Investment Q&A

Q: Can you recommend a global ETF that trades on the Canadian exchange that includes the whole global market except for North America? I've found some that only include developed countries but would like it to include emerging markets as well.

Q: Hello,
I will be switching to an indexing strategy in the near future and have a few ETFs that I would like your comparisons/advice/opinions. All ETFs will be held in TFSAs or RRSPs over a long term.

1)S&P/TSX: XIU, XIC, HXT*

2)S&P 500: ZSP, HXS*

3)Emerging Markets: ZEM, XEC*

*denotes commission free trades.

4) In registered accounts, is there a long term advantage to having capital gains vs dividends distributions as is the case for HXT and HXS? I would reinvest any potential dividends in other ETFs.

Thank you.

Q: What does your most educated outlook say about emerging markets in the up-coming year? ZEM a good spot to put some cash to work? As always, your pragmatic views are most appreciated!! Ron

Q: I have been filling out my TSFA with the BMO equal weighted Canadian bank ETF and their utility ETF. I would like to add a emerging markets ETF. Would you recommend the BMO ETF or another ETF company’s product? Thanks Ken

Q: I would like to exit my brokerage RRSP to a self directed RRSP and I am looking for 4 to 5 Canadian EFT's to provide balanced diversification across sectors, nations, Portfolio Analytics suggests 70 equities/30 fixed income. Other ideas you have to create a balanced diversified ETF RRSP would be appreciated.
Are there any strategies( eg time of year) to make the switch or just do it.
Thank you for your service.

Q: The above ETFs represent my current holdings for Intn’l Equity exposure and are held in my RRSP. I am able to add to my Intn’l exposure in my RRSP and would like your recommendation for a C$ ETF that might fill in any gaps that my current holdings don’t cover or alternatively I could just add to my current holdings.
I do not need to RIF for 8 more years but some dividend yield would be preferable as I do draw out my div/int earnings annually.

Q: Have held VEE for a while now and have been disappointed on its performance, do you have any suggestions for foreign exposure?

Q: i have owned ZEM for some time as part of my international investment weighting. It has done very little and I'm considering replacing it, but with what? Your thoughts, please. Thanks.

al

Q: I am looking to invest in an ETF for a period of 5 to 10 years and have a medium to high risk tolerance. Can you suggest 5 to 10 ETFs that should be considered? Thank you very much

Q: Do you like ZEM for a long term hold or Would you recommend an alternative for emerging markets exposure? Thanks.

Q: Hello,
I have sold ZEM in my CDN RRSP account. I am going to transfer these funds to my USD RRSP. Which ETF would be an equal replacement for my USD RRSP keeping in mind tax efficiencies? I would like the US ETF to be as similar as possible to ZEM.

Thanks.

Q: I’m 71 years old. As I get older I’ve tried to simplify my portfolio, going from about 50 stocks years ago, to my current portfolio of about 16 stocks, 3 ETFs and 15% cash.
I am a subscriber to your Portfolio Tracking and Analysis service and I’m told I need to make changes to reach a suggested asset allocation and portfolio diversification. Right now I’m tech, utilities and financial services heavy.

Here’s what I’d like to do:
The following set up gives me an allocation of 70% equities, 20 % bonds and 7% cash. I’m comfortable with this and have gone through many 20 and 30% corrections in the past 30 years without too much despair.

In my Canadian cash account I’d have CDZ, FTS, AQN.
Locked in RSP (LIRA) I would have AAPL, ZSP, ZEM.
Unlocked RIF I ‘d have CLF, ZAG.
TFSA would have QQQ, ZEM, ZDI, CSU, TOI, SIS.
I’d like cash around 8% of portfolio.

I’m wondering if I have my portfolio diversification covered and if the right stocks or ETFs are in the appropriate accounts for best tax efficiencies?
Your input would really be helpful.
Thanks
Frank

Q: Hello 5i,
I have $10,000 of ZEM and am looking for income. Would it be O.K. to switch to DVYE? 75 years, value investor for income with some growth ( LSPD, LNF).
Stanley

Q: Which of these stocks/etfs would you predict to have the best near term upside?

Q: Good morning,

I have some cash and am looking to add more non-Canadian content to my stock portfolio which is 79.5% Canadian stocks. I have only 4.5% in Europe in FEZ (US$) and XEU (C$), and 16% in individual US stocks. I have no emerging markets. I am thinking of adding to XEU because the European market is cheaper than the US and the large number of value stocks in the ETF should benefit from re-opening in Europe. For a balanced investor would it be reasonable to double Europe to 9% by adding to XEU bringing foreign content to 25%?

Q: I'm helping a friend set up a "couch potato portfolio". I noticed a while back that you commented on such a portfolio. I am suggesting the following to my friend. What do you think? Is there any of the ETFs that you would swap out? And why?

XIU S&P/TSX60 total return for Canada 25%
ZSP BMO S&P 500 Index ETF for USA 25%
XEF ishares Core MSCI EAFE for Europe/Japan 25%
ZEM BMO MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF for emerging markets 5%
XGD iShares S&P/TSX Global Gold for gold exposure 5%
ZAG BMO Aggregate Bond ETF 15%

It appears that both ZSP and XEF offer USD versions. What are the pros and cons?
Thanks

Q: I had a portfolio review many years ago when you did them individually, personally by human! At the time your suggestions were right on and cleaned up my ETF's. Now I have over ten and according to your metrics it should not be so. Given those above, is there anything that is not required? I am up 25%- 150% on all of them. I am happy with all of them. I have a balanced portfolio in all 11 sectors with 44 stocks all doing quite nicely thank you. Following the income portfolio with some of my own additions from 15 years ago. I do not see any major conflicts.I am s a buy and hold dividend investor with some growth ( lightspeed, Leon's).
Thank you for your million dollar service!
Stanley

Q: May I please have the names of 3 or 4 recommended non-North American, non-European ETFs and one European ETF?
With appreciation,
Ed

Q: I am interested in adding more international exposure. Over time, in a haphazard fashion I developed portfolio weights of 4% in ZEM, 2.5% in MAW150; and 1.5% in DXG. To my untrained eye they offer diversity, for growth & stability, to different markets, etc What is your view of these 3 holdings? Would you add to each? Delete any? Due to political risks from trade tensions etc, I am inclined to avoid too much of an exposure to China. Thank you for your excellent service.

Q: Hi,
Looking to replace this emerging markets fund (Pacific) because the MER is close to 3%. What would be a better solution in the ETF world, and is CDN-listed.
It's for a senior and this is their only int'l exposure. Thanks.