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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: Hi,

I’m 67 years old and rely on dividend income. I think it may be time to transform my 45 stock portfolio into something more in tune with my age and risk tolerance. It would hopefully reduce the amount of decisions I would have to make since they say the older we get, the more our decision making skills start to slip.

Right now my portfolio follows a 60% 5i Canadian equity market sector balance, and about 20% US equities and 20% cash. My thought is to create a portfolio with the following asset allocation:

30% Gov & Corp Bonds VAB

15% Canadian Equity VCN or Canadian Div CDZ
15% Individual CDN small & Med cap stocks

10% US Equity VUN
20% US Large cap individual stocks already in Portfolio

10% International Equity VDU & VEE

Your comments would be appreciated.
Thank You
Frank
Read Answer Asked by Frank on April 11, 2017
Q: Hi 5i Team:
While I have a good sense of how my overall portfolio is performing I am struggling to find an uncomplicated method of assessing the contribution of individual holdings. When I try to apply a formula for CAGR say, I find myself stymied in almost all cases by having bought and sold shares over time,or having return of capital issues, or at the very least not necessarily re-investing the dividends in the same stock over the time frame in question but just somewhere in the portfolio. Can you suggest a workable way to bring some discipline (objective "hard numbers") to assessing the contribution of individual holdings to the overall portfolio given the above types of complications (and more)? If the answer is too involved/lengthy for Q&A perhaps you would consider the topic for a future blog?
Thanks,
Read Answer Asked by Stephen R. on April 10, 2017
Q: As a new member, I am puzzled by the composition of the Coverage Summary spreadsheet and accompanying 70-company report database. Perhaps I am missing something, but it seems to me that the research database would be more useful to an investor if it contained 70 companies all of which are highly rated. I don't understand the rationale for including companies that are rated lower than B. There must be more Canadian companies that would fall into the A or B categories. It also puzzles me that many of the companies in the model portfolios are not covered by the research.

In summary, would it be possible to include some notes on the website or accompanying the spreadsheet/database explaining how the 70 companies were chosen, how this research is to be used by an investor, and how and when companies are added or removed from the coverage.

Thanks in advance.
Read Answer Asked by Gordon on April 10, 2017
Q: When I see a company say that they are redeeming senior notes for example due in 2021. What does that mean? Is that good for the stock. Is it something they do because they may be putting themselves up for sale at a future date and don't want to have any debt outstanding? Please excuse my ignorance but I need to be educated on why a company redeems senior notes or whatever other notes early. Is it just because they have the cash to do so and it reduces the cost of their debt? Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Helen on April 10, 2017
Q: I am retired. I have a small locked-in RIF (100k) and I will start to withdraw the maximum amount permitted this year. So far, the money was invested in 3 Gics of an equal amount. That approach suited me when the interest rates were higher . But, since the interest rates remain low it does not work anymore.
I need a higher return and i want to protect the capital and keep things simple.
I am willing to put 50% in fix income and 50% in equity with dividends.

1) what will be the most efficient way to invest that money?
2) For the fix income ,should I use monthly income fund like Pimco or Sentry NCE 1032?
3) Which Etf or fund can I use for the equity portion and in which proportion?

The balanced portfolio was launched in March. In your report, does the annual return refers to the calender year or the 12-month period ending on March of each year?

Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Monique on April 10, 2017
Q: I did last year forex trading and have $300. loss do I follow same TAX rule as stock.

If you are not aware of forex rule can you please guide me.

Are you aware of any membership site for TAXES that can give the same service as you do for stocks.

I want to join your ETF membership do I wait until my renewal so both will expire same time or I join now and will expire both at the same time.
Do you have estimated time when you will have portfolio setup for ETF and do you have to be an ETF member to have access to ETF portfolio

Thanks for your help.
Read Answer Asked by Hector on April 10, 2017
Q: Hi,
I currently own 8 of Mawers Funds (MAW-102,104,105,108,120,130 & 150) to provide broad diversification to the individual stocks I own. I just noticed that they have a new Emerging Markets Fund MAW160. As this is a relatively new fund I know that information is limited on it but can you comment if you think this would be a suitable fund that would add further diversification to the funds I currently own and if I were to purchase it which account would it best suit i.e.- non-registered-TFSA-RRSP?
Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Alan on April 10, 2017
Q: Hi 5i, As one who remembers double digit interest rates, I've been wondering if and when the worm will turn again. It sounds like expectations are becoming pretty entrenched for higher rates in the US, and if that turns out to be true would expect Canada to follow with a year or two lag. Is there a typical pattern or approach that suggests which sectors and investment types benefit in a rising rate environment?

Thx for your excellent service!
Read Answer Asked by Rick on April 09, 2017
Q: Do you know of a good site to get a list of the largest market gains and losses during the trading day. It would seem like a relevant piece of data, but I haven't been able to locate it.
In addition, do you know a site which shows the list of largest absolute dividends paid by Canadian and us companies? In Canada the banks must lead the pack. In. The us I'm thinking xom or the big telcos. If not, wondering if other readers know. Thanks in advance.
Read Answer Asked by Bill on April 07, 2017
Q: Hi, I try to stay away from companies that pay dividends as return of capital, mostly because of the tax issues.
Do all investors who do there own taxes keep up on the ACB, as it is sometimes only a % of the total distribution? And do they even know if their stock has a ROC?
Also I don't get it,if the company cannot afford the high dividend and relys on ROC, why are they paying it in the fist place. 3 to 5 % seems about right, anything after that is a bit of a gamble.
What am I missing, seems like a complication I can do without,especially if you have 8+ stocks
Thanks

Read Answer Asked by Brad on April 07, 2017
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