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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: Thank you for your answer on stocks and ETF'S for my son's FHSA account that is starting. The answer included mostly US domiciled names/ETF's and we are looking at Canadian names. Could you recommend a combination of Canadian blue chips and ETF's for a 7 year time frame to monthly contribute and compound before needing funds for a home buyer withdrawal
Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Harry on September 28, 2023
Q: Good morning, I’m wondering if you could provide a list of a few dividend ETFs for a TFSA. Looking to contribute every two weeks. Currently hold XEI. Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Seamus on September 20, 2023
Q: Dear 5i team.

Does it make sense to just buy equal amounts of the big three in Canada, or is there an ETF that provides good exposure to these, along with other adjacent companies?Thanks for your help.
Read Answer Asked by Arthur on August 23, 2023
Q: I've had it with my entire pack of pref shares ( individual and ETF) and am ready to punt the lot. I'd like to replace them all with a bond ETF or even a diversified Canadian equity ETF that pays dividends. Your suggestions are most appreciated. Thanks
Read Answer Asked by alex on July 18, 2023
Q: I am looking for the top 2 Canadian dividend ETFs to hold mostly in registered accounts. I screened for MERs less than about 0.4 and current yields of about 4.5% or more and came up with: ZDV, XEI and VDY. How would you rank these for long-term holdings; best first. XEI is tied for the lowest MER and has the highest yield, with 29% energy, 29% financial and 17% utilities. VDY has the largest AUM at $2B but high financials at 54% and low utilities at 6%. Finally, I would like to invest in HXH in unregistered accounts but I am concerned about the low daily trading an small AUM at $92M. Thank you!!
Read Answer Asked by Grant on July 13, 2023
Q: Good morning!
I am looking for what I assume would possibly be an ETF for dividend payers that someone who is not into equity buying/selling could buy and hold in relative safety, with either a distribution paid or (if dividends not paid out directly) would appreciate accordingly and then be periodically sold to have a steady income. I am contrasting this with annuities, or active portfolio management, but am open to any other suggestions you might have.
Thanks!
Paul K
Read Answer Asked by Paul on June 12, 2023
Q: From a dividend growth and overall return perspective, could you please rank the above etfs ? I do not need the income so my preference would go to HXT. Am I getting exposed to a lot more volatility in your opinion ?
Read Answer Asked by Paul on February 06, 2023
Q: Good Morning and Happy New Year

I have a few different accounts and I am very well diversified with dividend payers across the board assuming it was one big account. I will be getting one more registered account where contributions will be small and it will not have a lot of funds. I am going to treat this account as if it was on its own. Right now all I have in it is ZDV. I know it is hard to be diversified with only 4 holdings but if I were only to hold 4 stocks in this account what 3 others would you recommend to go with ZDV? I would like to have all 4 paying a dividend as well.

Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Jimmy on January 10, 2023
Q: These are my current holdings and I am looking forward to 2023. They are held in relatively the same quantities in 5 different accounts, a RRIF, 2 TFSA's and 2 Non registered accounts. I am retired an enjoy the income. Do you see any issues with these holdings or have any suggestions looking forward. The only non dividend holding is AR.
Take any extra credits as necessary. Thank you in advance. Enjoy and appreciate 5i'S help. Happy New Year.
Read Answer Asked by John on January 10, 2023
Q: Can you please tell me a bit more about ZDV, especially about the rule-based methodology including minimum 3-year dividend growth, pay out ratios and yield (read this in the G&M)? ZDV has more financials - is this a good time to hold more Bank stocks? Would ZDV be a good compliment to CDZ that I already hold?
Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Grant on November 17, 2022
Q: Recommendation for best Canadian dividend ETF for long term hold
Read Answer Asked by Paul on October 14, 2022
Q: Could you suggest a few dividend focused ETFs for a taxable account to 'park' money that will not be needed for a few years ? I purchased UTIL because I liked its holdings but am concerned about its trading volume. I already own XEI and ZDV.
Read Answer Asked by Paul on September 07, 2022
Q: Can you recommend etfs to setup a smith maneuver account with target dividend of around 4-5%?
If you think I can get diversification from individual stocks then please go ahead to recommend that list.
Thank you for your service.
Read Answer Asked by Gurdeep on May 27, 2022
Q: Can I have your thoughts about these stocks and ETF’s for someone with a 3 to 5 year timeframe and who is in their mid 30’s?

Thanks
Read Answer Asked by David Michael on February 07, 2022
Q: Hi,

What are your thoughts about my current portfolio? I am also looking at adding ZRE.TO and ZWC.TO.

Appreciate your help.
Read Answer Asked by David Michael on January 27, 2022
Q: Am looking to invest in a Canadian Dividend ETF.
I have researched the above ETF's, they all have pros & cons.
Am leaning slightly towards VDY at this point.
Criteria: Will be in a non-registered account, am after monthly dividend income with
some moderate growth potential. Am not overly concerned with a high weighting in financials, ideally would have a lower MER but am after solid 3-5 year growth.
If forced to choose one only, which ETF would you recommend?
Thanks for the great service,
Steve
Read Answer Asked by STEVEN on November 11, 2021
Q: Hi 5i, I started my stock market investing in March 2020 in order to get 'skin in the game'. I am a daily learner whose investing personality is that of an 'individualist'. I have determined my investing goal to be for income (mostly through dividends) and growth (for capital appreciation). I have found lately that my risk tolerance feels lower due to increasing volatility, talk of market decline/crash, increasing inflation, shortages, rising rates etc. As a result I would like to cash in the individual stocks I own that have given me good capital appreciation and replace them with ETF's and/or Index Funds. Income and growth plus diversification to my portfolio is my objective here. Since I hold more than enough physical precious metals and an emergency stash in US dollars I feel I have enough insurance/hedge against a worst case scenario happening in the economy. Please comment on these following ETF's. I am also open to other suggestions you might have as well. Please note that my entire TFSA is in my brokerage account so taxes are not an issue for me. Thanks

ZCN BMO S&P/TSX Composite Index
CIC CI First Asset Canadian Bank Income Class
ZWB BMO Covered Call Canadian Banks
RIT CI First Asset Canadian Banks
ZDV BMO Canadian Dividend
CDZ iShares Canadian Aristorcrats
XRE iShares Capped REIT
XEC Emerging Markets ETF

P.S. I assign an equal dollar amount for each investment in my portfolio. The ETF part of my portfolio are for long term holds.
Read Answer Asked by Lucy on November 02, 2021
Q: Hello, I have the Mackenzie fund mfc244 that has done very well for me over the years and pays me a nice dividend every month. Is the a cdn etf that would be comparable in performance and payout but would have a much lower mer? Thanks
Read Answer Asked by pietro on August 10, 2021