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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
Q: WANTED TO BUY THESE ETF'S NOW. DO YOU THINK THEY ARE GOOD TO BUY
NOw? WOULD YOU RECOMMEND JUST GOOD COMPANIES INSTEAD.
THANKYOU.
PAULINE
Read Answer Asked by Pauline on January 19, 2017
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