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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: Hi Team,
This question is about investing in a gold ETF. Sprott Physical Gold Trust (PHYS) I believe is a closed-end fund. I read this affects its ability to issue new shares so it cannot effectively track the price of gold. This means shares could trade at a premium to net asset value and not truly track the price of gold. Is that true and if so, is it a concern? Thank you. Michael
Read Answer Asked by Michael on March 08, 2017
Q: The children and I have been debating what a reasonable long-term rate of return is if an investor held a prudently diversified portfolio and was looking at total returns with dividends reinvested, annualized over a period of 20-30 years.

My suggestion was that 10% net of fees would be exceptional and worth every rain dance.


What say you wise sages on this matter?

Thank you
Read Answer Asked by malcolm on March 08, 2017
Q: I understand your negative opinion of (most) mutual funds due to
high fees and human factors. I've found a few actively-managed funds that appear to "earn" their high fees by delivering superior returns over time periods up to 10 years.

Two examples: Fidelity Special Situations-FID1298 and Sentry Small/Mid-Cap Income-NCE721. Morningstar gives both 5 stars.

Comments please on these two funds and on the broader idea of willingly paying higher fees for higher returns.

Cheers, IslandJohn
Read Answer Asked by John on March 02, 2017
Q: Middlefield is proposing to make Aeu.un a mutual fund company. Is it best to sell now or to go with the change?
Read Answer Asked by Philip on January 30, 2017
Q: Hi Peter and Team:
I am interested in some comments about both FFN (North American Financial 15 Split) and PIC.a Both trade on the TSX but act like a mutual fund with a small 'mer'.
FFN pays a monthly dividend of 0.10 and its yield is about 13.07% at a trading price of $9.18
PIC.a pays a quarterly dividend of 0.20319 and its yield is about 11.30% at a trading price of $7.20.
I really like high paying dividends, as we all should but,,,,
I have been invested in PIC.a since April 2004. This has consistently paid quarterly since that time. It was a DRIP until a few years ago. Now it strictly pays Cash. This cash is 'Return of Capital' and as such has no tax implications in my regular investment account???, I think. Is this a good or bad thing???
I own about 17% of my overall portfolio in PIC.a Some of this PIC.a Div cash is paying out into a RIF withdrawal, with minimal effects on the Capital in the RIF.
Now I am looking for your thoughts on FFN as I diversify a bit more and of course feedback on PIC.a
Thanks. Ken .....
Read Answer Asked by Ken on January 26, 2017
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