skip to content
  1. Home
  2. >
  3. Investment Q&A
You can view 3 more answers this month. Sign up for a free trial for unlimited access.

Investment Q&A

Not investment advice or solicitation to buy/sell securities. Do your own due diligence and/or consult an advisor.

Q: I am currently in process with increasing the US$ in my TFSA. I have two questions:

1) Which "stable" stocks would you recommend to do a Norbert's Gambit. I understand it takes a couple of processing days before being able to sell the stock on the US side.
2) I have a few dividend paying stocks that are both on the TSX and NYSE - (CP, MLF, BNS). While they are Canadian domiciled, I'm curious if moving them to the NYSE causes the 15% withholding tax to kick in. I would like to keep them in a US TFSA so that I can trim/sell and reinvest in US $ but only if it makes sense. My intention is to buy US growth stocks in my TFSA moving forward (no dividend), eventually converting it into a 100% growth portfolio to maximize the account.

Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Loretta on September 01, 2020
Q: For a non-regustered account, with the price difference at about 8 dollars would it be better overall for income to purchase BIP.UN if you had a fixed dollar amount to invest for the additional shares you would get over purchasing BEPC even considering the dividend tax credit benefit of BEPC..
Read Answer Asked by Ralph on August 26, 2020
Q: Hi Peter and 5i team,

I currently have BIPC and BEPC shares in my TFSA account, and I expect to hold them for the long term. Is it worth paying a transfer fee to move those shares to my CAD non-registered account in order to be able to recover any US taxes paid on dividends.

Many thanks for your opinion on this matter.
Read Answer Asked by Michel L on August 25, 2020
Q: You commented recently that "U.S. dividends held in a TFSA are subject to a 15% withholding tax". I was wondering if you could describe how this unfolds. This was in a U.S. TFSA.
I am thinking of setting up a U.S. TFSA and would like to know how it works prior.
I realize that a person could ask their accountant but anyone who has this type of account could also tell how it works.
Thank you
Margaret
Read Answer Asked by Margaret on August 25, 2020
Q: Hello 5i members,
In one of the recent questions i noticed that you had quite a positive view on Microsoft for growing , in the future. I hold some Microsoft in my TFSA and although I don't like the idea of having to pay US tax on the dividends, I have felt that because I am positive about the growth of mfst and because the dividend yield is only .95 per cent, I am better to keep it in my TFSA despite the dividend tax. I was wondering how you would see a situation like this
thanks
Read Answer Asked by joseph on August 25, 2020
Q: Hello 5i Team
To increase my fixed income allocation, I need to add fixed income to my non-registered account.
I am looking at the Horizon Corporate Class ETFs, in particular the Horizons Cdn Select Universe Bond ETF (HBB) in comparison to BMO Discount Bond Index ETF (ZDB), BMO Aggregate Bond Index ETF (ZAG) and/or iShares Core Canadian Universe Bond Index ETF (XBB). I am not familiar with the concept of Corporate Class ETFs.
1 - Is HBB a reasonable alternate to the listed major bond funds?
2 - Please confirm HBB does not pay a distribution and that “income” is reinvested in units of the ETF resulting in potential increase capital gains in the future.
3 - What would be the impact of a future increase in capital gains inclusion rate (from 50 % to 75%) have on corporate class ETFs?
4 - Is there a minimum dollar amount where the corporate class ETFs start to make sense (i.e. is better to pay the tax on a distribution from XBB when the dollar amounts are relatively small)?
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on August 24, 2020
Q: good morning. Are there any CRA restrictions/regulations/limits regarding buying and selling shares (trading) within (not between) registered accounts?
as always, i'm appreciative of advice from 5i
Read Answer Asked by alex on August 20, 2020
Q: When trading stocks is their some kind of 30 day rule regarding when you can buy or sell after loss or gain when you can buy the same stock again could you tell me how that works thank you
Read Answer Asked by Greg on August 19, 2020
Q: Can I open an resp for grandchildren with existing holdings by transferring (opening an resp) there are gains on the stock is it considered a gain.
Read Answer Asked by Peter on August 05, 2020
Q: Dear 5i,
Do you think the CRA will have any concerns with Horizons change from a Total Return Swap structure to a Total Return Corporate Class structure implemented in Nov. 2019?
I understand that Horizons changed all their Total Return Swap ETF's to this new structure late last year. I would like to avoid any future CRA tax issues if I purchase one of these Total Return Corporate Class ETF's. Your thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Ian on August 04, 2020
Q: Hello 5i Team
Given 5i are not tax experts, could you please comment on the subject below as I could not find a clear answer.
1 - If I own, in a taxable account, a US based REIT (i.e Monmouth REIT) and if a portion of the distribution is "return of capital (ROC)", is the US ROC treated the same as Canadian ROC (i.e. deducted from the capital cost of the US REIT each year therefore reducing the adjusted cost basis)?
2 - Or is the US ROC "lost" and I pay tax on it similar to a dividend from a US corporation?
3 - I have noticed the US REITs do not post the tax breakdown of the annual distribution as the majority of Canadian REITs do.
Any suggested source of information for this topic?
Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on August 04, 2020
Q: re: T1135 Foreign Income Verification Form

Hi 5i,
I understand that you are not tax experts but, I would appreciate your thoughts.
I am a Canadian citizen and I have ample cash in my NonReg account such that I can allocate more than $100K to US listed securities on a US exchange. In general, I am interested in purchasing US listed ETF's since they are much cheaper and there are many choices. Are there any drawbacks to exceeding the $100K threshold other than having to file the T1135 form?

thanks for your comments!
Read Answer Asked by Ian on July 30, 2020
Q: I own GSY.DB in my non-registered account. I have given instructions to convert my debenture to shares at the end of the month. I bought the debentures when they first came out at a price of $100.00. What will be my ACB for these new shares? What price do I use when I report a capital gain for tax purposes assuming I have a capital gain?
Read Answer Asked by Robert on July 28, 2020
Q: Fortunately I have been forced into retirement and I do not have to worry about when to take the leap. I am balancing out my portfolio with a strong income focus. My portfolio is approximately 50/50 register and unregistered and I am carrying a large capital loss forward. Which of the above ETF's would be better off in an unregistered account?

Thank you


Stephen
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on July 22, 2020