Investment Q&A

Q: These are some of the bond ETFs you have previously suggested. You have recently noted that, while interest rates are dropping and long-term bonds should ultimately provide the most torque in this scenario, shorter-duration bonds should not be forgotten. Does this suggest that a 50/50 split between longer and shorter duration is best, or would you suggest some kind of uneven split for a retired-income investor looking for stability and reasonable growth? As a general strategy, would you also include some portion be allotted to convertible bonds?

Appreciate your insight.

Paul F.

Q: Could you recommend 2-3 fixed income ideas for both in a registered and non-registered situation.

Q: Hi,
I'm looking for your sage opinion on how to deploy cash at this point in time. I have enough cash for 5 years of expenses and I'm in my 2nd year of retirement. The rest of my nest egg is in equities, real estate and bullion.

I have been thinking of just putting this cash into a five year GIC ladder and call it a day. But.... rates are already falling on GICs as we speak, likely in anticipation of further Bank of Canada and soon US Fed cuts.

Have you other options for me to consider for how to deploy this cash to 1) ensure a high probability of being able to meet expenses without selling equities in the event of a market downturn, while 2) ensuring a reasonably decent return from this cash over such a long period.

Specifically, does it make sense to accept around 4% as a guaranteed average rate or is there a solid case to make for dividend payers instead of GICs. Open to other and all suggestions.

Thanks for your invaluable service.
Michael

Q: Good afternoon, I am realigning my RRSP account using geographic and asset type recommendations. The asset allocator recommends that 15% of my portfolio be in fixed income. Can you please recommend a few fixed-income ETFs? Also, should fixed-income holdings be mostly domestic or include international as well? Lastly, would you consider CASH.CA part of the fixed-income component of a portfolio or simply a place to keep cash until it is directed into another asset? Thank you in advance.

Q: I’m looking to diversify the fixed income portion of my portfolio. I don’t have any bonds/treasuries so was looking at TLT and XLB. Can I get your thoughts on these and others you could recommend?

Q: 2 questions:
In a taxable account what would you suggest to play the role of Bonds if any? I need to beef up my bonds allocation and need to keep cash and cash equivalent in my taxable account where I have new funds.

For a young retiree with a comfortable portfolio what percentage would you allocate to cash and bonds? Volatility is not a problem for me with a long term view.

Thank you
Yves

Q: I have these bond funds: PGF510, CVC, ZAG, XLB, along with mostly GIC's in my fixed income side of portfolio. Do these Bond funds pay interest the same as the GIC's or do they pay Dividends so I would get the Dividend Tax credit? All are in my margin account. Would any of these be worth adding to now that they have gone up somewhat? Thanks so much!

Q: I have these ETF's in my portfolio, although they are a small percentage. I am wanting to do a clean up of most of my partial holdings in individual stocks and purchase more ETF's. I was going to add VIG as well. Could any of these ETF's be replaced with better ones or not bother with them, and what others do you suggest to compliment them for an income investor who wants to see a little growth as well in a well diverse portfolio? Thanks.

Q: I have the fixed portion of my portfolio equally distributed across these two ETF's. The yield from CVD is much better currently at 5.33%, and ZMP is currently 3.05%. Any risk I'm not seeing if I only own CVD and get the higher yield?

Q: Hi Peter & team

My son is about to graduate and will be starting his first job shortly thereafter. He is going to have approx $100,000 to invest and he asked for my help. I am recommending he start a portfolio which includes HPS.A, GDI, TVK, GSY, BNS, EQB, SIS, ATS, KXS, TOI, ATZ, DOO, ENB, BTE, LMN. I am also going to suggest 10% be placed in CASH as a rainy day/opportunity fund he can add to. Is there anything else you would have me add? Is there any of these you would have me remove? And if 10% was focused into fixed Income, what would you recommend? Please deduct appropriate number of questions.

Thanks for all you do

gm

Q: If you wanted to replace CVD in a portfolio that resembles the income portfolio, would you reinvest in the other current securities or would you replace it with another security? Secondly, what would would you consider replacing it with that would give you better tax treatment, for one who is relying on the portfolio almost entirely for retirement income?

Q: It certainly feels as though we are seeing the beginning of a new bond bull after the roughest two years since the 1980s-early 1990s.
Please provide you opinion on the above, as well an any other bond etfs that you follow.
Can you please provide you opinion regarding a bull market..
Thanks in advance
Rick

Q: hi. assuming rates stay the same, or begin to fall next year, do you like these ETF's? are they still your top picks for pref.s and bond ETF's in Canada? cheers, Chris

Q: I am a retired income investor and I purchased this ETF several months ago for income and some potential growth. It is in a registered account. The payment is reasonable but I now realize that I don't fully understand how this will react to interest rate swings compared to either short or long-term bonds. Should I expect it to have a higher beta than longer-term or shorter-term bonds? Would it usually react fairly quickly to anticipated interest rates move or because there is an equity component does the state of the economy (aside from rates) impact its value, resulting in slower swings? Would you consider it riskier or "safer" than "straightforward" bonds?

Appreciate the insight.

Paul F.

Q: hi,
looking through the 5i model income portfolio, these entities are all down in share price. for an investor looking for income and growth (both capital appreciation and dividend growth to keep up with inflation over long term ), are all these a buy today? any a sell? any others in the income portfolio you are more interested in today?
cheers, chris

Q: What bond funds are the best to invest in right now for the long term? Currently I hold ZAG.TO and CVD.TO. Should I continue buying them? I would prefer a higher dividend than what the ZAG gives.
Thank you!

Q: Hi 5i Team,

I am looking to create a dividend portfolio of 15 positions yielding around 6%. My plan is to weigh these positions equally in a non-registered account. A good number of these equities are in your income portfolio but I just wanted to get your opinion if you would swap any of these out or add anything else?

Telus
Enbridge
CNQ
TRP
MFC
BCE
TD
SLF
A&W
BEP.UN
BNS
Acadian Timber
Fiera Capital
CPD
CVD

Thanks in advance for your help!
David

Q: hi, can you illustrate your investment thesis for both of these ETF's in the income portfolio. please specifically include what you believe to be the catalyst(s) for the share price to increase. CPD has a long track record of deteriorating share value (approximately half of share value at inception 2007 ) CVD less so ( down just under 20% from 2011 ). could you also compare the "yield" of both over the years, so we can see if the interest/payments have offset share price declines in a meaningful way. cheers, chris

Q: Hi,

Based on the questions pertaining to taxable dividends, and managing an income portfolio for my elderly parents, is there a substantial difference in tax treatment, if the above funds are held in a cash account? I was fortunate enough to get DIR.UN into a TFSA and am slowly moving AW into a TFSA as well. Do I take out the growthier names in the TFSA’s and move in the ETF’s or just let them go in a cash account?

Q: I am looking for ETFs that trade on the TSX with a yield of at least 4-5%. From the income portfolio, I see CPD (preferreds) / CVD (convertible) / XHY (US HY) / ZRE (REITs), and I am also aware of ZWU (Utilities) / ZWB (Banks).

Are there any others that don't have much overlap with the above that you would recommend?