Investment Q&A

Q: I have cash for a new full position. I run an mix of your balanced and income portfolio for my cad exposure. Of the above names which would you add a full position right now. I am also considering just batting for the average with SPY or XEF. balanced shifting to income follower, 5 year window looking for good entry point into one of the names above.

Q: Currently our portfolio is 15% too high in Canadian stocks and ETFs and am
needing to add to International I would appreciate 3 stocks or an ETF that would be the highest on your ratings. Thanks!

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

Q: Hi
can you recommend one or more ETFs that together or individually cover Europe, Australia and the Far East?
thanks

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 currently own only VA for international exposure and will be buying XEF. Would it better to sell VA and buy VEE or buy VEE as well and hold all 3 ETFs ?
Thanks

Q: Is there an ETF focused on environmental theme companies in Canada?

Q: Good Morning 5I Team, Thanks for the all your great advise.
As per the portfolio analysis I need to increase my International allocation which is currently at 10%. The Portfolio analysis classifies my following stocks/ETFs as International Brlxf, EWA, HFPC.U:CA, ATCO, BBU.UN, BPY.UN, BEP.UN, MDT.
Can you please suggest some growth stocks or ETFs to add to above holdings to increase my International allocation as well as if any of the above holdings doesn't have potential and can be reallocated? I am looking at long term over 5 to 10 years and have limits in my TFSA & RRSP account.
Please deduct Credits as deemed appropriate.
Thanks

Q: A few questions re best index ETFs for safety, total return and tax efficiency:
(1) S&P/TSX 60 (unregistered account): Is XIU, XIC or another ETF better?
(2) S&P 500 (RRSP/TFSA): What CAN listed ETF is best for long hold: ZSP, XSP or other ETF? If held in an RRSP (ie US dividend tax except), can you recommend the best US listed ETF for the S&P 500?
(3) NASDAQ 100 (RRSP/TFSA): What CAN listed ETF is best: ZNQ, ZQQ or another ETF? Is QQQ the best US listed?
(4) Ex-North America index (RRSP): Can you list the best CAN listed ETF index fund? Would you stick with large caps or all? XEF? VIU?
(5) Emerging market index ETFs (RRSP): ZEM, VEE or other?
(6) MISC: Has HXT, HXS and HXQ permanently resolved gov't issues and are these ETFs safe for long term hold?
Thank you!!

Q: I want to increase exposure to foreign equities within my RRSP. I currently have US$ in my RRSP account (in the US$ side of the account), as well as an existing position in XEF:CA (in the CA$ side of the same RRSP account), which I want to increase. I noticed that it is possible to buy XEF in US$ (the ticker is XEF.U:CA). Since I already have US$ within my RRSP, it would seem to make sense to buy XEF.U:CA, using my US$, and then after the trade settles, to "journal-entry" these newly acquired XEF.U shares to the Canadian side of the RRSP account (where presumably they would be re-designated as XEF:CA). My goal is to hold the XEF holding in CA$ for the long term, as I will ultimately dispose of these securities in CA$ when I begin to withdraw funds during retirement. Does this strategy for acquiring more shares of XEF make sense to you? Or is there some downside I am not considering? (The obvious upside is to be able to acquire the new position in XEF, using my existing US$ cash position, without a direct currency conversion expense.)

Ted

Q: Going forward, how much would you allocate between US/ Canada? What is the minimum you would recommend for international exposure? Was thinking of XEF and/or ZEM?

Thanks for your advice!

Q: First a big thank you for the terrific returns we received in 2020 thanks to your stellar guidance (our largest holdings we first discovered through 5i -hello LSPD,XBC and WELL!). We gifted our kids memberships in December and praise your service to everyone. This is truly an invaluable service.
Now to the question, my brother is tired of paying high fees for his CIBC pension holdings. When I looked into this for him last year, some pools had MER in the 2% range! He’s moved the following into cash and is looking for lower fee/higher return alternatives in the following areas of his pension account:
-Imperial Canadian Dividend Income Pool
-Imperial Canadian Equity High Income Pool
-Imperial US Equity Pool
-Imperial International Equity Pool
-Imperial Short Term Bond Pool
-Imperial Long Term Bond Pool
Please charge as many questions as required.

Q: I currently have ZSP AND XAW and wanted to know if adding XEF would be a good fit with the other 2 ETF?

Thanks

Q: Hi, currently holding VGG, VEE, and XEF. Since the CAD$ has rallied against the USD, would you switch these cad etfs to US etfs now for the lower MER going forward? How big of a difference would this make in the the long term, say 20 years assuming all other variables stay the same? These are long term core holdings for me. All in RSP and only fees would be commission on the sale and of course one time FX conversion. What would be the best US etf to replace XEF and VEE? Thanks!

Q: I'm currently trying to diversify my RIF account for 2021. I've trimmed some over weight holdings to free up some cash. I have NA covered with stocks in Canada and a couple of ETF's for the US but, nothing for the rest of world.
How would you currently rate the above now, hopefully for the coming recovery post COVID. I note, South America is not represented. do I need to consider it separately?
I'm inclined to go with 2 positions @ about 6% ......your opinion please!
All the best to you and everyone at 5i for the new year!

Q: Whats are your thoughts on the following sets of ETFs ?

Set -1

iShares Core S&P U.S. Total Market Index ETF (XUU)
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM)
Invesco QQQ (QQQ)

set-2

XEC, XEF, XIC, VUN

Q: In a previous question I asked the following:

I am looking to purchase both XEF and ZEM to increase my international exposure. Any recommendations of percentage allocations to each? Thank You
Answer:
We can't personalize allocations, but if we owned these we would look to 10% XEF and 5% ZEF.

In relationship to your answer, Portfolio Analytics suggests I have 35% in foreign market exposure and the answer given would make up 15% of the 35%. Are there any other ETF's you would suggest to make up the remaining 20%? I realize you don't give personized advise, however I'm looking for a generalization to increase my international exposure?
Thank You

Q: I am looking to purchase both XEF and ZEM to increase my international exposure.
Any recommendations of percentage allocations to each?
Thank You

Q: Overall happy with my portfolio, shifted some riskier holdings to more largecap/div arristocrat ETFs to ride out the fun so far this year. Wondering if we are getting to good timing for shifting some assets to more aggresive/targeted holdings. I would like to sell some VIG and replace it with something else. Say 2X 2% positions. What 2 holdings would you buy right now in a registered account to replace VIG, or would you justt continue to hold VIG at this time. Only restriction is to not be canadian but could be CAD$ fund or ETF. Some options I am considering are rbf1067 or XEF for 1 position and the other a US or global/china play stock like baba. Looking for momentum upside as compared to VIG.

Q: I have about 8 grand of my portfolio allocated for these 2 ETFS. Just wondering how you would weight them. For a 20 year hold. Maybe lean toward Japan as they are more allied with the US, but then again Japan is drowning under Debt.
thanks

XEF = Japan, UK, France, Switzerland, Germany,
XEC = China, Taiwan, Korea, Brazil, India