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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: I often hear money managers talk about buying a specific stock (e.g. Apple to choose a simple one) and then writing covered calls against it ….. and emphasizing the prospect of winning both ways.

I am not keen on taking a course in options trading at this point.

Does it make sense to attempt the same kind of thing using etfs?

For example, in technology using XIT or TEC and pairing it with ZWT;

or other sectors too, such as energy XLE … or XLF for financials? In this case can you suggest a couple of covered calls - one for energy and one for financials?


As usual, thanks…. much appreciated.
Read Answer Asked by Donald on July 26, 2022
Q: Could you give me 7 diversified income etfs for 200000 rank them in order which ones you would pick up first etc. thanks
Read Answer Asked by Ken on May 09, 2022
Q: Could I get your favourite enhanced income etfs for a registered and non registered account
Read Answer Asked by Terry on April 23, 2022
Q: Hello,

I own the whole list (weights 1% to 2%) thinking I was being diversified but maybe went too far.

1) I am on the right track to reduce to about 3 names?
2) Which names optimise income?
3) Alternative names that I might have missed?

Many thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Arzoo on April 22, 2022
Q: Among banks, 5i seems to favour TD and BNS, though since 2019 patient investors have done well with just about any of the Big-Five-plus-NA.

But supposing interest rates are now set to rise, won't banks tend to find a trading range? In which case, wouldn't ZWB, with its covered call component, provide greater total return? Or do its MER and trading expenses claw back too much of its income?

Interestingly, since inception, ZWB's share price seems to have done as well as (for example) BNS, in spite of the potential for its positions to be called-away.
Read Answer Asked by John on March 25, 2022
Q: Hi,
I have been considering these covered call ETFs for income as a long term hold. I am recently retired. On researching them however on their BMO fact sheets I see a MER of .71% and total expense of .92%. As well in the holdings on the fact sheets I see only about 0.1% of their holdings are classed as covered calls. Seems like a lot to pay in total expenses for only 0.1% of holdings in covered calls. A pure bank ETF or utilities ETF or would be much cheaper. Am I missing something?
Read Answer Asked by MANFRED on January 27, 2022
Q: Is this ETF a safe way to invest in the banking sector in a RRIF account for income and some growth and do you believe the strategy used by this ETF can outperform other ETF such as ZWB or ZEB. Can you suggest a couple of alternatives ETF that are more appropriate for a RRIF or do you feel it is better to just own the individual banks.
Read Answer Asked by Joseph on August 04, 2021
Q: Where do you see the greatest value in the market these days? Cdn Banks always seem like a go to when in doubt, ZWU also seems reasonably priced. Any thoughts on ETF's or specific companies that are positioned well? Thanks as usual.
Read Answer Asked by Curtis on July 19, 2021
Q: I have a portfolio weighted to US Tech Growth stocks. About a year ago, I sold some companies and moved 10% of my cash into 1) Gold (HEP) 2) Short term bonds (HFR), and 3) a Banking ETF (ZWB) to diversify. These three have proven to be losers for me. Does it make sense to keep any of these three for continued diversification or are there better ways to round out the portfolio with a bit of a safety net? Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Marc on June 22, 2021
Q: Which of these ETFs would you prefer for financial exposure? The fixed income component of FIE contains 20% CPD, which has had a nice run and is now approaching a 52 week high, 10% XCB (corporate bonds). The remaining 70% is banks and lifecos. ZWB, on the other hand, is 100% banks, with covered call premiums.
Read Answer Asked by Paul W on January 14, 2021
Q: I need to set up an annual income for my wife, for next 25 years. In TFSA and RRSP, using only ETF's. Dividend growth and HY dividends. Should have 5% yearly and 10% total return. Can you recommend the appropate ETF's. Vanguard/BMO/ I Shares (only)
Please NO EM ETF's One European OK--- Key is 5% annual income. Investment .5M$ It has to be buy and collect for 25 years. No input by my wife.
Thank you
Cec
Read Answer Asked by Cecil on November 16, 2020
Q: Looking for the best of both worlds ... income and some growth.
AND not finding bonds very compelling due to low interest rates.
AND as part of my holdings in the financial sector.
Would it make sense to buy and hold ZEB (4.7% yield) and ZWB (6.65%) ?
My thinking here is ZEB would capture more capital gains once interest rates start to move up and bank shares rise in value; while ZWB captures a higher yield in the meantime?
Of course I am also open to a better suggestion.

Thanks for your help.
Read Answer Asked by Donald on August 11, 2020