Investment Q&A

Q: Hi Peter: I am 81 years. Am considering buying Fidelity Tax-smart withdrawal program. This fund invests 70% S&P/Capped 60 Index and 30% S&P 500 Index. If you can recommend the fund would a 50% to 75% investment of my funds be reasonable? Should I buy on my TD trading account or buy direct from a Fidelity rep? Would I receive the same net income either way? Thanking you for your valuable opinion. Ron Noble

Q: CIX was purchased at $32.61 in March 2015 - being involved in mostly mutual funds what is your opinion on this stock going forward - do I hold or sell even though it pays a good dividend
Thanks - Hanna

Q: Hi Guys,

My 82 year old parent's new financial advisor ( the other one just disappeared without notice) has propose the following for their TFSA:
Mr.; MER Allocation
Fidelity Global Monthly Income F .80% 20%
Fid Monthly Income F .70% 20%
Fiera Income Opportunities F .82% 20%
First Trust Senior Load ETF ? 10%
Northwest Healthcare Property 10%
Pro Real Estate Inv. Trust 10%
Healthcare Leader Inc Fund EFT ? 10%

Mrs.;
Dynamic Blue Chip Eq. Fund FE ? 30%
Dynamic Global Value Fund DSC ? 3%
Dynamic Stragic Yield Fund LL ? 21%
Fidelity Strategic Income Fund F .75% 26%
Cibc Cdn Equity Auto ? 6%
CI High Income FE ? 8%
CI High Income Dsc ? 6%

Both are low income and live off their dividends.

What I am looking for is a general answer; yes it looks OK or are they still paying way too much for fees (the advisor is charging 1% + to handle their investments).

thanks,

Jim

Q: Thoughts on closed end funds in general & in particular the Canoe Energy Fund Series A. It has a Mer of 2.8%.
Thanks,
Ted

Q: My 25 year old Son started a new job with a group retirement or savings plan, the plan suggests for an aggressive investor; 60% Canadian, 25% foreign and 15% specialty equities. They offer asset Allocation Funds, for instance the Aggressive Growth has a 10 year return of 6.24% with an MER of 2.018, also several individual Funds like the True North Fund (Fidelity) with a 10 year return of 8.3% with a MER of 2.313% The other managers of individual funds are; GWLIM, Mackenzie, Beutel Goodman Montrusco. I,'d appreciate 5i's opinion on what advice to give a young investor on how to pick from the limited options all of which have 2% + MER fees.

Q: Excluding mutual fund management fees for the moment, is it not better to own the entities within a fund vs the fund itself? Putting it another way, if the stocks go up, I go up 'x' percent. However the funds holding the stocks also have to be 'popular' with other investors, so money flows into them, for me to make any money. Have I got that right?
Are we, as investors, getting a continual watered down effect with the many funds out there?
You commented briefly on the industry decline on the past while reviewing CIX for another member.

Q: can i have your thoughts on the main pros and cons of:
ETFS VS Mutual
index/passive fund VS active managment

Q: I have a small position (about 2%) in a LIRA account of Bissett Cdn Small Bond fund (TML1013) which is 8% under water. Would you recommend selling and if so what to replace it with?
Thank you.

Q: I have had the following Sprott funds in a LIRA account for a few years, total ~$50k in a well diversified portfolio:
Sprott Cdn Equity 40% loss
Sprott Gold & Precious Minerals 30% loss
Sprott Small Cap small loss
Would you recommend selling at a loss or hang on "hoping" they will recover.

Q: Global Healthcare Dividend Fund GHC.UN-T

Any opinion on this fund?

Thanks

Q: Our advisor has recommended that we sell some of our equities and purchase more fixed income funds. His recommendations are Manulife Strategic Income F (CAD); TD Retirement Balanced Portfolio F Series; Fiera Defensive Capital Global Equtiy Fund and Lysander-Canso Corporate Value Bond Fund. We are already invested in Pimco Monthly Income Fund (PMO 205), DFA Five-Year Global Equity and CBO. We are leaning in favour of investments we already own as well as XSB, XBB and CLF. We are looking for Canadian, US and International diversification. What would you recommend?

Q: Some time ago I asked about this fund TRIMARK GLOBAL ENDEAVOUR FUND. and you mentioned the MER is quite high.If I am thinking of selling this fund and would like to know what stocks or ETF would you replace this fund with?

Thanks
D

Q: Good Afternoon 5i,
You seem to be warming up to Aston Hill (AHF), what would you like to see to give you greater confidence here and over what time frame? Seems like several intelligent people between the two companies.
Thank-you.

Q: My I have your opinion on the proposed merger of Front Street Capital and Aston Hill Financial going forward in light of the new disclosure rules coming into effect?

Q: Hello.
Thanks for the ongoing investing commentary.
Given the results I have experienced with a few individual investments over the past 8 months, it is clear I either do not have time to keep up with small cap growth stocks' activity, do not know how to make buy sell decisions, do not have the stomach for the ride or just completely outside my sphere of investor ability. In reviewing my experience with buy sell of Phm, I was up 8000 and ended up selling at loss of 6000. Ad recently up 7000 and end d up selling for 3000 loss. Painfully sitting on a 35,000 loss in Cxr.....largest loss ever in 16 years of direct investing. Can not make money this way. Clearly I should be handing over small company decision making to someone else.

The question.......what Canadian and USA mutual fund or strategy would you have me consider to help capture some of the growth available through small company / special opportunities investing ........ Without being directly involved with the buy sell decision?

I am okay with long term but long term with current results will land me in the poor house.

Appreciate your thoughts on this topic.
Dave

I already own Mawer global small and global mutual funds but they are not invested like 5i portfolio

Q: An article in the Globe w.r.t Segregated Fund.
Can you help me to understand how can Segregated fund guarantee to retain principle of invested money? Can you suggest such funds to invest in. Also, I am considering to increase my investment in healthcare stocks, I have EXE, HIG.un, considering NWH.un, CSH.un and NHC. Would appreciate your help to select, perhaps others you can suggest.
Regards, J.A.P. Burlington

Q: I would like your opinion on my current mix of assets that are heavily invested in hedge funds.
25% Donneville Kent North American Fund
25% Barometer Global Macro Pool
25% JC Clark Preservation and Adaly Fund
25% 5i research stocks
my total invested is 700k and i hope to retire in 10-12 years

Q: Can you comment on a preference in mutual funds, Investors dividend-A and IG Beutel Goodman Cnd balance-A

Thanks, John

Q: I would like to have a decent return but preservation of capital is a priority. Please provide your opinion on CIBC Canadian Bond Index Fund – Premium Class CIB585. I am aware that you recommend the ETF CBO so would appreciate your comparison. This would be in a non registered account.
https://www.cibc.com/ca/mutual-funds/no-load-income/can-bond-indx-fund-premium.html

Thank you,

Q: What do you think of Norrep Income Growth mutual fund? I am retired and living off dividend income. Not so much interested in capital appreciation but reliable dividend stream.
Also why do different "series" pay different fees between 1% and 2%?