Investment Q&A

Q: Hi Peter & team,

Over the years I have been focused on paying off my mortgage and putting the majority of any savings I have into my RRSP account and contributing into my child's RESP account. As a result, the RRSP account has over 80% of the savings that I have accumulated to this point while my TFSA and non-registered accounts total the remaining 20%. I finally have paid off my mortgage and I was wondering whether I should now be focusing on putting most of my money into the TFSA and non-registered accounts, so that the ratio between the RRSP/TFSA/non-registered accounts become more balanced? Is there such thing as a good balance between the 3 types of accounts?

Thanks for the wonderful work and all the insightful answers you provide.

Marvin

Q: hi folks:

looking for direction on oil services/drilling co's

balance sheet-wise what are your 2 -3 choices for long term stability in the energy services area?

(not concerned if it is a frack co; daylighters, upstream downstream etc etc etc)

and, since I have you........

what are your current 2-3 choices for pipelines; oil co's; gas co's

as with service co's i am primarily concerned with future viability (ie staying in business) vs biggest potential recovery

been sitting on my hands and actually making money...........by not buying as yet

thank you

Q: Are you aware of any articles or texts that have studied the tax loss selling phenomenon? Opportunities and risks that this presents to investors? Thanks.

Q: Hi !
It seems that the teams of the National Hockey League are money making machines.
Are they any ways for small investors to participate and to hold shares of teams such as Montreal Canadians ? Any possibilities in sports other than hockey ?

Thousand thanks for your good attention and advice,
Jacques

Q: I think it was Susan who commented about not being able to find Cineplex's dividend history. I use dividendhistory.org when I'm looking to do research on dividend history. Its free and maybe it can help Susan and others. ( http://dividendhistory.org/payout/TSX/CGX/ )

Lastly, cryptokitties... for trading and as an alternative currency. Is this actually real life or am I living in my wife's dream where cats and kittens are revered above everything else?
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-42237162

Thanks.

John

Q: Hello Team: Season's Greetings
In my company DCPP Sunlife offers the following 3 funds among others but the following have had the best returns:
MFS Global Equity: Allocation U.S. 54.15%, Intl 44.64%, Cash 1.21%. which I am currently in.
TDAM Global Equity Index: Allocation U.S. 61.19% Intl 38.6% Cash .14% Other .07%
TDAM Intl Equity Index: Allocation .97% U.S., Intl 98.59%, Cash .03%.
I would like a little less U.S exposure than the 54-61 % which the first two have but to do that I go to 98% International. The 98% International exposure consists of 31.7% Eurozone, 24.3% Japan, 17.2 % U.K., 13.3 % Europe Ex-euro, and 7% Australasia, by region and by sector : 21.2 % Financial services, 13.5 % Industrials, 11.7% Cons Cycls, 11.2% Consumer defensive, 9.7% Healthcare.
All three funds have had 1 yr returns in the 18 -20% range.
What is your opinion regarding my selection of the TDAM Intl Equity fund with 98% International exposure going into 2018 or should I stay with a fund with ~60% U.S. exposure.
Thank You once again for your help
Clarence

Q: I presently own CI signature high income mutual fund for income. I am considering a switch to pimcos etf pmif or igcf. Could you please comment on such a switch. Thank you.

Q: Good morning!
I have a large position in this mutual fund, about 8% of my portfolio! I have owned this for many years, since it was SDT.UN. My adjusted cost base is probably close to zero due to ROC distributions. I could use some past losses to sell up to 25% of my position...the question is, do you like this fund, should I hold, sell, or ? Thanks very much!
Peter

Q: I am concerned that I have too many interest sensitive investments in what looks to be a rising rate environment. I am a recent retiree with a need for income. I would appreciate your views on my sector weightings:
15% Reits
11% Financials
11% Information Technology
10% Utilities
6% Pipelines & Energy Infrastructure
5% Telecom
4% Industrials
2% Consumer Discretionary
2% Healthcare
1% Consumer Staples
1% Materials
18% Bonds
8% GICs
6% Cash

Your service is amazing and I really appreciate the new website.

Thanks,

Q: Good day,

Recently you have commented that 5% is about right for the Energy sector right now and that a recovery may still be a long way out. Would the 5% include pipeline/infrastructure companies like Enbridge or would you put those into more of a Utility weighting for the purposes of allocation?

Have a great day,

Derek

Q: Hi All at 5i!! I am a little confused about bitcoin. What exactly is it? How goes it reach such astronomical heights in value considering it seems to have no real value or does it? I have read articles but I am still not clear. Could you please explain, in a nutshell, how it can be applied to our daily financial lives (ie how you use it) and how it gets its value? Cheers, Tamara

Q: Hi, are there any stocks that represent an attractive buy opportunities due to tax loss selling.
Thanks

Q: Very interesting article on the way US tax cuts will work:

http://nationalpost.com/opinion/stephen-gordon-corporate-tax-cuts-wont-work-in-the-u-s-the-same-way-they-did-here

Q: Hello Peter and team,
At one point I believe you were considering establishing a Mutual Fund or ETF that includes all of the holdings in your Balanced portfolio. Are you still pursuing this?
Thanks.

Q: Just a comment in reference to Steve's question on December 4th.
One mutual fund that might be comparable to MAW104 is Manulife monthly high income fund managed by Alan Wick. Often rated above MAW in Moneysense's annual ratings. I know a financial advisor who recommends this fund as his 'little old lady' fund, stable and reliable. Do you have an opinion on this fund?

Q: I have subscribed to your ETF web site but do not see any current feed and or Q&A availability? Please explain how one can use it for investors information. Many thanks, J.A.P Burlington

Q: I am about to manage my grandkids resp. They have about 52000 to eventually cover the 10 and 6 year old. Monthly contributions of 300 are being made with some "top ups" as available. I would like to have them invest about 20-25% in individual stock or stocks and the balance in ETFS. How should I approach the ETF portion and do you have recommendations?
Bryan

Q: I wish to reposition some of my energy producers in my portfolio. With strengthening commodity prices can you you please identify,in order,5 Canadian producers you would hold for future appreciation. My preference is that they pay a dividend but if you think price appreciation would exceed current dividend yield, then please include.
If not considering dividends, what are your top 5.

Q: Just a comment about the 'dot-com bubble' worry, if I may. I remember that there was a legitimate craze happening at that time. Any company that had a .com at the end of its name took off to astronomical prices based on nothing - no revenue, no customers, no book value. The tech companies we're talking about now are real, and it looks to me like they're riding a secular wave of demand for computing power related to real growth areas like AI, data centers, machine learning, virtual reality, and cloud computing. Granted, this won't last forever, and it's an open question as to how long they can grow at current rates, but at least you're not investing in thin air like the crowd was doing back in the 00's.

Q: I work lots of hours and am an emotional investor so I prefer to own funds in my portfolio.I want some international exposure and want to either invest in the Lorne Steinburg equity and junk bond fund or invest in the Edgehill Advantage funds both North America and international versions.Can you give me insight and your spin on this . Thanks