Investment Q&A

Q: Good afternoon,

I would like to ask a question regarding return of capital ("ROC") with some mutual funds. I am having a tough time getting my head around the actual logistics of how this works. Consider the following basis example:

I own 1000 units in Fund A. My ACB is $10 for an initial investment of $10,000. It is trading at $10. My yield is 5%, paid monthly. Let's assume that of this 5% yield, 4% is dividend, and 1% ROC.

Assuming AUM for the fund remain constant, and assuming that I continue to hold 1000 units, where does the cash come from to pay this 1% ROC? I am assuming that for it to be classified as ROC for tax purposes that it is neither income nor capital gains. And beyond my ACB being reduced, is there anything else regarding my initial investment that I need to be concerned about.

Q: Given that I sold this Purpose bitcoin fund for tax loss in Dec, can I replace it with an alternative company bitcoin fund (CIX) and not jeopardize the tax benefits? It has not yet been 30 days since the sale. Thanks,

Q: Enterprise Products is a Limited Partnership versus Sabine Royalty Trust, I have a general understanding of LP's but would like to know how a royalty trust would differ from an income and risk point of view. These are both listed on the NYSE. I do have holdings in EPD, not in SBR... yet?

Thanks, Doug

Q: These two preferred are going to be reset next month. Is a conversion from BCE.PC to BCE.PD, or the reverse, tax-free if we choose to do so?

I was very successful in the last 2 years with the BCE.PD floating shares, but would it be wise to let them go and convert to the fixed-reset at this moment of plateauing interest rates? I guess it could depend on the new rates which will be determined on Feb06.

Thanks to the team.

Q: For a covered call ETF,the ROC will reduce progressively, year after year ,the initial book value,so what will happen then if you don't sell the ETF after many years : if the book value reaches zero,does this means that the book value could then become negative? If not,it will be interesting to keep the ETF for very long term..

Q: Good evening

What are your thoughts on these two ETF's ? I see you have answered a few questions on these already. I am thinking of buying ZSP.U for a long term hold. Do you prefer one over the other or does it really matter?

My main question is with US holding tax. Back in 2017 if I am understanding it right you answered that in an RRSP ZSP.U would still be subject to the taxes. Is that still the case? I am a bit confused as all my other US holdings in my LIRA and RRSP have no taxes held back on dividends. Before I buy I want to be sure my dividend on ZSP.U will not be taxed inside my LIRA.

Thanks Jimmy

Q: hello 5i:
can you tell me how much Return of Capital has been for ZWU dividends over the last 5 years?
thanks
Paul L

Q: Schedule K1 Tax Form. I was looking at general commodity type funds and see that DBC and PDBC seem somewhat similar if looking at their commodity portfolios. Both deal with 14 traded commodities. Was using ETF.com as the information source.

DBC seems to have more trading volume and also a higher mgmt expense (0.87%).
PDBC has mgmt expense of 0.62% and assets under mgmt seem to be approx 6Bil. vs 2.53Bil with DBC

One difference noticed is that the structure of PDBC doesn't result in the creation of a Schedule K1 Tax Form while DBC does.

Please explain to me like I'm a 12 year old and that I have a "BIG RED L" on my ETF/ETN trading knowledge and trades vehicle.... what significance is the K1 thing and what sort of pitfalls do I need to be aware of if trades are being done in non-registered accounts? Does the K1 have the potential to add complexity and hassle at tax time?

Thanks for all that you folks at 5i are doing. Much appreciated.

Q: A portion of my portfolio is invested in the BMO Covered Call ETF's. In their fund prospectus, they indicate that a portion of your return is a return of capital. Is this a return of invested capital or is this the return of the premiums collected from writing the calls against the underlying securities?

