Investment Q&A

Q: There are Covered Call ETFs with mighty high yields: HPYT 18%; SMAX 10%; HMAX 10%; and HDIV 9%. These yiieds are so high that I feel there must be a downside, so my question is, what are my risks in using these ETFs as part of my income portfolio?
Thank you.

Q: I am an 80 year old value investor. In a diversified portfolio in all sectors, covered call ETF's as per above, make up 10% of my portfolio. I am satisfied with that and all but two are up. 30% of holdings are ETF's including the covered calls.
QUESTION:1. Am I holding too many covered call ETF's? They seem to take the stairs up and the elevator down faster than single stocks. 2. Is it supposed that the covered call ETF's will plunge faster than the single stocks in an expected steep correction?
Thank you

Q: As a retired mainly income investor am I okay to keep holding these ETFs in the current market?

Q: All things being equal, which ETF would you prefer for US exposure today with all that's going on, for a 3-5 year hold? A follow up to my previous question, would 50/50 in either maybe a better way to go?

Thanks

Q: Hi, I believe that you were going to ask Hamilton ETF if they were charging any additional fee's, other than the MER of 0.65%. Did they ever get back to you, and what was the result if they did.
Thanks

Q: I'd like to assess the following group of ETF's I am considering purchasing from a conservative and safety point of view ...... HYPT has been used as the fixed income part of the portfolio . Please advise if this is appropriate and if not a suitable replacement ? The 5i income portfolio has Canadian preferred, convertible bond, and high yield US bonds for around a 15% weighting as the fixed income section ...... Please give a rating of between one and ten with one being the most " conservative and safe " for the following group of ETF's . I will assign the 5i income portfolio a four just so I can see how my choices rank against it using the criteria I suggested ...... Also everything I have chosen is a Hamilton product. Does 5i consider that problematic ? Thanks for your terrific service .....

FMAX 10%
HMAX 10%
QMAX 20%
HYPT 15%
SMAX 20%
LMAX 10%
HYLD 10%
HDIV 5%

Q: Thanks for all you do do us little guys and gals. I would be interested if you know of a good ETF for income with a 5% + dividend with significant US exposure BUT bought in CAD$? If not any US company stocks with a 5%+ dividend that I can buy on the TSX? Thanks again. Dan

Q: Is there any ETF without covered call you would recommend that holds similar stocks as SMAX. Either in USA or CDN dollars. I prefer CDN dollars.

Thanks for the great service

Q: Good morning,

Just trying to add a few ETF's to boost my yield and add to my diversification. I have a nice base of dividend growth stocks and what to offset them with a little bit of ETF's.

ZSP and SMAX....Is there a lot of overlap or can one own both?

Thanks
Jimmy

Q: I own a considerable amount of HYLD, but question the use of 25% leverage. I am considering switching to SMAX, but am wondering if they are so similar, that it is not worth switching.
Could you offer me your opinion on which one you would prefer for an income orientated senior investor.

Q: I am considering purchasing one of the ETF's for income as well as total return potential over the next 3-5 years. Which one you do you believe has more value?

Q: Good evening,

I have a couple of questions regarding the following 5 ETF's. If it cost more than one credit that is ok. Just curious if you only own those 5 ETF's how diversified would you be? I understand that you be giving up some upside but from a diversification perspective do you have all your sectors covered?

For full disclosure I have 15 percent of my entire portfolio allocated to this 5 ETfs too add a little boost in income.

My last question regarding these 5 ETF's iss they all pay a distribution except SMAX and QMAX. SMAX and QMAX pay dividends according to my platform BMO investorline. Does that mean both these two are eligible for the dividend tax credit?

Thanks and have a great day.
Jimmy

Q: In your answer to Gary this morning about SMAX and QMAX you stated that they both had less than $1M in assets. Not sure where you're getting your data, but fact sheets from Hamilton's website indicate that SMAX has $85M in assets and QMAX has $50M in assets. Looks like a rather big oopsie to me.

Q: Could you please give me your thoughts on the following etf's for a RIF that is looking at income? HMAX,UMAX,SMAX and QMAX. Thanks Gary

Q: Hi, I have a goodly amount of my savings in HYLD for income, and now Hamilton has come out with SMAX. I like the idea of SMAX, as it is not leveraged, and only writes covered calls on 30% of it's holdings. I realize that it is brand new, SMAX, and not very big, but would you consider it to be a better choice down the road, as I am considering switching out of HYLD into SMAX in the future.
Thanks for your patience with these high yield covered call questions.