Investment Q&A

Q: I am not well diversified into the US market.

I would like to sell some Canadian Banks and put that capital into US equities.

I would like to consider an ETF or a mix of ETFs.

I would like to stick to my investment personality,
long term hold, would not need money for well over 10 years.
Large Cap, Blue Chip dividend paying and "dividend GROWING" equities.

1. Can you make a recommendation for a low cost / mer etf.
2. Do I need more than one ?
3. Should I buy this in Canadian or US funds ?
4. What are the pros and cons of the purchase in Canadian or US dollars

thanks

Ernie

Q: I currently have 4% of my overall portfolio in Consumer stocks (DOO and GOOS). Having a difficult time trying to talk myself into increasing my overall percentage of Consumer stocks but have noticed you were up to 20% Consumer in a recent suggested sector distribution you made. Why so high for Consumer?
thanks, John

Q: Hello and thank you in advance for your reply!
We are hearing more and more talk about a disconnect between the stock market and underlying economies. How sustainable in your view is the current market surge (ie: is this typical of any January), or should we be concerned about another significant correction like last March? If the latter, any recommendations you'd make with regards to less volatile or more defensive sectors, or a more balanced portfolio distribution? With best regards, Aaron

Q: With a Democrat Senate, higher government spending, rising inflation and an expanding 10 yr yield, what would be your fixed income allocation for the next five years? Do any of the above choices make sense? Thanks.

Q: Good morning - I was reading an interesting GS report which is calling for a structural bull market for commodities, starting in 2021. Let's say GS is correct. Assuming that, what would you suggest for a Canadian investor, both at home and in the US. Also, is there an ETF or two that you would suggest to address this assumed trend. Finally, do you think GS is on or off target here?
Thanks

al

Q: Hi guys,

Should the Democrats hold all 3 houses, what is your prediction for the North American markets. Drastic sell off or same as before.

Thanks

Jim

Q: Which sectors do you expect to perform best in 2021?

Q: Hi 5i team,
Peter, I enjoyed your last FP column and your fearless 2021 predictions. In your predictions a year earlier for 2020, you predicted the U.S markets would beat Canada, and they crushed Canada. For 2021, you did not make one for Canada vs the U.S, although you said technology would outperform, where the U.S. has a big edge. While I have a growth and U.S. bias, I did move a chunk of funds back to Canada in 2020 to pick up some value names and some newer tech names. Hence, my question. Who will be the big winner in 2021 – the U.S. with its big tech, healthcare and consumer names (the favourite) or Canada with its financials, energy and materials names (the perennial underdog)?
Thanks again for your insight over the years.
Dave

Q: Are we approaching a point where we should be cautious about putting new funds to work in the Balanced Equity 5iPortfolio? Valuations are high and for some reason one of the world’s best investors is sitting on mountains of cash?

Q: As an answer I'm looking for a general discussion (not a treatise) on sector allocation.
Have you or would you produce a recommended weighting of sectors, and where applicable, sub-sectors.
Are the traditional sectors still relevant? Should we be trying to fit all the emerging technologies (SEMI CONDUCTORS, CONSUMER PRODUCTS, 5G, GAMING, EV, AI, AUTONOMOUS DRIVING, SAAS, GREEN ENERGY, RENEWABLES, GENOMICS to name a few) into either INFO-TECH or one of the traditional sectors. What percentage of a portfolio should be in emerging technologies regardless of sector etc?
thanks, Hugh
p.s. you answer many questions that involve sector allocation - you may want to create a category for this in your searches.

Q: On December 23 of last year, you suggested an asset allocation for 11 sectors for a retired dividend-income investor. I found it helpful.
For 2021, what would you suggest the allocation for 11 sectors be for a balanced portfolio with the focus tilted more to capital gains?.
....Thanks.....Tom

Q: Question regarding the Canadian dollar. Do you think it will continue to gain on the USD and your best guess at a timeline regarding a peak if you see one? Also, what do you think a peak might be ($.90)? I realize this is speculative but appreciate your best guess.

Q: Peter; If the Georgia election is “ overwhelming “ in the Democrats favour - basically rejecting the Trumpaffoon - is this a market changer and possibly the end of the clown politics? Crystal ball question I realize. Thanks . Rod

Q: What sectors would decline if inflation and/or interest rates were to rise.

Q: Hi, thanks for the work that you do for the average Joe.

I am about 8-10 years from retirement. Earlier this year, when good Cdn blue-chip dividend payers were "on sale", I started creating an income portfolio in my non-registered account. The idea is that these stocks would form the basis of my income in my retirement as I don't have a DB pension.

I am currently in the highest tax bracket so will pay significant taxes on the dividends that I receive until I retire, in 8-10 years.

I also have funds in my TFSA where I focus more on Growth.

Am I too young to start creating a dividend account when I'll be paying significant taxes? Should I instead focus on Growth stocks now, and convert those to dividend paying stocks when I retire?

Or does it really matter that much?

This is a non-urgent question and can wait until the NY.

Thanks
Robert

Q: Happy New Year and thanks for everything you do. This year has been by far my best year in the markets thanks to the patience i have learned through the daily Questions and Answers. Just a general question re the markets. I get asked by alot of people who can't get their head around that so many people have been out of work and the gov't continuously dishing out money, but the markets keep on chugging along like everything is good or going to be good in the near future in the world. In other words there seems to be alot of disconnect, thanks?

Q: Good morning, as a relatively young retired investor I'm still leaning vs growth. As a portfolio year end adjustment I would like to hike my exposure to materials by approx 1%. Having said that my gold exposure has suffered and now sits at less that 3%. I own LUN at 2%. Where would you add ? In real estate I have a 2% in DIR and 1% in TCN.. Would like to add to maybe 5% of portfolio. Dividends are welcome but not a necessity since I can buy in either my Cash or in my RIFF account. New suggestions are welcome since your expertise gave me handsome results since I've subscribed to your services.

Stay safe,

Yves

Q: I find it quite interesting that there may be a possible correction in January due to tax-related selling. I own most of my securities in a TFSA and/or RRSP so i am not (in the short term at least) motivated by tax implications. Should I sell now and try to pick up shares at a discount in January?

Q: I am getting scared! This is way too many profits in such a short period of time, in a pandemic, the world shut down, how can that be? So many unemployed. I have never made this kind of money, EVER! Fear and greed is setting in. I am fearful of the market, greedy to let it keep moving up even though it does not look anywhere near sustainable. Help us out here, Peter. Have you ever seen increases in prices so quickly, what is going on? P/E, revenue, earnings, sales, nothing seems to matter. A vision of 2000 keeps rolling around in my head when I guess something like that happened and then everything came crashing down, HARD!

Q: Retired dividend-income investor. For the equity portion of a typical income focused portfolio, can you give me your suggested asset allocation for the 11 sectors. Thanks in advance...Steve