necessarily High Yield.

Q: What is the potential regulatory risk related to HISAs? Is it restricted to HISA ETFs?

I have funds parked in a BMO investorline HISA for immediate deployment when needed:

https://www.bmoinvestorline.com/selfDirected/pdfs/BMT_HISA_Terms_CAD_EN.pdf

Can you explain what the regulatory risk and if it is applicable to my current holding?

Is there a better place to park funds?

Q: Hi,

I’m wondering if you can help clarify something for me about the CDIC deposit insurance for GICs. I have tried to research an answer for this but am still unclear.

In one account if I have a GIC valued at $100K, I know I have full CDIC insurance coverage.

If I have two $100K GICs in the same account, but the GICs are issued by two different institutions (e.g., one is a $100K TD GIC and one is a $100K BMO GIC), do I have full CDIC insurance on each GIC, for a total of $200K insurance, or only $100K insurance for the account?

Thank you. Michael

Q: Dear 5i
Do most or all high interest savings accounts pay distributions monthly or quarterly ? How would you rate the above ones that i've listed ? Do you have to be a little cognizant of when you buy them as i see the price can fluctuate slightly throughout the day ? Are you best to buy the one with the highest % distribution or a combination of % distribution and the smallest 52 week high /low spread ?
Take as many points as necessary as i have multiple questions and lots of points .
Thanks
Bill C

Q: Hi 5i,
if one was interested in getting exposure to the US or Canadian High Yield Bond market would you lean toward active management or a passive index ETF? I would appreciate some suggestions to further research for both US and Canada markets.

Q: I'm thinking it might be a good idea to buy some inflation linked government bonds especially long dated either US or Canadian via an ETF Would appreciate your suggestions on specific ETFs and thoughts re short term vs long. My thinking is if inflation is here for longer than we expect and I have inflation linked bonds it's probably the best way to protect myself.

Q: Good morning!
I'm a retired investor and I am looking to lock in some fixed income! I have had very little exposure to bond trading but can use my TD Trader account I believe! What could go wrong, Lol!
I'm leaning toward corporate bonds...many friends have gone with GIC's but I like the appreciation of the bonds value should we see rates come down...is this a good idea or ?
Are bond ETF's as sure to see appreciation in value as individual bond holdings?
Thanks
Peter

Q: I have a proposal to lend money though my funds manager at a current rate of 9%. Here is what I read:
The management team conducts due diligence on each investment, only invests in industries where they have deep expertise, and holds the companies to strict performance standards. The investment consists mainly of floating-rate loans, where payments increase and decrease with interest rates.

Could you tell me what is this all about and your opinion concerning this kind of investment , many thanks

Q: I have money invested in non-registered accounts which I will need in 1-3 years for a downpayment on a house.

Am I correct that money needed in a 1-3 year time frame should not be invested in the markets ?

If so, what should be done with this money ? Any "money" ETF s to consider ? Thank you !

Q: Hi Peter,
Regarding bond and US treasuries ETFs, if the ETF yield on my purchase date is 5%, would my annual interest income remain to be 5% as long as I hold the ETF, similar to my buying a bond with a yield to maturity of 5% and hold it to maturity? What are your top choices for 10 year US treasuries ETFs US listed, and Canadian listed and what’s their current yields? Thanks.

Q: Recently I asked a question on HBND. Could 5i give me a similar analysis on HPYT ? As well as comparison of the different structures between the two . The only one I am aware of is the 50% position of HBND that is not covered calls . Not sure what the situation is with HYPT ..... The yield on the two is considerably different with the former yielding 10% and the latter 15% ...... Please compare what you would suspect would happen differently with each under rising/stagnant/falling interest rates ?..... Thanks Garth

Q: I am looking for $US-denominated ETFs to hold within my RRSP/RRIF. I would be interested in both shorter and longer-term names. When I review the questions you have answered and the company's literature, it is not clear if the bonds pay US dollars or are simply US bonds bought in Canadian dollars.

I am assuming that any ETFs that fit my criteria would not result in US taxes being paid as long as they are held directly in my registered accounts. If this is not the case, please suggest ways to ensure no taxes are withheld at source.

Appreciate your insight.

Paul F.

Q: Some time ago when rates were starting to go up I bought XSB for the bond (cash) part of my investments, . The thinking was that the "Short" would protect against rising rates. Alas, things did not work out that way and the holding is down about 9 %, not including interest paid. At this point, can you see any advantage to holding XSB with a return of 2-3 % when GICs are available at more than 5%? Many thanks

Q: Hi team
I have around 150,000 in money market funds which is earning decent interest
I am going to use the above as a cushion so that if the stock market went down further , I do not have any worries
interest rates can still go up, but eventually cold come down so that the nice returns from the money market fund would be not as good
my strategy
put 1/3, around 50,000, put it in a ladder GIC 10,000 dollars each matures in 1-5 years in five 10,000 amount
put 1/3 into bonds, using a broad Cdn bond etf, something like XBB , XBD with lower risks; any suggestions of a mix Cdn high grade bond fund (no junk bonds) would be appreciated
and the remaining 1/3 continue to put it in the money market fund as the inflation could be hard to control and interest rates continue to peak;
I wonder what you think of my strategy?
any suggestions would be appreciated
thanks
Michael

Q: I have about 80,000. in cash that I would like to collect interest on for a while. Can you suggest some options for this.
Thank You
Peter

Q: hello 5i:
we're interested in starting a small position in HBND.
First, can you clarify something.
You said, in reply to a previous question: "But if rates stagnate or decline, and for an investor seeking income, the yield on this ETF may come under pressure, but its unit price can see capital appreciation. "
Are you saying here, that if (for example), the 10 year Treasury were to fall from 4.8ish to 2.4ish, that HBND would then yield around 5%? Along with a capital gain?

Second: would the decrease in HBNDs yield matter that much, as Treasuries and GICs, etc, would have a similar decrease in rates (a 1 year GIC paying around 2.5% vs a current rate of around 5%?

Third: isn't a stagnant yield almost ideal for a covered call bond, as nothing is changing, other than the seller continuing to collect the premiums from the sale of the covered calls?
thanks
Paul L

Q: With U.S. Treasury yields on the rise, is this a good time to buy this U.S Treasury focused ETF? Also, looking forward, and assuming a higher for longer scenario for interest rates, that are at a peak now, and will stay there for a couple of years, what would your outlook be for this ETF? Is the yield sustainable at a targeted 10%, or might it rise in the short term? Thanks. Will

Q: Thank you for the answer provided today to Guy R. re Structured Notes.
My question is similar but about Principal Protected Notes pushed by advisors as well.
Thank You!