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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've been reading a lot about what retirees should do in this environment and most people suggest, have a cash wedge you're comfortable with and keep the balance of your portfolio in the market.

That seems reasonable to me if you have a portfolio. Have you an idea of what percentage of the general public has investments? Are we just talking to a privileged few? Thanks
Read Answer Asked by M.S. on April 22, 2025
Q: When a RRSP becomes converted into a RRIF ,I tend to believe that owning a certain proportion of covered calls ETF ( let's say 30- 40% ?) could be interesting in order to get enough dividends each year , to avoid selling, and to preserve the capital for constant revenues when you are in excellent health..Thanks for any comments or suggestions ,the goal being long term optimized revenues .
Read Answer Asked by Jean-Yves on April 14, 2025
Q: Are those funds advantageous to hold in a rsp account regarding on the withholding of US dividends? I am never sure if those dividends get charged fo all holders, or just the cash accounts. So if these do not shelter the rsp from the tax, which equivalent would you suggest.?
Thank you
Read Answer Asked by francois on April 01, 2025
Q: Hello Peter,
I tried to balance growth and income as well as dividends (no with holding tax in RRSP for US stocks but there is in TFSA), and hence, can you let me know if these make sense for a mid 20s person starting off to have a more growth in TFSA and more income in RRSP.
TFSA: veqt, vgg, and xfn and maybe xic ( veqt has cdn exposure so thought i would exclude xic )
RRSP: vbal, zuq, xic, and xuu all of these trade on tsx. Much appreciated.
Read Answer Asked by umedali on January 21, 2025
Q: This year, I transferred most of my Canadian TFSA funds to US and into USA Equities. Now a friend told me I can only hold so much of my total holding in US. Is there a limit on how much I can hold in TFSA, RIFF or Cash account?
Read Answer Asked by Donna on November 25, 2024
Q: Hi


I ask this for tax savings in the end.

As I am single (widowed age 68) and have done very good as a result of 5i.

When I pass away have my RRSP will be taxed at about 50%.

My thinking is moving my RRSP into a RIFF and start withdrawing now and funneling my payments to my children after paying the taxes.

I do not receive OAS now, so it is not a issue.

I would like to see my children learn how to invest now.

Does this make sense.

Thank you

Mike
Read Answer Asked by Mike on November 14, 2024
Q: I have been fortunate enough to retire before my husband and we live off of his salary. Currently I have over $1M in Registered trading accounts. In this scenario, is it typically better for a person to start taking money out of their RRSP when they have no income, and then move these funds to an unregistered trading account to grow, or is it better to leave this money in a registered account, take a large tax hit later, and let it grow sheltered until needed? As always, your comments are very much appreciated.
Read Answer Asked by Barbara on October 18, 2024
Q: In the next couple of months, I will start a monthly drawdown of my RRSP account as a part of my retirement plan. Is there a good strategy for this, or perhaps an article you can send me to? I wonder if the cheese slice strategy is best, or planning ahead by a month or more by trimming the runners and stock-piling some cash so I'm not in a position to sell on a "down" day. Any ideas you have will be handy - thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Kim on September 17, 2024
Q: I know this is outside 5i's wheelhouse, but I am going to cheekily ask it anyway. I am contemplating a 50% drawdown of my investments (to purchase a cottage) and want to determine the optimal way to do so. 50% of my investments are in a cash account, and roughly 50% split equally between TFSAs and RRSPs (all of which are maxed out). Almost all my high growth stocks are in my TFSA (NVDA, VRT, GOOG, MSFT, AMZN), with mostly slower growers and dividend stocks in the other accounts. Considering both tax consequences and the need to continue having a diversified portfolio, where would YOU take the money from?
Read Answer Asked by Maureen on July 10, 2024
Q: Good morning
My question is regarding RESPs.. I’m currently holding CSU, LMN and VFV in my RESP. All equal weightings. Would you top up or add ? If adding, please list your top 5 in order. Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Nick on May 30, 2024
Q: Please recommend the name of 5 TSX stocks, for starting a $100k retirement fund, earning 10% on dividends + appreciation, relatively low risk. Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Ron on May 22, 2024
Q: I am learning to use portfolio analytics (PA). PA provides some guidance that makes a lot of sense from a tax efficient perspective. For example, it recommends to place Canadian dividend payers in unregistered accounts and Canadian and US growth funds into TFSAs. Are there any downfalls to not having each account diversified?
Read Answer Asked by Mary on May 02, 2024
Q: Hello,

General best practice question here on portfolio diversification based on a question asked many years ago.

1. If you were starting fresh with an equity portfolio, how many names would you choose and would they all be equal weight by name? Within that number, would you have a recommendation investing in a set number of ETF's?

2. Would you recommend adding stocks across each of the 10-14 sectors (or prioritize specific ones) and apply the same weight?

3. In terms of tax benefits, would you tend to hold US stock in a TFSA or RRSP? I seem to read conflicting views.
Read Answer Asked by Julie on May 01, 2024
Q: I'm curious as to the lack of a high dividend paying etf in your Income portfolio? Also curious as to your thoughts on the partial use for these in a RRIF or PLIf account ( I am in MB and we have PLIF's). I'm setting up a PLIF and considering having more than a full position of HDIV, along with big stable dividend growers I'd pick from your favorites. I have a RRSP of the same value of the PLIF and investments in TFSA. I've been 100% equities all my life, eat volitility for breakfast. If you were setting up your own PRIF, looking to make significant income, what would it look like?
Read Answer Asked by Charles on March 26, 2024
Q: Please give me some guidelines about the type of companies preferred in TFSA, RIF and non registered accounts. I am particularly iinterested in guidelines related to tax efficiency and it's overall effect on results.
Read Answer Asked by Ron on March 25, 2024
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