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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: Just wanted to add something re Charlie's question on choosing a broker.
I have been with Scotia iTRADE for a while and have noticed their services getting better and fees coming down over the years. Nice to see that there is some competition in the industry. I note also that CIBC has just lowered their standard trade fee to $6.99. Hopefully Scotia and the other banks will follow.
Scotia has a decent list of ETFs that can be bought commission free. Also, it is very easy to enrol in DRIP and DPP as there is a tab to click that gives you the option. This means that all dividends can be reinvested commission free. Saves hundreds of dollars a year (if you hold div payers) and compounds returns efficiently.
Psychologically, for me it is easier to hold long term when you see your share count going up every quarter and dividend increases don't hurt either. Keeps the temptation to "over trade" down.

Read Answer Asked by john on February 26, 2015
Q: On a morning just FULL of dividend increases for picks that are highly regarded by 5i, I just have to say, again, THANK you all! Great service.
Read Answer Asked by Marilyn on February 26, 2015
Q: Hi Peter,

I am wondering if you could recommend a safe financial insitution that maybe you would use to save on trading fees. Places like CIBC, RBC Dominion Sec, National Bank all want to charge around 2 - 2.50% to buy or sell shares for us. We are using our own research and your research to choose our long term stocks. I don't like to pay institutions for work they are not doing.

Thank you for being able to ask these types of questions.

Charlie
Read Answer Asked by CHARLES LA on February 26, 2015
Q: Regarding the question on retirement planning software,

I use RRIFMETIC (http://www.fimetrics.com/)to plan my annual
income and taxes from pension , RRIF, LIF TFSA, Taxable investments.
Read Answer Asked by Leonard on February 24, 2015
Q: Dear Gentlemen,
Its possible to mention dividende in US$ when applicable on compagnies followed by 5I ?.
Thank You
Best Regards
Read Answer Asked by Djamel on February 24, 2015
Q: With respect to the retirement planning question, I stumbled across a website called Retirementadvisor.ca It has a various tools and scenarios that may be helpful.
Read Answer Asked by Bradley on February 24, 2015
Q: Good Morning 5i
Not your usual question but important - wonder if you can recommend a software program to assist with retirement planning. Looking for a program that will take inputs of pensions, income and RRSPs - then enable projecting futures years taxes and net income based on those numbers. Want to be able to change inputs to look at different outcomes in key years of retirement cycle. XL would be preferable.
Thanks for any comment.
Read Answer Asked by Randy on February 24, 2015
Q: I have been a very happy member for a couple of years and an avid reader of the questions and blogs. However, I am still confused by what you mean when you say that something is a "3 - 5" year hold. To me, an investor is someone who buys a stock because the company looks solid and has good growth prospects. Otherwise, you are a trader and looking for a quick flip. So by definition, isn't any investor looking to hold until there are fundamental reasons to sell? So why do
you sometimes emphasize the time frame, especially given your stated philosophy of being a momentum investor? I have come to learn given the workings of the market that just because you suggest a stock today doesn't mean it is going up tomorrow, but shouldn't we expect that stock to go up during the year? Or does the 3 - 5 year positioning mean that is when you expect it to reach its maturation from being a growth stock to a an income stock?

Thanks so much for the education.

Paul F.
Read Answer Asked by Paul on February 24, 2015
Q: Hi,just a comment,but maybe make a rule to limit each Q to one specific company or topic,seems like people are asking about 10 different companies or sectors in 1 Q to circumvent the system/rules imo,and 2)any chance we could put stock price beside company at time of question,just couple of thoughts.Thanks again for great service,jb
Read Answer Asked by John on February 24, 2015
Q: Are you aware of any Cdn preferred securities (not preferred stock). Had no luck w google - maybe they are a thing of the past?
Read Answer Asked by Bill on February 22, 2015
Q: What is your sell discipline for your model portfolios?
Read Answer Asked by Curt on February 22, 2015
Q: Hi, 5i, As you get bigger, isn't it inevitable that you will be pushed away from your position as the best picker of small/medium-sized companies with the best risk/reward ratio for medium/long term holding? This advice, judging from the consistent stream of accolades showered upon you by members (to which I have contributed), is your most appreciated service. By trying to satisfy everyone's other wishes, are you not in danger of being "random-walked" into just a good fund manager? I vote that you stick with your knitting. As ever I am very grateful for what you have done for my portfolio. I just want it to continue a bit longer. Henry
Read Answer Asked by Henry on February 21, 2015
Q: Would the proposed 5i model portfolio ETF be available to 5i members only or open to the general public? If open to the general public does this not mean they would have access to 5i intelligence without paying for a membership?Thanks Dave
Read Answer Asked by Dave on February 20, 2015
Q: Having read the recent survey questions I am unsure of the ramifications of question #4. What potential pros and cons might be associated with third party marketing of 5i portfolios? I envision lesser known 5i followed companies gaining greater investor support and 5i reaping free advertisement. Curious to here 5i Research motives.
I must confess to being a 5i question and answer junky. Truly valuable investing advice.
Thanks
Roger
Read Answer Asked by Roger on February 20, 2015
Q: You mentioned about 'liking to buy into strength'. I understand the idea, concept. What would be helpful to me would be to know what that looks like, aka how to know it, if i saw it......Thanks Tom
Read Answer Asked by Tom on February 20, 2015
Q: Hello 5i. In answering subscribers' questions, you often discuss a security, or a sector not exceeding a specific percentage. In a case where a portfolio consists of Cash, Fixed Income, and Equities, are you referring only to the percentage held in Equities in these replies ? Please elaborate. Thanks T.
Read Answer Asked by Terrance on February 19, 2015
Q: Hi Guys, Is there a trading tool you know of where I can back-test a trading hypothesis to see it's success? For example, what I would test today is to examine the trade (long) success of buying equity in a company where the current share price trades at a discount to a bought deal financing such as the one announced today (@22.25). With many many thanks again
Read Answer Asked by mark on February 18, 2015
Q: I am wondering if it would be possible for you to include in your reports "book value per share growth" over a five or ten year period or if you could direct me to a site where book value per share growth is already calculated.
Thank you for your help.
John.
Read Answer Asked by John on February 18, 2015
Q: Hello,

I would like to get into trading options in Canada, mainly by selling covered call options as I intend to own the underlying stock. I recall reading that the options market in Canada is quite thin. Can you point me to where I can get more information on trading options, specifically in Canada.

Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Vir on February 17, 2015