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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: Confused about collecting US companies dividends in my RRSP
Read Answer Asked by MANFRED on April 24, 2023
Q: Would DOO be a good addition to an rrsp? Can you recommend 2-3 high conviction adds to an rrsp? Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Gunther on April 21, 2023
Q: I was reading Steve's question RE: combining the RRSP and Spousal RRSP. Depending on the situation, there could be a downside because of the spousal attribution rule. This will depend on when the last contribution was made to *any* spousal RRSP and when the withdrawals will start.
Read Answer Asked by Wayne on March 22, 2023
Q: Retired, dividend-income investor. My wife has her own RRSP as well as a Spousal RRSP. We are both 68 year old and approaching the time where we shift our RRSPs into RRIFs.

I am considering the option of combining my wife's two RRSPs into one, to simplify things. What are the pros and cons of doing this? Is it a no-brainer just to do it?

Thanks...Steve
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on March 21, 2023
Q: Hi There,
I just wanted to confirm that if you transfer a security from a cash account to a RRSP account, any accrued capital gain on the transferred securities on an in-kind contribution to an RRSP is immediately taxable to you, while any loss on such a transfer would be denied from being claimed as a capital loss.....is this correct!

If so, if you sold the security in the cash account and then transferred the cash to the RRSP, would you then be able to claim the capital loss?
Thank You,
Read Answer Asked by Kevin on February 13, 2023
Q: Where to hold Bonds? As I am winding down my income producing years and shifting to drawing down my savings I am wondering where I should hold bonds. We currently hold no fixed income as we will get a pension from my wife's work when she retires( so historically considered that out fixed income). Bonds haven't really been on my radar with rates so low the past 10+ years but things are changing both in terms or yield and my investment needs. I have 4 options to stash some bonds TFSA, RSP, unregistered and within my Inc. I more or less have things in the right place currently with growth in TFSA, US in RRSP and CAD in unregistered accounts. My plan was to sell some USD large caps once the steam runs out of the current rally and buys some high grade corporate bonds, in or around 10-15% of my portfolio. A bit of the old traders strategy of sell in may and walk away...

So to circle back, the easiest place to do it would be in my RRSP, but some of the reading I have done has suggested I do it in my TFSA as I can get the yield out of the TFSA tax free account at any time instead of locking it in the more restricted RRSP accounts. Shifting the TFSA from growth to income also seems like an appropriate move at this stage nearing retirement ( me semi-retired, my wife in 4 years or less). The 3rd option I am considering is doing it in my INC and using the yield to " pay the bills" so to speak of keeping the Inc cash flow positive as my earning drop with me working less.
Read Answer Asked by Tom on January 20, 2023
Q: I am a 56 yo retiree with no intention of going back to work. All my income comes from my investments. I generally pull out each year the cash the investments generate without needing to sell any shares as that is more than sufficient for my lifestyle. Is there any benefit to converting my RRSP (or part of it) to a RRIF at my age? Other than no withholding tax - which I don’t really view as a benefit since the tax has to be paid anyways - is there any reason to convert prior to being required to do so? Thanks in advance.
Read Answer Asked by Mark on January 03, 2023
Q: Hi 5i. Merry Christmas to all !

I need some help with the mechanics of an 'in-kind transfer'. Particularly with one from a RRSP to a TFSA.

If I use the 2023 TFSA contribution limit of $6500 and want to move that amount of Stock 'A' from a RRSP to a TFSA, then I understand that withholding tax would apply to that amount.

Where does the withholding tax get paid from? I am assuming a number of Stock 'A' shares would be sold to cover the amount of tax owed. Is that correct?

Furthermore, is it possible to have the withholding tax paid from cash within the RRSP or would the tax owed be added to the transfer of $6500 0f Stock 'A' to the TFSA?

Essentially, can I move $6500 of Stock 'A' to the TFSA and pay the withholding tax from cash in the RRSP, as if they were two separate transactions.

Thanks in advance.

Martin

Read Answer Asked by Martin on December 22, 2022
Q: Hi Peter and team, would appreciate your thoughts on what the TFSA should be used for and why, fixed income or capital gains. Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Anthony on December 06, 2022
Q: I am not clear on whether or not one is able to hold physical gold in an RRSP. If so, could you tell me how to do that?
Thank-you again for your steady guidance especially in these last few months.
Read Answer Asked by patricia on November 21, 2022
Q: Historically I invested in bonds, bond ETFs, income trusts and international/global mutual funds for my RRSP account. When the tax laws changes I continued to hold the companies that were once income trusts. Many of my income trusts were REITs and REIT ETFs which I continue to hold. The past two to three years I have started to buy companies with decent dividend rate. They are as follows (gain in price included): ENB(+7%), FTS(+15%), TRP(+11%), CNQ(+60%), RY(+1%) and NTR(-13%). I can now buy a 1 year GIC with a rate of return of 4.25%. I am planning to start selling these shares to buy 1 year GIC or 2 year bonds. In what order should I sell these shares to purchase fixed income? What do you think of my strategy? Note I generally try to have fixed income in my RRSP except for the mutual funds . I have them in RRSP so I do not have to keep track of ACB. I only have shares in my non-reg and TFSA.
Read Answer Asked by Robert on September 21, 2022
Q: From readings, it seems the preference is to withdraw funds from a RRIF or LIF later in the year rather than at the start of the year. Me, wondering what are the reasons for this. Do you have any thoughts on this?........Thanks for your insights........Tom
Read Answer Asked by Tom on August 22, 2022
Q: I am currently managing my TFSA/RRSP funds and some money outside of registered accounts, which are largely individual stocks. With the market volatility, potential recession and war in Ukraine, I am finding it more difficult to keep on top of the individual stocks and am therefore considering going to ETF's. I am a year away from retirement but would be ok with more risk in the TFSA/RRSP's.
Could you please suggest 5 ETF's for the registered accounts and 5 ETF's for the non-registered accounts.
Thank you,
Jacquie
Read Answer Asked by Jacquie on June 02, 2022
Q: We hold the following in a registered/US$ account . The list shows % each represents of our total portfolio and current Gain/Loss position. Considering selling U and redeploying into one or more of the names already held in US$ account.
1. Are there others that you would consider selling ?
2. Your thoughts please on which, if any, of the existing positions to re-deploy into, OR should the cash be held for later use ?

APPS 1.6% -61%
BKNG 1.1% -2%
CROX 0.3% -26%
CRWD 2.5% -25%
FB 0.55% -6%
MSFT 2.8% +72%
MTTR 0.25% -77%
NVDA 3.65% +38%
QCOM 4.4% +81%
TEAM 2.1% +11%
U 1.3% -67%

Many thanks, as always.
Read Answer Asked by Alexandra on May 18, 2022
Q: I've been looking at the regional and sector allocations of my investments at the total portfolio level (TFSA + RRSP + non-reg), generally buying growth stocks in the TFSA and safer stocks in the RRSP. Does it make sense to continue to look at the allocations and diversify at a portfolio level? Or should I also be looking at it for the 3 individual types of accounts separately?
Read Answer Asked by Alexander on April 27, 2022
Q: My son is 16 and has $2800 RRSP room. He makes under $10,000 (PT jobs) so won't have any tax rebate if he contributes to an RRSP. He is academic and likely will be in school for another 10 years and then hopefully in the highest tax bracket.
Would you open an RRSP now or wait until he can get a tax refund? If starting, what would you buy for such a small amount? ETF or stock? He will have $1000-$2000/yr room for the next 10 years as well.
Read Answer Asked by Chris on April 08, 2022