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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: Good morning,
I own a small house in Ottawa that is free and clear with a current market value of approximately $350,000.
A recent discussion with my trusted mortgage broker confirmed that a 5 year term (Closed & Fixed) term mortgage can be obtained at a rate of 2.29%. This mortgage is said to be:
a. insured through CMHC,
b. portable, and
c. transferable.
At that rate of 2.29% and given that the interest paid would be tax deductible if I use the funds for investment purposes, I'm seriously considering borrowing around $200,000 and investing this amount for an initial 5 year period with an expected net rate of return on investment of 4.5% .
Q1. With $200,000, what are your thoughts of splitting this amount in 5 different chunks of $40K in the following instruments:
a. Mawer Tax Effective Balanced Fund,
b. Mawer Global Balanced ETF Fund,
c. Vanguard Balanced ETF Portfolio,
d. IShares Core Balanced ETF Portfolio, and
e. BMO Balanced ETF

Q2. As an alternative to the above and given the 5 year time frame, would your preference be to invest the $200,000 in a selection of best in class individual stocks split between different sectors and if so, would you be so kind as to provide me with ya listing of your best ideas at this time.

I thank you and look forward to hearing your thoughts on both of these investment strategies.
Francesco
Read Answer Asked by Francesco on June 15, 2020
Q: Recently, in response to a question requesting your advice on a number of stocks including the above, you singled out MSFT and CRWD to "buy more". What are other stocks would you recommend to "buy more" at this time?
Thank you for your advice.
Read Answer Asked by sam on June 15, 2020
Q: I am going to trim my KXS back to 6%. With the proceeds I am considering one of the following:
Add to my CAE; add to my GSY; add to my ATD.B or initiate a position in DSG.
How would you rank these choices? Any and all thoughts will be appreciated. ram
Read Answer Asked by Ray on June 08, 2020
Q: I'm a little concerned about the trade tension, possible 2nd wave of the virus, protesting, economic risk, etc.
Do you think we need to do something in case the market crash?
Currently I hold the above 4 stocks plus 20% cash. Are they safe? Any other stocks that you recommend?
Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Yongwei on June 03, 2020
Q: I own KXS and and OTEX for the Canadian tech component of my portfolio.
1)Would you suggest adding a third company and if so what would you suggest? Or Would would you prefer adding to the position in KXS (even after the share appreciation)?

2) What is your top pick for US Tech at the moment?

Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Jeremy on June 03, 2020
Q: Can you give me names of 10 companies - CDN and U.S - that you feel have:
* strong balance sheets,
* a strong likelihood to survive or thrive in the current environment
* appear to be of good current value with an eye on a potentially strong rebound given a bit of time.
Your opinion is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by JOHN on June 02, 2020
Q: I'm looking to convert a RESP invested in mutual fund (chorus II agressive growth) to lower fees and menage it more actively. Kids are 5 and 2 years old.

I was thinking to diversify with 3 or 4 ETF for 70% of this portfolio. What are your thoughts about a combinaison of VFV, XIC, XIT, ZQQ and DXG for long term? Do you have better suggestions?

Althought, is investing in XIT and ZQQ and DXG a good idea on short term since tech valuation is already high at this moment compared to other sectors?

For the rest of portfolio (30%), i would go with stocks. What would be your top 4 on short term (next 6-12 months) and on long term?
Read Answer Asked by Francois on June 02, 2020
Q: I have full positions in the above except KXS and REAL. For available cash is there a stock that you like and would consider adding to this portfolio .
Read Answer Asked by Roy on May 29, 2020
Q: I recently trimmed my position in SHOP in my TFSA. I would like to put the new found cash to work. Looking for growth at a reasonable risk and would appreciate your top 3 suggestions other than the companies named above.
Thanks ram
Read Answer Asked by Ray on May 29, 2020
Q: Good Morning,
I'm looking for 8-10 Canadian stocks that you think will do well over the next few years , maybe a mixture of safe solid names mixed in with some higher risk higher growth names. To list a few ideas I am thinking of a bank , maybe BMO, ENB,BAM.a,LSPD,KXS,BYD,GOOS,GSY.
Please add and/or change as you see fit.
thanks
Read Answer Asked by Chris on May 29, 2020
Q: Could you give me the forward PE on these companies and which looks best currently if buying ? Thx
Read Answer Asked by blake on May 29, 2020
Q: Hello team,

I have the above companies in a TFSA. I have some cash. Could you recommend and rank three new positions as well as three existing positions to add to?

Thank you so much,
Read Answer Asked by Stefan on May 28, 2020
Q: It looks like there's some mean reversion going on today with some of the tech names that saw big spikes of the last few months. Any names you'd pick up today, or would you wait to see how this shakes out over the next little while?
Read Answer Asked by Rick on May 27, 2020