Investment Q&A

Q: I have to change some C$ to US$. I have two options one is to buy US $ outright or move some of my ENB to the US non registered account and sell to get the US $ i need. It looks like I could save a couple of % points by doing that. I was going to sell some ENB anyways as I'm a little overweight on it. Do this sound like a good way to raise the US $ I need?

Q: Guests on BNN's Market Call often tell a good story but I wonder exactly how well they perform overall. They use different metrics to evaluate companies and I am curious to know which systems work better. Is there a website that reports the actual results of the various investment firms?
Thanks for the great service.
Ian

Q: Hi Peter,

Thanks for the good work you do.
One suggestion, could you have a section where you post 10 stocks for say
1. Top Stock Picks
2. Safe stock picks
3. High growth Picks
.....etc

Q: Can retail investors are allowed to lends out our securities to short sellers and received a fee. If yes which account are we allowed to do it? (ie RRSP, TFSA, and Non-register). What are the advantages and disadvantages and how safe it is for us to do it.

Thanks for the great service

Q: Hi 5i Team - I have heard good reports about Peter's presentation at the Moneyshow this week. Unfortunately I missed the event and presentation. Is there a video available of Peter's presentation and even perhaps the whole show. Thank you.

Q: In your last weekly update there was an article that talked about a potential fraud in Bitcoin trading. The fraud is with trading platforms that use Tethers. Can you please give me your comments on this article? Is it possible that Tethers used in trading bitcoin do not have the value that Tether claims? Any and all comments are welcome.
cheers, Darcy

Q: I often see small trades in securities - just a few shares or so. Do traders/investors make small purchases - either up or down - to give others the impression a stock is either rising or falling? If so how widespread is this practice and how effective is it?

Q: Good morning. Some time ago I bought AMCI (a SPAC) in anticipation of its merger with Advent Technologies. That merger has now happened and Advent is now trading as of today in the US with the symbol ADN. Will my broker (RBC DI) automatically change my shares from AMCI to ADN? So far nothing has happened. I know I could ask RBC but the wait times are over an hour! Thanks.

Q: I missed your talk on the money show. Would you be able to provide a link please?

Q: I heard Peter at the virtual money show some great ideas, thanks for those. and thank all of you at 5i. Your advice pays for its self in so many ways.

Q: Preface: Luv u guys and the service that you supply so well. Listened to Peter's hedging presentation in the MoneyShow this morning - So valuable!
My non-specific company question is about how you reply to portfolio questions (like Stanley's Q earlier today on behalf of his 40 y.o. daughter's portfolio): Stanley indicated Canadian equity positions of 13%, 19%, and 7.5% for the TOTAL portfolio - Correct? My TOTAL portfolio contains barely more than 10% Canadian equities! It might have positions up to 10% within that 10% allotment, but not 10% of the TOTAL portfolio value. I know that 5i recommends a more global (US and Int'l) weight to TOTAL portfolios, but you rarely mention this when replying to Qs like Stanley's... Is that for brevity, or am I missing the portfolio theory?

Q: Just to confirm my impression about tax treatment of dividend flowing from Canadian based EFTs with US and International focus.
Outside TFSA and RRSP these are treated as income rather then tax favourable dividends?
Canadian focused EFTs dividends are treated as dividends from Canadian stocks?
Thank you,
Miroslaw

Q: Hello 5i Team,
I have a couple questions where I'd appreciate your expertise.
First, I've been holding BRK.B long term, and even after shaving my position last year, and the year before, due to its performance, it's currently 28% of my total non-registered portfolio. I'd appreciate your thoughts on whether I should continue to pare down my position (it's up 170% at present).
Second, I would like to add some international equities to my overall portfolio. As Scotia iTrade is limited to US and Canada, can you recommend a solid, and cost-effective online brokerage for global markets?
Thank you! Aaron

Q: I handle my 40 year old daaughters portfolio. In her $170,000 balanced portfolio which is equally balanced, BYD has grown to 13%, LSPD to 19% and SHOP to 7.5%. The funds are not required for any other purpose than growing the income for retirement. We are not too concerned about the downside of these. Still, 5i keeps insisting that a maximum to hold for equities shwould be 5%. Should we trim and put the excess else where and if so could you suggest where or keep on with no change. We are comfortabl with this. Thank you
Stanley

Q: Not a question but perhaps an answer for Garth and others re TD Waterhouse problems. I finally got thru on the phone after at least an hour AND MANY TRIES and they suggest using their APP...and that people have told them that it is acting better than the conventional path. However the phones remain an issue...and that they are working on improving the issue....(ya right! ).

Q: I have seen a couple of questions on TD Waterhouse lately. I too have been experiencing problems. Unable to trade online for 9 days now and put on hold every day for 2 hours before being automatically hung up on for 9 days straight using the telephone .....The only thing I can think of is to contact another bank and have them transfer the account to their service . I suspect they will be able to contact where I cannot. Just checked several bank trading sites and they are reporting unusual wait times which makes me suspect I may not get through to them either... Any idea what is going on ? And advice on how to proceed ?

Q: I got a notice from a law firm in the US regarding a class action lawsuit against QSR. Is this something worth pursuing?

Q: What is your opinion of the strategy whereby as soon as the investment doubles, sell half to recoup principal and just “play” with profit?

Q: Would you consider adding a symbol to indicate what sector the securities you review are in? It could be a simple system, following the stock symbol. Or, as an alternative, provide a list somewhere on the site where investors could easily look up this information (could also provide your recommendations for percentages for various sectors). I think it would simplify portfolio construction for most of us and reduce questions on this matter.

Q: I am unclear regarding the "board lot" remarks on the Toi spinout.
Does "board lot" mean the minimum purchase / sale amount is to be 100 shares? And if so I hold less than 100 shares and can they be sold?
Thanks John