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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: I have a $12000 GIC maturing in June at our local Credit Union. GIC's are fully taxed on interest every year. As our CU can only sell mutual funds and GIC's, can you suggest a mutual fund or two, or strategy that would minimize our taxes but still provide some funds. I was thinking of Mawer as one possibility.
Regards Gord
Read Answer Asked by gord on April 25, 2019
Q: Hello. My question is regarding Management Fees vs MERs. Can you please tell me what is typically included in and MER other than Management fees as the MER is usually higher than the Management fee.

Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Alex on April 22, 2019
Q: Hi there. In August I became nervous about managing the amount of money I had been and got an investment advisor from the Royal Bank. I then invested half of my savings into their mutual funds. A large chunk of it is in the RBC Select Balanced Portfolio. As this is a mutual fund there is a mer of 1.94%. So question # 1 is: is this a reasonable mer?
I have noticed now that this mutual fund invests in 10 other (mostly RBC) mutual funds. So my second question is: how does this work for the other mers? Who is paying these mers? Am I paying 1.94% plus other hidden fees for the mutual funds within the first mutual fund?

Thanks,
Sue
Read Answer Asked by Susan on April 16, 2019
Q: Hello 5i

I am a retired cautious investor who is slowly moving from individual stocks in both my registered and non-registered accounts to Mawer 105.

I do, however, believe in diversification. As I slowly unwind my accounts with their individual diversified holdings would it be wiser to spread my future investments between such products as Mawer 105 and VBal or simply go “all in” with one or the other ... or any other product you would suggest?

Thank you

Peter
Read Answer Asked by Peter on April 15, 2019
Q: We have about $150k in a Family RESP invested in the Fidelity Clearpath 2025 Portfolio Series B ISC target date fund. On the Fidelity fact sheet it says "Series B has the highest combined management and administration fees among the series in the Program". We were put into the fund by our previous financial advisor. Funny how that worked. The current MER is 2.17%. Could you recommend two or three alternative ETF's or funds with more reasonable MER's or even possibly a handful of suitable stocks? The funds won't be needed for another five years. Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Bruce on April 11, 2019
Q: CIF 823 is the last remnant from the portfolio of my former financial advisor. How would you assess this mutual fund? Would an ETF (or several) be a preferred replacement?
Your input is always appreciated!
Read Answer Asked by Sigrid on April 10, 2019
Q: Hi Guys just to circle back on a question I answered and you replied in the last day or so. I'm sorry I should of been more specific, I'm looking for a growth mutual fund for a 25 year old that will be adding to often and therefore don't want any trading costs involved with buying ETF's, the 2 that you suggested are XWD and VT. Looking for mutual funds and not ETF.
Thank-you
Read Answer Asked by Chris on April 09, 2019
Q: Hi 5i,
I think there are some very good F-Class mutual funds available but, one can only purchase them through an advisor. How can one become certified as a mutual fund advisor and purchase F-class funds for their own account? I am retired and don't mind taking courses to become certified. Does this makes sense and can you point me to the right web sites to learn more about this?
thanks
Read Answer Asked by Ian on April 09, 2019
Q: Do you have an opinion on pooled wrapped funds? How do you feel about this type of investment vs a mutual fund? It is with cibc.
Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Lois on April 08, 2019
Q: Hi,
I need a bit of help in structuring my Bond component for my RRSP.
I had so far running with PH&N High Yield 5%, ZST 5%, PH&N Total Return Bond 10%, PIMCO Monthly Income Fund 5% and MFT 2.5%, for a total of 27.5%. Given my age (59) and the fact that soon we may enter in a Bear market, I have to increase my Bond allocation. According to some, this should mirror my age, probably close to 60%. My question is: What combination of Funds/ETFs and weight should I use? Is probably not a good idea to invest more than 15% in a fund and probably limit my High Yield exposure to 5%. Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Nicolae on March 21, 2019
Q: Hi guys
As you know Elderly Care is expensive..roughly 6 grand a month. Sold the house 5 years ago (big mistake) put the money in a split between GICs & BNS430 . 60% GICS 40% BNS430. This isn't enough Income to stop the Capital Drain. Myself, Im not impressed with the MER or the returns from the Scotia Innova Income Portfolio Series T. Was thinking of switching out of GIC or BNS430 to the MAW105. Would you have any other ideas?. Im a little scared of the Dividend ETFs, BMO dividend ETF got Hammered 30% in 2008....Yikes
thanks Gord ( take a many credits as you like)
Read Answer Asked by Gordon on March 06, 2019
Q: Hi 5Ii,
I have some cash to invest in my RSP . What are your thought on this fund? 5+ yr holding, am 62 yrs old? Gives me some diversification.
The cost is however 20,0000, I currently manage my own portfolio just looking to manage less.
Or better to Purchase similar ETF funds?
Any suggestions much appreciated.?
THANKS,
Scott
Read Answer Asked by Paulette on March 04, 2019
Q: Goodmorning

My Grand Daughter has the following funds in her RESP> She has sufficent funds in each to pay for all costs associated with each of the 3 years of her education. Which would you sell 1st 2nd 3rd over the next 3yrs and would you suggest selling any and if so what would you replace them with?
Thks
Marcel
Plse take 3 credits
Read Answer Asked by Marcel on February 20, 2019
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