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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 your answer to James you suggested the following bond ETFS: XBB, XLB, XSB, CBO and/or XHY. I'm very interested in this as I'm trying to increase fixed income exposure.

What percentage would you suggest in each of the total bond portfolio? Also, unless I am missing something, CBO and XSB both appear to be the same thing, so why the need to own both?
Read Answer Asked by Pamela on November 27, 2019
Q: i would like to understand if there is any reason to diversify Bond ETF holdings. this would be either in terms of long term versus short term, Canada versus other countries and quality of bonds, such as government versus corporate.

thanks
Read Answer Asked by Stuart on November 25, 2019
Q: Hello 5i
I have CLF at 6% weight, the highest of the portfolio. I am tired of seeing it constantly dropping over these many years. Would it be of a benefit to exchange this for XLB with the higher dividends and what appears to be an up trend over time? I am 73 with a 60 /40 split, value investor seeking dividends holding some growth equities among the blue chips.
Thank you
Stanley
Read Answer Asked by STANLEY on November 13, 2019
Q: Hello 5i team,
My portfolios are mostly stocks and with a possible recession coming next year, I would like to purchase bond ETFs for both my CDN and U.S. portfolios. At this point would you recommend long or short or ultra short ETFs? and could you suggest a couple of each ( CDN and U.S)? Thanks Carlo
Read Answer Asked by Carlo on October 31, 2019
Q: Back in June 2011 we purchased Scotia Dividend Fund 6372205 no load @ 41.95 today it's at $68.80 for RESP for Granddaughter.Initial inv. 2,763.29 and today worth 4531.41.We will be visiting them next week.Usually receive div. in December.She has 2 years to go before graduating.Should we sell and buy bond fund XLB to make sure we don't lose any value that has built up.Tks
Read Answer Asked by Guy on October 25, 2019
Q: it seems to me that a good place to have bond ETF is in an RRSP. do you agree? currently I have about have of my wife's RRSP in VSC and the rest is in cash right now. i was thinking that I would place the remainder in another bond ETF with low management fee and with perhaps a more aggressive posture. Does this make sense and what other bond ETF would you recommend? thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Stuart on October 21, 2019
Q: I'm looking to put some money away in a safe mix of ETF's (likely fixed income) with a desire to earn around 3% over the next 12 months, given overall market risks and conditions what would you suggest. thanks for your advice.
Read Answer Asked by Curtis on October 11, 2019
Q: Why is FTB less volatile than other ETF bond funds? How would you compare FTB to other bond ETFs? Which bond ETFs would you recommend?

I am retired in my 70s.

Thank you

Read Answer Asked by Donald on October 10, 2019
Q: Please rate these as BUY; HOLD; or IGNORE. My purpose, of course, is market down turn protection.
Read Answer Asked by Terry on August 26, 2019
Q: If we are headed to zero / negative interest rates, I am thinking of playing this thesis by purchasing XLB to capture the capital gain on the interest rate reduction and XGD should do well in a low / negative rate environment. The balance of the portfolio is VBAL and XEG. What do you think? Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Richard on August 22, 2019
Q: Good morning, I am noticing more recommendations lately for longer term bond ETFs i.e XLB and TLT. I have traditionally been using CBO, XBB along with some preferreds (regrettably) and a small amount of XHY. Should this old retiree consider any change in fixed income holdings? Thanks for your service.
Ted
Read Answer Asked by Ted on August 20, 2019
Q: There are plenty of forecasts telling us that bond yields are declining and may go to zero.
If they continue to decline , what does this mean and how can an investor take advantage of this. Your Asset Allocator tells me I need to move $500,000 into fixed income to balance my portfolio, which is predominantly equities.
Do I go to a bond fund , or actual bonds? If so what would you recommend? If bonds what type and term? I will hold for min 5 - 10 years.

Thanks and take as many credits as you wish.
Read Answer Asked by William on August 12, 2019
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