Investment Q&A

Q: Hello! I have received a decent sized amount of gifted funds (decent sized relative to my existing portfolio). I plan to spread it across my holdings which are almost entirely made up of the BE Portfolio. I know that usually January can be volatile. Would you 1) hold onto the gifted amount in cash for now and deploy later when the markets calm (February for example), 2) deploy now, knowing January can be volatile? Or if there is a better method you would recommend? Thanks!!

Q: When I hear money managers,people calling into business shows........ and they use the phrase " time to take profit" would that mean to sell part or all of the position?

For example I have a diversified portfolio to produce income. About 7% in BMO with its recent run up and appears to be peaking, so if BMO continues to drift down would one sell it all and wait for the down trend to stop then buy back the same amount of shares at this lower price? Or sell enough to reduce weighting to 4-5 %?

Thanks in advance and for the great service.

Q: I have the above investments in my TFSA, TOY and MX being new. This account has been flat all year, so I am trying to make some changes. FB and AQN the worst, so I am looking to exchange those.
Now, looking at FB it is a strong buy/ buy. Are you expecting any growth this year, or should I sell. I have been looking at something with high yield like STB and PWF. Are they safe enough. I am going to use some of this money in one year.
Thanks for your opinion
Margita

Q: Bad day on the market. Virtually every sector is down but one. Real estate. I'm baffled by this. Almost every single REIT is up today, and REITs are performing well in New York as well. All the 'pros' have been saying that this is exactly the wrong sector to be holding now, that REITs will suffer more than any other sector in a rising interest rate market. Yet on the last day of trading it seems like everyone is tossing tech and everything else overboard and gobbling up REITs. Does this say something about the market going forward in 2017, that perhaps people are hedging their bets a lot and don't believe the "Trump Rally" will lift all the cyclical stocks after all?

Q: My question is there any ETF like the "ProShare Short Dow 30 (DOG)" for TSX.
I am try to hedge on some of my Canadian holdings.
Thanks
Happy Holidays.
Tak

Q: Hi Peter & team, my question is about the MDA company report of September 2016. At the bottom of the report there is a chart where it says "14D Relative Strength Index (RSI) of MACDONALD DETTWILER". Could you explain what RSI is? According to the chart the RSI was at about 30 on September 29th, is that good? For any given company, is it better to have a higher or a lower RSI? Suggestion: a short Webinar on how to read 5i company reports, specially the charts and tables at the bottom of each report. I greatly appreciate your good service, Gervais

Q: There is currently a plethora of ways to invest in the US Market without touching sector funds. Would you use any of the above ETFs and if so in what proportion or would you suggest using any other US ETFs as well. High conviction US Mutual funds are also an option; but the fees are somewhat higher. I currently have no US coverage and am looking at establishing a 15-20% position. I know timing is a bit of a quess; but with the recent run up would you please suggest a strategy?

Thanks and
A very Merry Christmas to all

Q: Hi, I have roughly about 120k in a resp for my two children who are 14 and 12. I went to cash before election unfortunately in hindsight as it was 75% index funds and 25 percent bond funds. Going forward, as there are 4 years remaining before university I want to remain somewhat defensive but still have growth as I believe the markets will continue higher over the next couple years as The big Fed day is over, and markets remain resilient. I was thinking about zwb,Zwu for defence and income...7% yield, at 30 k each. Zsp for us market and currency exposure at 30k. mg and gud at 15 k each for some growth. Am I being to aggressive at 5 years away from university? Do you recommend any changes to this approach? Thanks for your opinion and advice and Merry Christmas!

Q: I keep reading that there has been a great rotation away from income/dividend stocks into growth though I dont see much evidence of it. My TD, RB and Telus are not down at all.

Can you explain this belief and if there are examples of beaten up dividend stocks, CDN or US, can you recommend a few for long term holds?

Q: I assume hedging is a two way street - you get protection back to Can$ if the US $ falls but lose the gain associated with a US$ rise, and there is a cost to provide this?? So if the US$ looks strong going forward relative to the Looney is this the best strategy and are there other US banking sector ETF choices. What do you think?

Q: Do you think its time to sell VCIT and buy iwo and xlf or other financial etf. Thanks

Q: How will CDZ do in a sell off? I have about 10% in my portfolio but would like to move it to 15% - Also is there an America ETF equivalent ?

Q: I am very overweight banks (short term strategy)with significant gains.Do you feel a rate hike Wed. is most likely? Would it be prudent to buy short term hedging?

Q: In a recent blog, Ryan indicated "Subscribers can login to see our thoughts on the FED model and what it may mean for the markets. " Please help me locate these thoughts. Thank you.

Q: This is how the Globe portfolio analyzer breaks down my LIF portfolio. Objective is capita preservation and income. Is this reasonable diversification or should I be making changes to the allocation?

Sector % of Stocks
Financials 33.95
Consumer Discretionary 18.10
Energy 13.69
Information Technology 9.20
Industrials 6.66
Materials 5.84
Telecom Services 5.09
No Data 7.47

Q: For someone looking at a retirement in 2 - 3 years that will be funded by personal investments, I am having trouble formulating an investment strategy that would currently include fixed income investments. Fixed income securities seemed destined to only go down in value in the foreseeable future as interest rates rise so why would I want to invest in them? Pipelines, utilities and telecoms may also drop but their yield is currently quite good and secure and capital appreciation is always a possibility, if not a probability, in the longer run.

It seems to me that much of the argument for holding fixed income assets is to ensure the preservation of one's capital. But if I am ultimately going to invest largely in quality dividend paying stocks eventually anyway to fund my retirement is capital preservation the main concern? Isn't dividend "preservation" more the issue?

I feel like I am missing something because it seems that all advisors, planners and analysts strongly suggest there be some fixed income in a portfolio, especially as retirement nears. What are your thoughts?

Appreciate the insight.

Paul F.

Q: I have a fairly large sum of money to invest from an estate and I am primarily interested in just taking the dividends and keeping the principal reasonably safe. I was thinking of the Brookfield companies and Canadian Banks however just wondering if you would have some suggestions for a couple of other companies in different sectors. I would like to try and get close to 5% on the dividend.

Q: I have always struggled to categorize into sectors the companies I own. What guideline would you suggest to use to make this exercise accurate and hence more meaningful.

Q: Most financial types keep predicting a much weaker Canadian dollar (relative to USD) in the near future. What's your "take".
Len

Q: I am looking to buy 3 growth and 3 value stock your advice is very important to me.