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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: Over the past 3 years, I have converted my portfolio to ETFs. I currently hold ZWU and UMAX at 10% of the portfolio. I plan on adding 5% HUTL to have some exposure to International Utilities. Your comments please?
Read Answer Asked by William on February 04, 2026
Q: Early last year we invested 25% of our cash into the listed ETF's. We have another 50% of our cash in GIC's and 25% in an assortment of stocks. As you know they pay good dividends and we experienced good capitol gains growth on some of them last year, others were up marginally. We are looking at these as long term holds for income and would just like your thoughts on our choices. Would you recommend a different mix of ETF's.
Thanks Ron
Read Answer Asked by Ron on January 26, 2026
Q: I am wanting to sell most of our equity exposure in spouse's RSP and my RRIF (a lot of equity exposure in TFSAs and cash accts). Looking at various fixed income/less risky options. Have perused your past income questions. For various reasons I like HUTL, ZWU and XEI for CAD, and ZMI.U for USD. Would prefer another one or two USD options. Could I get your assessment of the options I have indicated, and if you folks have other options (particularly for USD) I would welcome those. TIA.
Read Answer Asked by Bob on January 23, 2026
Q: Hello 5i team,
In several recent reports you recommended selling the full position in CPD, noting “better opportunities.” I also noticed that CVD and MFT were removed from your model portfolios earlier.
Given this shift away from preferred-share ETFs, do you think a combination of ZWU, ENCC, ZWB, and HTA would serve as a reasonably balanced substitute for a moderate‑risk, slightly income‑oriented allocation? Or would you suggest broader diversification?
Thank you for your insights!
Read Answer Asked by Borys on January 22, 2026
Q: In one of recent reports you suggested to sell full position of CPD mentioning "better opportunities". I noticed that CVD also disappeared from your Income Portfolio as well (it is more explicable for me). Can you suggest potential alternatives for substitution of CPD / CVD considering relatively high dividends they pay and relatively low volatility? (may you consider ZMO or ZPAY... or something like that - kind of speculations :)). Thank you for great service!
Read Answer Asked by Borys on January 22, 2026
Q: I’m a62 year old retired investor with an excellent DB Pension and I’m working on a supplemental cash flow with my TFSAs,I have held the above stocks for about 4 years all roughly 10-12K in value and have been set up as DRIPs
My question is could you recommend another 8-10 Cdn dividend stocks($ 100K of room) I would add to this account coming from another TFSA,these could possibly have 4-6 % capitol growth and 4-6% dividend yield and in 3 years I would go from a DRIP to monthly or quarterly cash payments,I am medium risk and the sectors would not matter ….Thanks Greg
Read Answer Asked by Greg on December 04, 2025
Q: For safety's sake, and some income, can you suggest some Utilities ETFs?
Read Answer Asked by James on November 19, 2025
Q: if one is looking to preserve capital but rely on dividends in a RRIF does it make sense to use the BMO covered call group for diversification and reduced volatility. I recognize the lag on upside. But it should also help in a down market? I would also be diversified in equities in my TFSA and cash accounts. Just trying to smooth the market out. Thoughts?

Thanks Dave
Read Answer Asked by Dave on November 18, 2025
Q: I noticed this yesterday nov 13th: ZUT -2,9% , XUT - 1,5% ,the equal weight ETF being the underperformer by far ( double) on that day . I know that the " equal weight" version is probably a better choice for longer term..What utilities ETF would you suggest on CDN market and ranking your best choices !
Read Answer Asked by Jean-Yves on November 17, 2025
Q: I am retired and looking for a covered call ETF for each sector. There are so many ETF can you please give me which ETF would you recommend are best to own for covered call CDN ETF for each sector.

Is there one covered call ETF that covers all the sectors.

Please deduct credit as necessary.

Thank you for your excellent service.
Read Answer Asked by Hector on November 12, 2025
Q: Hello!
Now that I’ve reached the age of RRIF withdrawals, I’m looking more closely at income and therefore at covered-call ETFs.
I understand that these instruments don’t fully share in the upsides, but the income of ETFs like EIT, TXF and ZWU is pretty solid.
I’ve also been looking at UMAX its unbelievable 14% yield, but I also see that the unit price has declined quite dramatically over the last few years.
So questions are, how do you feel about these ETFs for income? And if you’re okay with them, which would you recommend?
Thanks for all your help
Michael
Read Answer Asked by Michael on November 05, 2025
Q: Two part question:

What are the major differences between these two covered call utilities etf's? Wondering why/how UMAX has ~2X dividend yield?

Would it be possible to suggest equivalent covered call etf(s) for US market?

Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Tony on October 16, 2025
Q: This is a follow-up to the Sept. 11th question where you mentioned other funds that are similar to this. Could you name a couple that you would recommend please? Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Ann on October 03, 2025
Q: Do any of the utilities held in these ETF’s offer the same kind of energy power support for the mega computers running AI applications as something like VRT in the US?

If not are there any Canadian companies that do so and would be an attractive investment in this area?
Read Answer Asked by Donald on September 23, 2025
Q: Hello, would like to know for total returns of these ETFs (ZWC, ZWU, CNCC, HCAL, ZSP, VCN, VE, XGRO, VEQT, XBAL) which is your favorite in order for each and in which account type is each best suited for. Also please give me your number 1 top pick of all Canadian listed ETFs for each account type.

Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Kim on August 18, 2025
Q: Hi, what is your preference in order of these ETFs UMAX, ZWU, ZWC or is there other covered calls that you prefer. Please place in preference order. Also in which account type would each be best suited for including your picks.
Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Di on July 02, 2025
Q: I would be interested in your professional opinion on covered call ETF's within a non registered account for a duo objective of maintaining principal and generating an income. I have ample growth investments in registered accounts. One draw back I see from. this approach is the tracking of ACB for tax purposes etc, which you don't have in registered accounts, If you have 2-3 recommendations you feel comfortable with, that's appreciated.
Thanks
As a tag on to my recently submitted question about covered call, what is your opinion and recommendations within in an RRSP?
Read Answer Asked by Steven on June 30, 2025
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