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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: All things considered, technicals, fundamentals, and current outlook for the global economy and stock market would you say it's an opportune time to take a full position in your Model Portfolio or a half position? Why?
Read Answer Asked by Les on December 19, 2013
Q: My renewal is due sep 25/14
If I pay for 2 additional years at 86.95 I assume my renewal
extends to sep 25 2016 correct?
How long will this offer be in place.
Thanks Stan
Read Answer Asked by stan on December 19, 2013
Q: The equities in your model portfolio have grown substantially in purchase price since you set up the model portfolio. Do you recommend purchasing these stocks at these levels?
Read Answer Asked by Joyce on December 19, 2013
Q: Hello 5i Team,

As TFSA 'season' comes upon us in a few weeks, I'm wondering if an article discussing what should and should not be placed in a TFSA. My thinking is along the theme basis versus individual stocks. For example dividend paying energy stocks or industrial REITS, or consumer staples...

At this time of the year such advice would allow each of us to do some research into possible additions to the TFSA or increasing an existing stock.

Thanks,
Ronald
Read Answer Asked by Ronald on December 18, 2013
Q: Closed end funds Noticed a Q on where to get NAV for Closed end funds. Best place I found is Globe and Mail. It is updated at least once a week.

http://globefunddb.theglobeandmail.com/gishome/plsql/gis.show_closed_end_rep
Read Answer Asked by Gerald on December 18, 2013
Q: Greetings, all. Back in 2007-08, if one had concerns about equity markets, one could 'run' to government bonds as a safe haven with a part of your portfolio. Today, I'm not sure that is the case, with Fed Tapering being seemingly THE concern for investors today, with a somewhat ugly preview in early summer.

What do you think is the best way of protecting portfolios these days against potential risks in the coming months and years?
Read Answer Asked by George on December 18, 2013
Q: Hi Guy's,
This is a suggestion and not a question. Why not change your "submit question" form to have a cell for the name of the company and the ticker that the member must fill in before the question is submitted. This will assist you and all the other members with the question.

All the best in 2014.

Regards
John
Read Answer Asked by John on December 18, 2013
Q: Hello, I'm astounded by Ford Equity Research's recent sell recommendations on many of my junior Canadian mining stocks ( they have sells on NGD,HBM,DML,CS,PG,AUG for example). I checked with their website and they apparently provide independent unbiased research on approximately 4000 companies from their US headquarters. How much weight do you think a person should place on their recommendations on Canadian junior mining stocks?
Read Answer Asked by dan on December 18, 2013
Q: hello Members:
just wanted to say: Thanks very much for the information regarding the different brokerages, and for taking the time to write in. All the best.
and, btw, all of my "best" stocks are 5i picks (ie. CSU, BAD, KBL etc etc). How did I get by without you guys lol.
Merry Christmas
Read Answer Asked by Paul on December 18, 2013
Q: I'm a huge fan of 5i and if appreciate your need to focus on Canada. Are you aware of a similar service covering the US?
Read Answer Asked by Alan on December 18, 2013
Q: Hi Knowledgeable People:
Could you give me a quick 101 on CAP RATE? I believe it is the opposite of PE Ratio. So often on BNN I hear them talking about a cap rate of 6 or 10 etc. Do they mean 6%? Is a property with a cap rate of 12 more desirable than one with a 4% rate? Also, do you have any information on San Juan Basin Royalty Trust? I do not believe that it is an MLP ( which I want to avoid). I am concerned about tax reporting of trust income to the IRS. Probably a US Tax return would be required. Any help would be very much appreciated.

Thanks very kindly,

BEN
Read Answer Asked by BEN on December 17, 2013
Q: can i get an opinion on the so called permanent portfolio. I was wondering about a tweek to 20% cash or short term bond etf 20 % long term etf 20% canadian low vol. etf 20% us low vol. etf and 20% gold IGT thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Larry on December 17, 2013
Q: Hello,
I recently took a ½ position in DHX and GPS with the intention of buying the other ½ later; one is up and the other slightly down. My problem...what is "later"?
Tony
Read Answer Asked by Antoine on December 17, 2013
Q: HSCEI AUTOCALLABLE NOTES
I would appreciate your views and comments on these types of notes as I am having difficulty finding information on performance.
I am researching a Note- the HSCEI Autocallable Note. The note will be a 5 year note issued by xxxx bank and is linked to the HSCEI (China H Shares) index. It will have approximately an 8% coupon each year, will be callable each year if the index is flat or up from the issue level, have an approximate 30-35% downside principal protection and daily liquidity.
Example Outcomes:
The HSCEI Index is flat or up at the 1st anniversary date the note will be called and the total return will be 8%
The HSCEI Index is down on the 1st anniversary date the note will not be called and will extend to the next anniversary date
The HSCEI Index is flat or up on the second anniversary date the note will be called and the total return will be 16%
The HSCEI Index is down between 1-35% at final maturity your investment amount is returned
The HSCEI Index is down greater than 35% at final maturity the principal will be returned minus the amount by which the index is down.
Thank you.
Nadine
Read Answer Asked by Nadine on December 17, 2013
Q: My 2 cents on the brokerages: we dropped Questrade due to incompetent customer service, now use Virtual, itrade, and TD Waterhouse. I move $ around among the 3 but most is with TD as I like their research and tools best as well as full level 2 quote access and Globe Investor Gold which comes with President's Account. itrade is ok but has only limited level 2 for our level of assets. Sometimes access at Virtual can be down for the entire trading day, but their low low commissions atone for that.

I find it is handy to have multiple brokerages for IPO or secondary offerings such as the recent DHX issue. Virtual sold out immediately, TD didn't offer and I got a 50% fill at itrade. I hope this adds to the discussion, J.
Read Answer Asked by Jeff on December 17, 2013
Q: For Paul re Brokers. I switched from TD to RBC direct last summer to avoid the forex fees on my US stock dividends in my RRSP. RBC lets you hold the US stocks in US dollars and does not force you to convert the dividends to US as does TD. Saves quite a bit of money for me and I am no longer angry every time I see the div's come in and get converted. TD has been telling me for 3 years they will "soon" allow US dollars to be held in their RRSP accounts but it still has not happened.
Read Answer Asked by MANFRED on December 17, 2013
Q: Seasons greetings 5i!

I currently own VIG,FEZ,QQQ,IWO and BRK.B in my US portfolio each about 6%.
Going into 2014 and with the expectation of tappering and rise in interest rates. Are these ETF's ok to hold for the next year or two and is it ok to bump up my holdings to 10% in each?
I own SLW for insurance as well.

Looking forward to your reply.
Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Irshad on December 17, 2013
Q: I'm satisfied with Scotia iTrade as well. I don't have any problems with them.

In response to Fred's question, the Daily Edge report that comes out every morning lists upcoming earnings for companies they cover, but I don't think that's something they could supply for companies they don't cover.
Read Answer Asked by Ralph on December 17, 2013
Q: Hello,

What are your thoughts on the virtual currency Bitcoin?

Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Sunita on December 17, 2013