Investment Q&A

Q: Hi Peter,
I noticed that the Dow is on the rise after a head and shoulders pattern. I also saw a superimposed image of the DOW in 1929 that shows a similar pattern. If the market does start to fall off abruptly after this recent rise, where should money go? I am recently retired and have BNS and a GIC with about 50% in cash. I was planning to invest, but a little hesitant now. I would really appreciate your advice. Thank you. Gail

Q: Hi Peter,
I have approximately $14000 to reinvest in a non-registered account. I'm looking for "safer" capital gains, dividend optional, to be held for 1-3 years. What are your top recommendations?
Also, since it's almost the end of RRSP season, do you suggest I wait a month or so before I make the purchase? (I realize you don't advocate trying to time the market but....)

Q: sir
In your Jan Portfolio You have rated stocks A,B,NR etc. I would like to know how these ratings are composed of and how much weight is allocated to each item in your score
Thank you

Q: Peter, I wanted to say I agree so much with Pauls question of Feb. 5. I think you are helping a lot of GIC refuges, such as myself.When Gics dropped years ago we slowly stepped into the market with Pembina, IPL, K bro, Cinaplex Rio Can, Keyera. All were paying between 8 and 10 percent dividends at that time. It seemed no one wanted them. Well of course hind sight is 20 20 but as they say the rest is history.. I believe so many of us are looking for the next one of these stocks. They seem very few and far between today. I, like Paul, will not invest in anything that does not pay 5%.Banks, although o.k. have been one of our poorest performers over the years. That is why I think high dividend payers are soooo important. Yes a person takes a hit on the odd one ie. ATP and YELLOW but what we are looking for, I believe is the next K bro or IPL or ect. ect. That is for you to decide. I know it is not as easy now but some gems must still be there. That is what is so valuable to me. Thanks Ken

Q: What is your opinion on tight stops and how tight?

Q: I consider myself to be an investor, rather than a trader; my time horizon for any stock purchase is 3 years or more. However, with the recent volatility in the markets I am tempted to hedge a small part of my portfolio with hedge ETFs such as HIX and HIU. Since this is new territory for me I am calling on your expertise to answer a few questions: do you recommend hedging; if so, what percentage of a portfolio do you recommend should be hedged; to use HIU and HIX properly would I need to treat them as short term trades? Since the whole prospect of hedging appears to me to be trading, which I am not keen on for myself, I am very hesitant to employ a hedging strategy.
Thank you for a great service.

Q: Hi Peter,

I believe your have mentioned in the past that the traditional approach to portfolio balancing as you age (ie, moving away from higher risk equities to lower risk fixed income) is questionable and that research shows holding a higher portion of equities much later in your life is a better approach.

Can you point me to articles or other sources of research that support that theme. I am a member of Canadian Moneysaver, if that is helpful.

Thanks for a great service.

Q: As a new member I have looked at your model portfolio and am wondering if the 20 stocks are still applicable for someone to start with today.
OR are stocks like CSU and VRX fully valued with the 100% plus returns that they have yielded.
I realize that you do re balance the portfolio from time to time but is this a good starting point?
Thanks!

Q: Would you please comment on what is going on in the markets today; is this a buying opportunity or should we wait. What do you do with your portfolio on days like this?

Q: Is this a relatively sound strategy:
"Buy all stocks in a single sector (100% market share) to mitigate risk of competition between the players."

For example, in a stable and growing market like Canadian telecom, I'll just buy Telus, Rogers AND BCE which makes up for 90% (?) of the telecom market. Sounds like a no-brainer. Of course there is risk from outside competition but it sounds like since the Verizon entry into Canada didn't materialize, there isn't much competition anyway.

There is over-concentration risks etc and also regulatory risk, however.

Q: Hello Everyone:
If one wishes to protect portfolio from sudden drop what might be your suggestion. I am toying with selling HXD Puts. Is this a viable strategy? and how many Puts I will need for a $100K portfolio?

Thanks

Q: Hi Peter

I sold some of my dogs recently in my RSP account and have $15-20K available...if you recommend any dividend stock (so sector agnostic) for an RSP for someone with 20 years, unfortunately, to retirement what would it be.

Thanks Peter.

Cam

Q: This morning in a response to Paul, you recommended corporate bond ETFs for the bond portion of a portfolio. It seems to me corporate bonds are very closely correlated to equities so I'm wondering about the rationale. True that the bonds are less volatile but when equities tumble, so do the corporates.

Q: hey Peter,

I am throwing 31K into my TFSA. Should i buy a etf/mfund mix until it grows bigger and I can diversify it better?

Q: My reading of articles regarding the market activity over the last couple of days suggests a quantum shift in expectations: currency concerns, earnings lower than expected, potential deflation, more anxiety over China, etc. etc.
Can you tie the story lines together and share your views on what has really happened, why and where we are likely to go from here - flat, down or maybe another upward bounce. And how to manage one's portfolio in the days or weeks ahead

As usual, a grateful 5i customer.

Q: We started a family RESP for our grandkids in 2007 with 3 TD e-funds on an equal PAC basis (MER's are 0.33% to 0.51%). The account now shows Canadian Index Fund (TDB900) value at 30%, Dow Jones Index (TDB903) at 38%, and International Index (TDB911) at 32%; I sometimes think about rebalancing but think perhaps doing nothing is the best approach as the laggards may catch up in time. Would 5i have any different thoughts about the way these funds are invested? Funds won't be withdrawn till 2021 at the earliest. Thanks, J.

Q: Good day folks. a question regarding U.S.investments in a Canadian exchange etf, now that the Cdn $ is trading around 90 cents, does it make more sense to use a hedged etf in Cdn $ rather than a non hedge etf in either Cdn or U.S. dollars.

from cold Panama City Beach, Fla, thanks

Q: As much as I appreciate the importance of diversification and investing outside of Canada, the low Canadian dollar is making it very expensive to buy into the US. Is it still wise to invest in the US or would it be best to wait for the dollar to rebound to maybe the mid 90 cent range?

Thanks and as always, appreciate the great advice.

Paul

Q: Peter-with the recent landslide in the Cdn $ -what wouls say your top five equity ideas be in Canada that perhaps have not moved as much as this should reflect -I can see some Reits with big US exposure -but others?........

Q: i am loosing on these stocks,which stocks you think i should hold and which i should get ridof.
AGI,AX.UN,ACQ,BYD.UN,GIB.A,DH,EFN,L,MDA,MCR,SGY,TCK.B.i DONT WANT TO SELL GOOD ONES AND KEEP NOT GOOD ONES.