Investment Q&A

Q: Hello Peter

I'm looking at ways to reduce volatility of my portfolio. I've had some success shorting. However I'm finding it very tiresome to always be on the look out for shorts. Can you recommend another service or a strategy...or even a book that can help me with this process.

Also it would be wonderful if you offered a short portfolio to compliment your other portfolio's on the service.

Thanks

Nicholas

Q: Hello, I have recently reviewed the management fees on RRSP accounts I have with an investment firm. I have reviewed the funds that They have me currently invested in and have found similar mutual funds with RBC, all D series funds. I have calculated the loss due to higher MER and am shocked by he difference it would have made in my accounts. While I have money that I invest on my own, I like the idea of having some stashed away in managed funds (I like doing my research on smaller companies and trust the bigger names to the professionals). The "d series" funds with RBC have considerably lower MER. Is that the best way for me to reinvest my mutual funds once I move them over to RBC? Is there a better or cheaper way to invest those funds? ETF's you would suggest? Is there anything out there that would suit my needs better than the RBC D series funds? I have approx 1/3 of my investments tied up in these funds at this time with my current investment firm. For what it's worth I suggest anyone who has Mutual funds with an investment firm look at the MER for each fund they are invested in. There are cheaper ways to have your money managed, the best I found so far are RBC D series funds. If you have a better suggestions, I am all ears.

Q: In response to James, thanks for the great comment and the humility to post it. I remember reading somewhere that the stock market is designed to make the majority of investors look foolish. With my increased wisdom and trading skills it now takes up to a week before the stocks I buy diminish in value.

Q: Just an FYI for your readers:

http://web.tmxmoney.com/article.php?newsid=74064046&qm_symbol=AYA

Q: Apparently FM owns a "back-in agreement" with Yorbeau Resources, a small miner with a recent cascade of insider buying, a recent drilling restart, and a lengthy share price decline. What is a "back-in agreement" and how could it impact both shares?

Q: Surge reported last on Feb. 11/15 with its management numbers - ie: NPV, etc, etc. What is the deadline for their 4th qtr.& year end audited financial statements? Thanks.

Q: Hi what companies are doing more acquisition and how do you find them.
Thanks..

Q: Hello Peter and team, a member recently asked a question regarding an article on 5i research blog "30 Cash Cows of the Dow". I can't find the article, could you tell me where to find it? On which date was it published? Thanks, Gervais

Q: The Berkshire letter-all 43 pages- is an extraordinary read, and on so many levels ! An inspiring and educational glimpse at the reasons for Warren and Charlie's legendary success, not the least of which is clearly a wry sense of humour ... Thank you for including it in your Weekly "5"

Q: I was put onto Garth Turner's bog "Greater Fool" and found his views interesting. For those who don't know, Garth Turner predicts a U.S. style economic crash in Canada based on the fact that Canadian's today save very little and have an larger appetite for debt. He reports that as a population, Canadians are second only to Greece in the rate we are increasing our debt and that Canadians as a whole now carry over 1.82 Trillion in debt; an amount that eclipses the countries GDP. My question is this, if Garth is right and we are on the brink of another financial collapse, what sectors/ stocks would be most likely to be 'safe' or benefit? What stocks do you recommend in this environment? I would appreciate your view and insight into Mr. Turner's positions.

Thanks in advance.

DON

Q: In a will situation that leaves your assets to your wife what happens to trading accounts that are held in your name and therefore not joint? How is this treated for tax? Conversely What happens if the accounts are joint? Thank You

Q: Hello Peter & Co,
Looking at their performance over 5 years (compound annual), WCP,PEY,VET,POU & TOU (in slightly less than 5 years) are on top of the list with an average of 23%pa. Next came larger caps like IMO, SU, HSU & CNQ with an average of 4%pa. In contrast CPG returned less than 3% which means shareholders incurred a capital loss; BTE was a little lower than that.
It is true that past performance is not indicative of future returns; but I figure that having all faced the same music, some of them obviously danced better than the others.
No wonder then that the only energy producer in the 5i model portfolio is WCP; with your input Peter & Co, my holdings are limited to WCP, VET and TOU.
Thanks a lot,
Antoine

Q: A general question to 5 I staff and members.
Do you know if we can claim the money paid for joining 5iResearch on our income tax? I don't own a business, so the only thing I could claim in the past was a safety deposit box.

thanks,

Paul

Q: Hey guys, I am a little confused, RBC breaks down the consumer sectors with "defensive and cyclical" and anothers break it down by"staples and discretionary", what's the difference?
Thanks
Jim

Q: Good Morning Peter, Ryan, and Team,
Just a question regarding rebalancing. Some of the stocks in our portfolios (Thank you very very much) have run up to the 6-7% level. (CSU is amazing) Should I be trimming / adding on an ongoing
basis ??? Or would it be better to trim during the typical period of seasonal strength (like now) and add during the period of typical seasonal weakness (like the fall). I know that it does not pay to be too cute in this game. Your feedback on this issue would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for all of your help. DL

Q: I have been around the block a few times on the question of fixed income in asset allocation. I have often wondered about Warren Buffet's famous advice to his wife on his death--that she should buy an ETF for the Amercian market and 10 per cent in fixed income. I have always wondered why the 10 pecent in fixed income? It doesn't protect very much of your wealth if there is a downturn. But, then again, neither does 20 or even 30 percent, I would think. So, it occurred to me that he suggests this simply in case there is a downturn and cash is needed. He doesn't think that you will likely need more than 10 per cent to get over the hump. I know that, despite your other talents, you are not a mind reader. But, do you think that this would be a reasonalbe interpretation of Buffet's advice? And reasonable for at least a good many people?
thanks

Q: Hi 5i team,
How do we estimate present value of CPP & OAS? I roughly use $100,000 for each $500 monthly income based on typical annuity from insurance companies. Is this okay or should we use a PV formula? Thanks

Q: Hi Peter and team - Do you or any of your readers have any recommendations for a Web site that gives accurate and relatively concise summaries of several of the fundamentals of a company, in particular its cash (and cash equivalents) on hand as well as debt. I have used Globeinvestor and TD Waterhouse but neither seem to show the cash component.
Thanks.

Q: I've calculated that I should keep one year of income as a rainy day fund. I've been holding it in cash but would like to maximize return while not risking its safety. I've been considering a short term bond fund such as VSB. What would you recommend?

Q: There seems to be a deluge of portfolio building and asking of 10 stocks etc and portfolio advice instead of specficic issues or one or two comparisons.Seems to have gone from where it was.