skip to content
  1. Home
  2. >
  3. Investment Q&A
You can view 3 more answers this month. Sign up for a free trial for unlimited access.

Investment Q&A

Not investment advice or solicitation to buy/sell securities. Do your own due diligence and/or consult an advisor.

Q: Hi Ryan and Peter,
My question is of a general nature and concerns a problem many seniors are having with portfolio construction. I'm 70 years old, have a defined benefit pension which, along with my wife's defined plan, covers our monthly commitments. We are underinvested in the fixed income part of our portfolio but because of the lack of returns on bonds and GIC'S, are hesitant to commit a large portion of our savings to this sector.
As with many seniors who have their monthly expenses covered by pensions, we need guidance as to what percentage of our funds should be in fixed income. What percentage do you think is appropriate and could you suggest a few specific investments.
If you believe, as I do, we would be better off investing in Canadian Blue Chip companies that offer relatively safe growing dividends, could you suggest several such companies.

Thank you in advance for your much appreciated guidance.

Read Answer Asked by Les on June 22, 2016
Q: Hello,
I have approx 25% of my portfolio in my US$ account and those funds will remain in US$ for the long term. When the CAD$ strengthens vs the US$, my overall portfolio balance drops as a result of this.
Are you aware of an ETF or other product that would protect my overall portfolio balance and act as a hedge from a strong resurgence in the CAD$ to more or less prevent losses simply as a result of the CAD$ going up in value? Also, if there is such a product, how much would I need to buy to cover 25% US$ balance?
Conversely, is there a pairs trade that you could suggest that would keep my accounts balanced at the current levels regardless of which way the Cad$/US$ goes? Again, is there a percent amount of my overall portfolio balance that I would need for each of these to more or less keep me revenue neutral and not have to worry about currency fluctuations?
Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Alan on June 21, 2016
Q: I am looking to invest about $200K (non registered) for a minimum of 5 years into a moderate growth couch potato type portfolio. I am 5 years from retirement. I am considering the following portfolio and would like to know if you would agree with these ETFs and distribution.
XIC or VCN 25%, VUN 25%, XEF 20%, XEC 5%, VAB 15%, CBO 10%
Read Answer Asked by Kimberley on June 20, 2016
Q: Hi, Friday was the monthly expiry of June listed monthly options. I am trying make some inferences out of the trading activity for these two companies on Friday June 17. CSU had very large individual orders (22,000 shares or more) on bid and ask about $510, just before market open. Stock opened and closed with large volume on open and close, without much activity and price change during the day. As for PBH, there was not much activity for most day and stock dropped like a rock in last hour of trade with almost 225,000 shares changing hands and closing at its low. Was it as a result of traders covering their positions on long or short side and does it signify future direction of these co.'s ? Thanks for your valued insight.
Read Answer Asked by rajeev on June 20, 2016
Q: You seem to be concerned about Brexit and ignore the very real huge deficit the federal government is incurring in Canada which seems to be more important to me. The Canadian economy is NOT growing. RR
Read Answer Asked by Ray on June 20, 2016
Q: Hello Peter,
In your latest Market Update you are suggesting:
"....We would view any declines in the market/stocks during the lead up to the Brexit vote as an opportunity to add to names that investors may have been waiting for 'better prices' on...."
Providing that there will be opportunity,I am planing to buy PBH,SIS,NFI,JKHY.US and AMZN.US .
My question is: when do you think is better to buy ,on day of voting for BREXIT , before day of voting or after day of voting?

Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Andrzej on June 17, 2016
Q: I was wondering if you could elaborate on the concept of a "short attack". It does not specifically have to apply to Concordia. From past discussions, I know that individuals or companies that short a stock may then proceed to discredit the company through planted stories, innuendo and maybe even spread outright lies in order to create a lack of confidence and thus benefit as investors sell the stock, causing the share price to drop.

But is that the extent of the "attack"? Can short sellers manipulate the stock in other ways? People often ask what the short position of a stock is. Why is this important? Is it just to see how many other investors think they are wrong about the stock, meaning the psychological impact of a large short is what is at play here, or is there something else?

Appreciate yoru insight.

Paul F.

Read Answer Asked by Paul on June 16, 2016
Q: Hi 5i team,

My interest is first time dividends as a trigger for an initial purchase. This based on Peters article in Moneysaver magazine many years ago.

I follow the 5i Twitter Feed to watch for dividend news (raises and reductions), but especially for news of first time dividends.

Womder if you have considered providing a summary of first time dividend stocks (an ever-increasing list, or by quarter, year, whatever) ? I would really value that.

Thanks for the great service.
Read Answer Asked by Jim on June 16, 2016
Q: where to put $175M for short term to wait turbulence



where to park $ to wait out summer and Brexit turbulence before re-entering foreign markets - then what?



Read Answer Asked by don on June 15, 2016
Q: I see that George Soros is buying gold. Carl Icahn has made a big bear bet on the market of 150% net short. Bill Gross calls negative yield bond gang up a "supernova" waiting to explode. 10 year bonds of UK, Japan ad Germany are at record lows. How is 5i feeling about the market? These factors do give me pause to worry!
Read Answer Asked by Gerald on June 10, 2016
Q: A question related to portfolio weightings. I used to only have individual stock names and a fairly equal balance across various sectors. I just purchased an market ETF the other day (VUN) to get additional exposure and classified it as "other", but it didn't feel right when I noticed that the weighting of my other sectors went down.

As an example, if I had x% in a particular sector, but made a large contribution due to new cash into a market ETF, the original x% in that sector would now show up lower in my own calculations. How do you account for this? I don't want to be overleveraged in a particular sector by mistake.
Read Answer Asked by Mike on June 09, 2016
Q: This question may be out of your area of expertise but I will assume, maybe.
I have come across a fascinating investment, income vehicle. BMO retail has a product called -BMO Cash Flow Plus Deposit - Here is a quick overview.
On a deposit of $100,000 they will pay you, tax free, $500 per month for 15 years. This is a "return of capital"
After that time a sum will be returned to you which is the original amount that BMO has invested rather aggressively. Needless to say that with the 15 year compounding timeline and investment posture this could be substantial. This would be taxed as a "capital gain" There are a few other features but this is the gist. On the surface this is interesting. Any hidden aspects or dangers?
Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Ryczard on June 09, 2016