Q: Questrade made a mess with the BAM split in our accounts.
Just to confirm:
(1) 100 shares of BAM.A.US bought at $32USD, after the split, I should end up with 25 shares of BAM:US at $29.50 and 100 shares of BN:US at $32
(2) 100 shares of BAM.A.CA bought $51CAD, after the split, I should end up with 25 BAM:CA at $39.65 and 100 BN shares at $51CAD.
Is the BAM:US initial valuation of $29.50USD and BAM:CA at $39.65CAD correct?
Thanks!

Q: I have losses in spy and iyc and want to buy voo. Would I be able to claim the loss since the two etfs are in a non registered account? Do you think this is an ok move?
Thanks, Lesley

Q: Hi Peter/ Ryan, I transferred BAM in kind from my Margin Account to my TFSA at a loss, do I still have to wait the 30 days to buy it back. Thanks, Nick

Q: In addition to your answer to Patrick on MPLX on Jan 10: There is also the new extra-tax on US LPs to consider now...

Q: Thinking about taxation and witholding taxes.
Are there any of these holdings that should not belong in a CELI?

ISHARES CDN SELECT DIVIDEND INDEX ETF XDV
ISHARES CORE MSCI EMG MKTETF IEMG
ISHARES CORE S&P 500 INDXETF(CAD-HEDGED) XSP
ISHARES CORE S&P/TSX CAPPED COMPOSITE INDX ETF XIC
ISHARES MSCI EAFE IDX ETF(CAD-HEDGED) XIN
ISHARES SEL DIVIDEND ETF DVY
ISHARES SP/TSX CAPPD REITINDEX ETF
HYG
ISHARES TR-RUSSELL 2000 VALUE INDEX IWN
SCHWAB STRATEGIC TR US REIT ETF SCHH
VANGUARD FTSE DEVELOPED MARKETS ETF VEA
BMO US DIVIDEND ETF ZDY
ISHARES CORE S&P 500 INDXETF XUS
ISHARES CORE S&P/TSX CAPPED COMPOSITE INDX ETF

Q: Is there a way to avoid the foreign withholding tax on US dividends?

Q: I would like to understand the tax implications of holding VXC in a TFSA.
According to my readings, I retain that the witholding tax is 0.48%. Is it correct?
Is an ETF you recommend? If not, do you have a suggestion?

Q: I have both BEP.UN and BEPC in an unregistered margin account and for simplicity sake would to only hold one of them. Is there any particular advantage of one over the other in an unregistered account? Thanks.

Q: Lots of discussion on holding BEP.UN in a RRSP or a RRIF, but what about a TFSA?
Thanks for your answer….JC

Q: I like the high dividend paying shares of NYMT. Do you see any reason for a Canadian like me to pass on buying it for my RRSP.
After some research it seems to me that I would not pay tax on the dividend payout received in an RRSP. Can you verify that?
Other well respected dividend paying shares such as Bell (BCE) and Enbridge are Canadian companies so I could hold them in my TFSA without any tax implications. I am also noticing CM (Cibc) for long term RRSP or TFSA hold. BNS.TO, Also Telus KEY.To, Hydro one I won't mention Rogerw because I just don't like the way they do business. VDY.To. ZWP.TO covered call ETF. ZWE.TO is another one.
looking to get creative and make my own portfolio but not to proud to buy an ETF for income. I know you have an income portfolio I appreciate that and will look through it again. Looking for feedback for this strategy. I am a 50 year old Canadian citizen living in Canada looking for long term holdings.
Happy New Year - all the best.

Q: "joint venture between GIC and Dream Industrial Real Estate Investment Trust will acquire all of the assets and assume all of the liabilities of Summit and the unitholders of the REIT (the "Unitholders") will receive $23.50 for each outstanding unit of the REIT (each, a "Unit") they own in cash by way of a special distribution and a redemption of Units, subject to applicable withholdings."

If I sell SMU.UN now I will have a very significant capital gain in 2023,what happens if I keep it until the special distribution ?I suppose it will also be a capital gain?any other choice here ?