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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: 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: Hello team.
The above are my highest dividend payers in my unregistered account, however at the end next year I have to start withdrawing from RRSP and LIRA account and would likely elevate my income to a substantially higher tax bracket. For that reason I am think of reducing my income generating holdings in the unregistered account and be less focus on income. Conversely, while divesting in the unregistered account I would rebalance the RRIF to be more income oriented. Does this make sense and could you suggest 5 growth oriented equities with SOME income to replace the above. I already TD,BNS,BN,BAM, TFII (small position)?
Thank you
Frank
Read Answer Asked by Francisco on September 29, 2025
Q: In terms of total return which are the 3 best Canadian ENHANCED YIELD ETF'S over the last 5 years?

Thanks, Hugh
Read Answer Asked by Hugh on August 11, 2025
Q: Hi. would like to know in what account (RRSP,TFSA,NON-REGISTERED) would be best suited for these ETFs and your best to less favored in order for each account type please. ZWB, HCAL, ZWK, ZWE, ZPW, UMAX, HYLD, HDIV, HDIF, ENCC. Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Stan on June 09, 2025
Q: Do you like these equally? Goal- growth, safety, income in TFSA for exposure outside Canada/US. Thank you!
Read Answer Asked by Neil on June 05, 2025
Q: Nonresidents withholding tax tariff ,there could be a window to Donald to increase the percentage from the actual 15 % to 20-25 ??
How will this affect the dividends to ETF with some US exposures? Are Rsp totally exempted ?
How could such a move jeopardize the U.S. economy,
Did diverting some fund to. ZWE or other alternative could represent a good defensive move.
Read Answer Asked by DANIEL on June 03, 2025
Q: My wife has been diagnosed with dementia and on a waiting list for LTC. I'm thinking of setting up her TFSA for monthly income to top up her government pensions.
Thinking of eit.un, zwu, zwe . Harvest and Horizon have higher yields but I am concerned about sustainability. Your thought please.
Thank you for your good works.
Read Answer Asked by David on May 23, 2024
Q: Hi Folks,
I am looking suggestions for my non reg account,
I currently have 7% weighting in HHL and 7% in ZWE. I am close to retirement age.
Also is there a website that indicates whether the income from etfs/ stocks are dividends or interest.
Cheers

Cheers
Read Answer Asked by Michael on February 08, 2024
Q: I like the high dividend paying shares of NYMT. Do you see any reason for a Canadian like me to pass on buying it for my RRSP.
After some research it seems to me that I would not pay tax on the dividend payout received in an RRSP. Can you verify that?
Other well respected dividend paying shares such as Bell (BCE) and Enbridge are Canadian companies so I could hold them in my TFSA without any tax implications. I am also noticing CM (Cibc) for long term RRSP or TFSA hold. BNS.TO, Also Telus KEY.To, Hydro one I won't mention Rogerw because I just don't like the way they do business. VDY.To. ZWP.TO covered call ETF. ZWE.TO is another one.
looking to get creative and make my own portfolio but not to proud to buy an ETF for income. I know you have an income portfolio I appreciate that and will look through it again. Looking for feedback for this strategy. I am a 50 year old Canadian citizen living in Canada looking for long term holdings.
Happy New Year - all the best.
Read Answer Asked by Daniel on January 09, 2023
Q: Hello
I thought it would be good to diversify and collect some extra income from European High Yield companies. Turns out a war in Europe is not good for stocks or currencies.

I hold both hedged and unhedged in equal amounts and see the 7% performance delta due to currency. By the Math (currency move) it is clear a trade out of currency hedged and into currency exposed would be favorable in advance of any recovery of Euro and Stirling.

I don't make Bets. The switch is a bet on Euro and Stirling recovering former glory.

Would you sit on current holdings with both exposures? Move to currency exposure? Or just get out of European companies.

Thanks

YTD August

ZWP..... - 14.99 % (currency exposed)
ZWE..... - 7.56 %
Read Answer Asked by David on October 03, 2022
Q: Greetings,

With the Euro/ USD hitting parity are there any stocks or ETF's that directly reflect the weakness in Euro's and allow us to invest in Europe at what is hopefully a discount?

We own ZWE and VGK - Do they reflect the weakness and could we buy more?

Many thanks
Read Answer Asked by Arzoo on July 19, 2022
Q: Hello 5i
I hold the above covdered call ETF's as well as at least two individual companies from each (from before I bought these). also have over 10 ETF's that are not cover call. I have 51 positions with 49 stocks. These have performed well during this period of unrest. No they do not hit the high notes but not even close to bottom notes either but steadil;y increase in value aside from the dividends. My question is: with these new covered call ETF's at 12% of my investing portfolio (not including GIC's) might this be considered too much? Each is between 1.5% and 2% of the portfolio as are most of my holdings. The dividends are great and have kept up for the last three months. These also hold great companies that I would hold if I had room (and funds to buy them!) as a value investor. Please take as many credits as required.
Thank you
Stanley
Read Answer Asked by STANLEY on June 07, 2022
Q: Hello 5i,
I am a value invester with a mix of equities and ETF's. I have done well with VGT and am up $8,000. As I look for dividends I am looking to sell VGT and buy ZWT. Also exchanging XHYy for ZWH, XTR for ZWC and VE for ZWE. Some are underwater but not by much. $75,000 is involved altogether with these exchanges. Do these changes make sense or should I just leave things as they are. The difference in dividends is nice to have (an extra $300 or more a month) but not really needed.
Stanley
Read Answer Asked by STANLEY on April 25, 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