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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, I just recently made the switch from mutual funds to ETF’s and a DIY strategy and am looking to lock down 4 low cost ETF’s that I will invest in for the long term (30 + years) and leaning more toward the aggressive side for these. I am looking to take advantage of some dollar cost averaging to enter the ETF market for some broad market index ETF’s in my TFSA and was looking for you opinion of some that I am trying to choose between.
Canadian Market – I am trying to choose between XIC, VCN & ZCN. They all have significant overlap and same MER so I don’t see a whole lot of difference between the three, although I am leaning towards XIU, thoughts on which one you would choose for your portfolio?
US Market – I am trying to decide between VUN & VFV. The VFV has lower MER than VUN and has outperformed VUN as of late. Smaller and mid-cap companies historically had higher volatility than the large-cap companies found in the S&P 500, and so the trade-off is potentially higher growth, for potentially more volatility if you go with a total market index like what is found in VUN. The S&P 500 has outperformed the total market index as of late so I guess the question is will this continue, I am leaning towards VFV, thoughts on which one you would choose for your portfolio?
International Developed – I am trying to decide between XEF & VIU, both have similar MER, thoughts on which one you would choose for your portfolio?
Emerging Markets – I am trying to decide between XEC & VEE for a small percentage of my portfolio, thoughts on which one you would choose for your portfolio?
These are some ETFs’ I have come across from doing build wealth Canada course and reading other materials and listening to podcasts that seem to fit my long-term outlook. I am by no means experienced in this matter and just looking to hit the ground running so If you have better suggestions for certain markets that I may have missed feel free to outline them.

Thanks
Sean
Read Answer Asked by Sean on April 13, 2020
Q: Hope everyone at 5i is doing well in these times!

I have been sitting on mostly cash in my RRSP/LIRA and would like your recommendations on the best ETFs to consider for my full US and International exposure. All of these would need to be listed on the TSX as I am purchasing in CAD $. While I know you prefer non-hedged, I’d greatly appreciate if you could explain benefits/workings of hedged vs. non-hedged considering the current environment. And provide ETF recommendations for each.

I am looking to achieve a balance of diversification, reasonable MER, minimizing any withholding tax while optimizing the potential in market recovery. For US, I would like to have a technology ETF, health care ETF and a broader spectrum ETF – but also open to ideas. Also, looking for recommendations on International – one broad ETF or perhaps that and a mix of ETFs. I recognize there can be overlap (e.g. between a tech and broad sector fund), so if you can give me a sense of the degree of duplication that may be present in your recommendations. Perhaps going heavier on tech right now could be a good thing.

While I started off thinking ETF selections would be relatively simple, in reading various Q&A there seem to be many important considerations - your assistance is appreciated. Again, all of these are being purchased in RRSP/LIRA accounts with the goal of optimizing my returns over a 10 year window.
Read Answer Asked by Loretta on March 30, 2020
Q: I'm looking for tax-loss harvesting guidance with some ETFs. Can you provide alternatives to hold for XEF, XEC, and VUN that would likely be accepted by the CRA as non-wash? Thank you!
Read Answer Asked by Andrew on March 23, 2020
Q: Hi, I have a bunch of cash looking to deploy in this carnage. I'm a bit underweight in international and emerging markets, however I'm a bit worried about putting new money into these markets compared to the US market when markets do bounce back. How would you recommend I deploy new $ into international, emerging markets, and US/CAD markets over the next few months?
Read Answer Asked by Keith on March 09, 2020
Q: My current portfolio is somewhat similar to your BE portfolio but with a small (15%) portion of foreign holdings (more if you consider BEP which I also hold, as foreign since it has a lot of foreign investments). Foreign is far too small in my estimation. I have some cash to deploy which would bring it up to about 30%.
I currently hold VEE, DXG and DXU, an awful lot of US. Do you have any suggestions of ETFs I could or should add? I have held ZDM in the past.
Read Answer Asked by Fred on March 03, 2020
Q: Greetings,

I just sold some mutual funds(finally) in my wife's RRSP account. We are fairly diversified at individual level, majority of our holdings are from your Balanced and some from growth and income portfolios. All our funds are in Canadian and would like to diversify.

