Investment Q&A

Q: Hi 5i,

I have a general questions about how trades are executed on an exchange. When there are multiple bids for the same stock, is there an order on which ones get executed first? Is it first in first out or do traders get to pick and choose? Is it the same with sells? Thanks.

Q: Would you agree this still happens daily?

For well over 100 years there have been stock manipulators, stock operators and stock traders...such as one of the classic and considered the best all time operators, and he did it back in the ~1910 - 1920 era, Jesse Livermore who was more concerned with beating the market, specific stocks & futures, than actually concerned about making $$$ even though he could and did routinely make millions in a year back in say 1920!

They, the "movers" will move a stock - buying or selling some - to get it moving and then once other investors, such as retail investors and institutional investors, take notice and start buying into the stock the "movers" starts selling or close their short for a profit.

This is often all that is happening when a stock moves and there is no news or incident to be found. Most "Investors" want to know why for everything but in reality there is nothing to know other than movers doing their daily business of attempting to make $$$ in the market.

There are so many different interests and money making approaches used from around the world.

Not everything is explainable. Such as why GUD or CSU is rising lately. Note CSU is down today as it just hit a resistance level from before. Kinda predictable I think from a technical perspective.

Have a great day.

Q: Regarding historic P/E ratios etc.

http://financials.morningstar.com/valuation/price-ratio.html?t=XTSE:GUD

I don't know how to get to it through the menus. I just change the ticker symbol in the URL.

I hope it helps.

Nick

Q: I assume you get historical PE ratios from Bloomberg. Is there an easy way for me to access this info?

Q: Can you please explain "rate reset preferreds" in simple language for us dummies. Having been burned in a preferred share ETF, that I thought was relatively safe, in the past, I'd like to know the risks and advantages.
Thanks, Len

Q: I am sitting on a fair amount of cash I'm a little nervous about deploying until after the correction/election. I was thinking of putting it into mdvn which has about a 65cent increase when Pfizer closes. Do you think this is a safe strategy. When do you think it will close. Are there any safer areas to park money besides money markets

Q: Greetings,

Looking for a group of Canadian companies that pay dividends in US dollars. Do you know of a listing?

Q: Peter and His Wonder Team
This is a question about RSP and RIF accounts. What happens when you sell a stock for profit in these accounts. Do you have to declare the profit immediately on this years tax return? Or do you just pay the tax when you withdraw money from the account... when you must withdraw a certain percentage every year after 65years of age. In other words your profits can just accumulate in the account and taxes are assessed when you withdraw funds out of the account itself?
Dr.Ernest Rivait

Q: I have a balanced million dollar portfolio holding as many as 30 equities at a time. Currently I would like to hold all positions however hesitate to do so because of your stated advice that 20 to 25 holdings is optimal. My question is two parts:
1. Am I correct that that is your position, and if so, why?
2. If I were to liquidate five or more of my positions, which for one reason or another at this time I would like to hold all, how might I decide which to liquidate and which to hold? Thanks for the great service, Daniel

Q: Hi,

Just as a follow up to David's question today about building a simple index etf portfolio. I noticed you did not recommend any ex North America exposure. I thought the mantra was 1/3 equity Canada 1/3 u.s and 1/3 outside NA.

Thank you!

Q: I will have to withdraw RIF funds in fall of 2017. Have approximately 10% of RIF in cash at the moment and am considering the etf VGH. Would like your input as to whether this is a good time to buy or if you have a different suggestion. Also, have telcoms and utilities. Is it time to sell them?
Thanks for your help

Q: Hi,
Could you recommend the best and simplest way to build a well balanced portfolio for a passive long term investor? Would it be etfs? If so could you recommend the ones you think (possibly 3-5)? They would be held in a TFSA and added to annually to maximize tfsa room and DRIPS would be used whenever possible.

Thanks!

Q: I would like to set up a portfolio using the TD e-series funds. My time horizon is 10 years. I plan to purchase on a monthly basis. Can you recommend a portfolio composition using these funds (including percentages).

Q: Hi folks: I am not a big fan of technicals but I do check a stock's "trend, volumn, and momentum" sometimes.
My question is what is the best time frame to be looking at: ie: one month, 3 months, 6 months, a year ???
Will the time frame differ for different stock sectors?

Q: What sort of fixed income do you recommend for a portfolio? With so many options, I have no idea which to choose. Where do I begin in making these decisions? Thank you.

Q: I'm looking for something to offset possible volatility this time of year. I presume VXX-US shouldn't be held for any length of time(I like to know how long you can hold it).
Also, what would you recommend.

Q: Thought you might get a kick out of these Dilbert cartoons from a link in Rob Carrick's column this morning. They echo a lot of your advice.

http://www.bigfatpurse.com/2015/01/12-timeless-and-invaluable-investment-lessons-from-dilbert/

Q: It was stated yesterday in the press that DOL beat sales and earnings per share estimates so the stock jumped up.
What is the next quarter ( quarter 3) estimated sales and EPS and where can I find these estimates.

Q: I will be unable to attend the Money Show on September 16-17, as I have a continuing education course on the 16th (which allows me to make the money to invest so I can belong to a forum like 5i to gain insight on how to invest it more profitably), and my son's birthday (who is one of the people I am saving and investing for) on the 17th, but I am still very interested in the discussions that Peter Hodson will be facilitating/conducting. Is there any way that 5i could either post video or a transcript of the sessions on the 5i website for interested members? I would venture that I would not be the only member to have an interest in this, should this be possible. Thanks so much!

Q: Someone asked about options reading material and someone else mentionned Richard Croft. here is a website which may be of interest. Croft contributes to it:
http://optionmatters.ca/