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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: Hi Awesome Team!!!
I have been reluctant to invest in the US stock market as I don't understand the tax implications. Can you advise me what the impact is of profit or losses? Do I file a US tax return?
Many thanks!!
Read Answer Asked by JOHN on May 29, 2013
Q: Hello Peter,
Can you tell me what it means when a President of a company is granted shares at $0.00. On May14/13 the President of AGNC received 332,794 shares granted at $0.00. Is this important in any way?
Regards, Max
Read Answer Asked by Max on May 28, 2013
Q: Hi 5i
I keep hearing analysts and advisors on BNN say the commodity super cycle is over. I fail to understand how commodities can not continue to go up when so much of the 3rd world is increasing there standard of living (driving cars, using more electricity, eating more meat etc.)
Then we have the complete slow down in the mining development sector due to financial, political and environmental issues.
I would appreciate your thoughts on the short/mid/long term outlook for commodities and the supply demand issues.
Thanks doug
Read Answer Asked by Doug on May 28, 2013
Q: Re:Buying non-hedged or Can.dollar hedged U.S.ETF's. Would there be a difference in capital gains or losses?Thanks again for your help.
Read Answer Asked by Donald on May 28, 2013
Q: In the event of bond bubble burst, how would you generally stucture a safe haven portfolio, and still get up to 4 percent yield?
Read Answer Asked by Kent on May 27, 2013
Q: I have some money to invest in the market, but everywhere I look the stocks have been up going up for so many months now that I'm worried about a pull back, perhaps even a significant one at this point in time.

5i, in your collective research, how likely is this going to happen over the next year or so?
Read Answer Asked by Eugene on May 27, 2013
Q: Peter; When holding an all ETF portfolio is it ok for weightings to be over the usual individual stock percentages, I.e. 5-6%? Thanks.Rod
Read Answer Asked by Rodney on May 27, 2013
Q: BDT was chosen for my wife's RRSP due to its status as a "dividend aristocrat", but its performance lately has been less than stellar, and it now shows a small loss even with the "dripped" dividends. Would you suggest a switch to STN at this time? Her RRSP holds several stocks and ETF's with the following weightings:

BDT - 5.5%
CJR.B - 17%
CBO - 14.6%
CHB - 5.6%
CUD - 25.4%
CDZ - 32%

This portfolio was assembled with no input from 5i and we wish that we were members when it was.

Any advice re BDT and portfolio re-balancing would be most helpful.
Read Answer Asked by Jerry on May 27, 2013
Q: Hi,

What is your opinion on stock picking vs ETF investing. How many ETF's should one hold in a portfolio of say $100k. What would your ETF recommendations be for such a portfolio as there are so many of them out there and it is difficult to choose one from the other.
Read Answer Asked by Imtiaz on May 26, 2013
Q: Hello team - As you know, Badger Daylighting has done very well. It's value has become a larger percentage of my portfolio than what I had planned for. I am considering selling a portion and pay the capital gain. If the stock were to drop significantly for whatever reason, can one buy back the stock within 30 days? I'm assuming that a rule does not exist as the 30 day taxable loss rule. This is a taxable account.
Thanks.
Jim
Read Answer Asked by James on May 26, 2013
Q: Could you please explain how Hej,Hee,Hep,Hex,Hny,Hoy,Hzy and Hgy
can have a distribution over 8% and as much 13.7% for HNY ?

Read Answer Asked by Claude on May 24, 2013
Q: Hi Peter,
I am curious about stocks that are listed in both Canada and the US. There is sometimes a differential (and I think above and beyond the exchange differential) and sometimes they are even moving in different directions. Could you please explain any advantages/disadvantages with Canadian vs US holdings of the same corporation? And which type of US stocks have withholding tax and is that tax withheld even if I hold the stocks in my RSP? Thanks so much for your help!
Read Answer Asked by Pat on May 24, 2013
Q: Hi Peter and team,
Wondering if a 5i criteria screen for U.S mid cap stocks using your Bloomberg terminal might provide members with short list of stocks worth investigating or perhaps some advice on how to perform such a scan with members software. Thoroughly enjoying my 5i membership.
Read Answer Asked by Roger on May 24, 2013
Q: Could you please explain buying flow through shares to reduce taxes when making withdrawals from a RIF? Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Stuart on May 23, 2013
Q: Hello Peter and Team,

How much weight do you place on seeing insiders buying their own stock?

Thanks,Max
Read Answer Asked by Max on May 23, 2013
Q: Hi Peter, I want to let you know how much I enjoy your service and website.
First, you gave me great advice on how to get out of my mutuals (which were steadily losing in spite of being an income fund), and your site has lots of info on building a portfolio.
I have had my portfolio for about 8 months and it is fluctuating between 9-13% increase, in spite of my Wi-lan and gold stocks - so I am very pleased.
Read Answer Asked by Heather on May 22, 2013
Q: Hi Peter, Helicopter Ben Bernanke opened his mouth again today, and we got a sell off in the markets, including Gold. What was your take on what he had to say? I think he is just playing for time. Your thoughts are appreciated. Thank You
Read Answer Asked by Ilesh on May 22, 2013
Q: I had a question re: selling a mutual fund and capital gains / losses resulting therefrom.

I own RBC Precious Metal Fund. In 2011 I received a T3 slip which required me to pay capital gains of aproximately $5,000 for such mutual fund.

I am now considering to sell my RBC Precious Metal Fund. If I sell mid year (May 2013), how will any cpaital losses on the mutual fund be claimed by me for the 2013 tax year. Will a T3 be issued for the 2013 tax year which evidences any cpaital losses to May 22, 2013 ?

Regards,
Thomas
Read Answer Asked by Thomas on May 22, 2013
Q: Hi Peter, I was locked into several mutual funds in the early winter of 2008 and we all know what happened after that. I have pulled 10% each year since then and reinvested in "good companies". I am in the seventh year now and wonder if I should cash out all mutual funds 9 months early taking a 1.5% hit and reinvest in "good companies" over the summer given that the market and mutual funds are on a high? Many thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Martin on May 22, 2013