Please advise, if this is right time to diversify in to US/World markets. if it is a right time, can you suggest few EFT's for 5+ year hold.
Read Answer Asked by Atchuta on February 06, 2020
Q: Currently my only international exposure is with VEE and ZWE. Can you please recommend 2 international equity ETF's that would compliment these?
Preferably one low cost index and one high yield.

Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Evan on January 22, 2020
Q: Hi gang, can you please give me 4-5 large ETF high volume and market cap in Canada.? Thanks.
Alnoor
Read Answer Asked by Alnoor on January 16, 2020
Q: Building up my ETF portfolio and have some cash to deploy. Of XEF VE and SPY which is the best one to add right now. Crystal ball yes...balanced follower, 5 year time horizon. I am currently over allocated to Canada and on target for emerging markets a little light USA and international. Likely to buy a bit of each if not strong case for one in particular.
Read Answer Asked by Tom on January 15, 2020
Q: Hi gang, I own this funds. TML735 & AIM24823. Both have not done well for me . I would like to switch to another family fund or should I just cash out and buy an ETF . Your thought please. Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Alnoor on January 13, 2020
Q: Hi 5i,
Happy New Year.
In the original asset allocator there was a suggested portfolio in ETFs. Mine has vanished! I was trying to look up possible ETFs in European or International small caps.
Are there any? Or would GIB, WSP,Altus or CAE count as international as well as Canadian?
Constance
Read Answer Asked by Constance on January 09, 2020
Q: My adult son (Canadian citizen/resident) is in his early 30's, has maxed out his RSP and TFSA (he holds high-quality individual securities within these accounts, which have done well over the years), and he is lucky to have a high-paying job in which he has surplus funds (Canadian dollars) that he can invest, within a non-registered account, approx. $20k to $25k per month. The goal is long-term growth, aggressive (80% equities), with the possibility that he may need some of the funds within the next 3-5 years, to join a group practice (capital contribution toward partnership). My advice to him is that he purchase each month among the five following ETFs (% as indicated below), rebalancing as he makes new monthly contributions:
20% VAB = Vanguard Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF;
20% ZCN = BMO S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETF;
25% VFV = Vanguard S&P 500;
25% TPE = TD International Equity Index ETF;
10% ZEM = BMO MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF.
What do you think of these 5 particular funds and the overall allocation? For his situation, are there different ETFs you might suggest we look at that would be better-suited for his situation? Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Ted on January 07, 2020
Q: What are your thoughts on TPE vs XEF or VIU for international equity in an RSP? It seems somewhat safer due to larger cap focus but the TER is higher so combined cost of 0.32 to 0.23 for VIU. Leaning towards VIU as it has the most holdings and includes Korea.
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on November 27, 2019
Q: My grandson is 21, he has just opened a TD trading account. He will have $12000 to invest now . And he expects to contribute about Seven to two thousand this year. Can you recommend two or three investments to start with. Thank you . Chuck
Read Answer Asked by charles on November 11, 2019
Q: Hi there, is the John Bogle Vanguard approach to investing a good one? I believe Buffett has a similar approach. Is a 2 US ETF equity portfolio good enough to get growth and global exposure, since many US companies operate on a global scale? Would a 50/50 split between ZQQ and VUN or a split between ZQQ and VFV be better? Can I go 100% into VUN/VFV? Are there better ETFs or is there a better approach to this? Thank you!
Read Answer Asked by Michael on November 07, 2019
Q: Hello,
My portfolio mentioned that I need to add more international exposure to my portfolio. Can you suggest some good international ETF(s) or individual stocks that would be good for me to help balance my portfolio?
Read Answer Asked by Ryan on September 10, 2019
Q: I am looking for an ETF recommendation to increase my international exposure.

I currently own 15% in VIU and 12% in VEE. Income is not my primary objective at this time. I was thinking XEF but through there would be too much overlap with VIU and didn’t think that made the most sense. I am ok with going mid-small cap and thought an ETF like SCZ may diversify my current holdings. What are your thoughts of this fund and do you have any other suggestions?

Also, so you have any recommendations for an international small- mid cap value ETFs? Thanks for your help.
Read Answer Asked by Aaron on September 06, 2019