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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: Hi, in my rrif account, I have both, and I’m considering selling dir.un and adding to Zmi. Dir.un 5years ago was approximately $12.30 when I bought it. Today it is much the same, I think if I sold I might make $100 . Zmi seem much more diversified, safer and could actually make some capital gains. Is the .20 mer and 1.2% difference in dividend a deal breaker, or would you consider this move for a riff account.
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Brad on October 01, 2025
Q: I am building a small non-registered portfolio to provide income with modest capital appreciation. Your thought on these 4 ETFs or other suggestion.
Read Answer Asked by Roy on July 21, 2025
Q: Hi 5i, I am looking for some new options for relatively conservative, monthly income funds. I would prefer no leverage and no return of capital. Over the years, you have mentioned these three funds (ZMI, XTR, FIE). Are there any new options that you would add to this list? Have the fundamentals changed on any of these three that would cause you to no longer recommend them? Thanks so much.
Read Answer Asked by Elizabeth on May 27, 2025
Q: Hi, I have these two stocks in my rrif account. Thinking of selling my two losers DIR and TELUS, and putting it in ZMI.
DIR and TELUS don’t seem to be doing much, while ZMI has US holdings, is steadily increasing in price with a good dividend.
This would be for a 5+ year period.. your thoughts please.
Read Answer Asked by Brad on January 09, 2025
Q: Hi Gang
What are your 5 top Canadian income ETFs

Thanks Mike B
Read Answer Asked by Mike on November 26, 2024
Q: What are your favorite monthly income ETF's? Safety, decent distributions, and possible upside are priorities.
Read Answer Asked by Les on September 03, 2024
Q: Hi 5I. I am a small time investor looking to provide income for my wife if I should pass before her. Looking for monthly income to replace Gov. pensions. Can you suggest 2 or 3 ETF's or shares with monthly income. I would appreciate your input. Love your site
Thank you
Read Answer Asked by David on August 22, 2022
Q: Please list the above in order of preference. Would all three, equally weighted, be sufficient for a conservative portfolio? Two of three?
Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Paul W on February 11, 2021
Q: For a conservative investor, how much overlap is there in a portfolio comprised of xtr, zmi, pinc, and vrif? Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Paul W on February 09, 2021
Q: Hi, I currently have a BMO monthly income Mutual fund. I wish to replace it with an etf to reduce the fees. I am looking for an etf that pays monthly income, has the potential for some growth and a low mer. You have been a proponent of XTR before but would like to see if there are any others you think might be worth while. Maybe zmi. If you can suggest a canadian etf and an international etf that has some good diversification in different sectors.
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by pietro on February 05, 2021
Q: Hello 5i
This is a mixed bag inquiry. Looking for some perspectives on the above watch list. I m wanting to increase my overall US & tech sector exposure plus add to my CDN financials. All positions have yield income to weather the storm for the next few quarters
I m considering half positions (2%) in each.

Read Answer Asked by Brant on March 13, 2020
Q: My wife has this mutual fund with a 2% MER, very little growth and a small dividend. Would you kindly suggest a couple of replacements (ETF or Index fund or Mutual fund) with a similar risk level and sector coverage but without the high MER.
Many thanks
Read Answer Asked by TOM on January 29, 2020
Q: Two questions: One, would you consider ZMI as "fixed income" for that part of my portfolio? Or is there too much of an equity component? Second, so many ETFs have a return of capital; when the fund reports a yield, does this include the roc? If so, isn't that reported yield misleading? Is there a way to learn what the actual yield ( ie without my own capital) being included? Thanks for your excellent service.
Read Answer Asked by Leonard on November 19, 2019
Q: whats are your top 5 income etfs hedged Canadian Thanks Barry
Read Answer Asked by BARRY on August 14, 2019
Q: Could you please recommend 3 or 4 Monthly income ETF’s for a portfolio amount of $100,000 for a retired couple. We would divide the etf’s equally. Thank you
Sharron
Read Answer Asked by Sharron on June 18, 2019
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