Investment Q&A

Q: Peter and team
I sold off all my equities part way through this recent collapse.
I have followed your BPort, along with some picks from the GPort.
I do not have the time to diligently follow individual stocks anymore, and was thinking of switching to ETFs.
What are your thoughts about splitting some 400k in cash between ZCN,ZDV, and ZUE. Is there too much overlap in the two Canadian ETFs, and what are your thoughts on going with the "hedged" ZUE?
This is a non registered account. I am pretty sure that ZUE is treated as a Canadian Equity with no foreign withholding tax. Correct?
Thanks

Phil

Q: Retired, conservative dividend-income investor with a "buy-and-hold & trim-add around a core position" strategy. At times like these, I take a fresh look at my holdings and ask two key questions. #1 = are there any of my equity holdings that have alarm bells going off? #2 = how safe are the dividends (knowing that no dividend is 100% secure)? The portfolio capital may rise or fall, but it is the continuation of the dividend that is more important.

For asset allocation purposes related to individual stocks (as opposed to sector allocations), I use the following:
5% targets = AQN, BCE, BNS, PBH, RY, TRP, WSP
4% targets = AD, AW, CSH, NWC
2% targets = LNF, MG, NTR
ETF targets = roughly 3-7%

Q#1 = are there any of these equities that you hear alarm bells?
Q#2 = are there any of these equities where you foresee dividend risk?
Q#3 = any thoughts on how I have my asset allocations set up (knowing it is a very personal decision?

Take a bunch of credits. Thanks for your help...Steve

Q: I am looking for a Canadian ETF for my TFSA that is not weighted heavily in energy. Do you have some suggestions.

Q: I am looking for a low fee Canadian equity fund or, preferably, ETF with good diversification. More specifically, less financial content than the TSX.
In 2017 you seemed to like MKC but there are no recent comments on it. What do you think of it today?
Are there better options I should look at?

Q: Hello Peter and colleagues
I am trying to develop a simple but effective portfolio. What would be your opinion and recommended percentages on a simple portfolio including these ETFs: XIC, VFV, VXUS
Would you recommend adding more ETFs while keeping it simple? and if so, what would be the percentage of each. Do you recommend replacing VFV with VTI? and why?
Please deduct as many points as needed.
Thanks

Q: Hello Crew
I am nearly retired and I like a total growth approach (dividends plus capital appreciation). During a down market however I don't wish to sell my capital appreciation funds for living expenses. Therefore, my question is what ETF's can I pair -dividends vs capital appreciation that that might serve that end. Examples ZLB/ZDV, XMI/VIGI/ZWE, VGG/XMU/ZWH..your suggestions are appreciated
regards gary

Q: Hi,

Looking for a long term hold, preferably lo-volatility and some growth. I own the banks, AQN, BAM, and ZQQ. Can you recommend your top two picks and why?

Q: My grandson is 21, he has just opened a TD trading account. He will have $12000 to invest now . And he expects to contribute about Seven to two thousand this year. Can you recommend two or three investments to start with. Thank you . Chuck

Q: In response to my last question you suggested adding ESGD and ESGE to the portfolio with CRBN and ZLB. Would VSGX effectively do the same thing? I would want to keep the number of etfs to manage to a minimum.

Weights:
25% ZLB
60%CRBN
15% VSGX

Thanks.

Q: In a 100% equity portfolio would 75% CRBN and 25% ZLB be considered "diversified enough"? I'm trying to remove oil and gas as much as possible while still having reasonable fees.

Thanks

Q: Hi 5i team,
Group A: XCV 35%, VVL 35%, VEE 10%, VAB 20%
Group B: VSB 15%, ZPS 15%, XSB 15%, XIU 30%, VCE 20%, XAW 5%
For short term 2-3 years, which group would you pick? or any better idea?

Q: Peter,

What do you think of the low volatility ETF's especially in our current environment? Do recommend them as part of a balanced portfolio?
Thanks for your valuable service.

GM

Q: I am looking for a short term, low volatility, ETF earning better than the daily interest in my chequing account.

Q: I am looking for an ETF for my TFSA that has broad coverage and that is not so heavily weighted in financials and energy. Would you have any concerns with owning these two ETFs.

Q: I have a 2 year old RESP for a 3 year old grand daughter to which I will contribute in about a week on her birthday. It currently holds only VGG. Should I add the $3000 to VGG or can you suggest something else. I actively monitor my own investments but the RESP I look at only at this time of year.

Q: Hi guys! I asked this question a few days ago and received no reply. Not sure what happened, it could have been on my end. I have equal portions of these 8 stocks in my TFSA. What do you think of these stock selections?
Thank You !

Q: The performance of ZLB has strongly outperformed VCN over the short and long term. ZLB will likely survive a recession better then holding VCN. If I own both, should i just sell VCN and own ZLB but would their be a case to own VCN instead? thanks

Q: Hello i5 crew...I am repositioning my cash account for retirement dividends to supplement my RIF account withdrawals. I like the tax favoured Canadian dividends and have blended ZLB, ZWC and ZDV for that purpose. There is a lot out there and would like your suggestions for long term long term dividend generation. Thank you in advance...

Q: I have the above securities, as well as RBC Cdn Equity Inc, Sentry Cdn Inc, Sentry Global REIT, and fixed income via Fisgard Capital, Annuities, a company pension, CPP and soon-to-be OAS.

I really focus on asset allocation and am a little light on Consumer stocks, holding CGX, PBH and TCL (although some consider TCL to be in the Industrial sector). I am normally a buy-and-hold investor who trims-adds around core positions.

Question 1 = I am looking to add 1 more consumer stock and am looking for a dividend ideally > 3%. Based on my stock-ETF-MF mix, are there a few stocks you could suggest that would fit in my above set of securities.

Q2 = if I was to consider ideas from the Income Portfolio, is there an issue with having multiple food stocks....like PBH and A&W and NWC. Why have more than one food stock?

Q# = because A&W is a ".UN" company, how are their dividends treated for tax purposes? Are they eligible for the dividend tax credit?

Deduct as many credits as you deem appropriate....got loads and will never use them all up.

Thanks as always...Steve

Q: Hi, 60 year old investor. Wanted to get your thoughts on a portfolio consisting of about 11% each of zlb, xiu, wxm, zqq, zsp, zlu and ~ 33% zag. Won’t need the money for about 5 years. Thanks, Mike