Investment Q&A

Q: If a new Canadian investor wanted to get into the North American market and use low cost index investing to achieve both diversification and simplicity what would you consider for such a portfolio. And if international exposure was desired what could be considered as additions for that.

Q: Hi 5i,

Looking to start an RESP for a newborn. Any recommendations in how to configure an ETF portfolio? If you had to limit yourself to a selection of 3 ETFs, which would you choose and why?

Q: Peter, I’m also tiring of underperformance of MAW funds. Could you suggest alts for these two please? Thanks,
Rod

Q: What two ETFs would you recommend for my Canadian part of my portfolio?

Q: Hello Peter
I have been a member since the early lunching of 5I and I have done very well thank you. I also managed my family portfolios with success. My approach was and still is 100% Stocks with a growth tilt and no Bonds.
Now 86 years old, I am starting to transfer gradually to my heirs the proceeds of my stock portfolio. My heirs a son and a daughter both professionals have no interest in managing a stock portfolio.
I am thinking of converting gradually my stocks and their portfolios to ETFs such as ZSP 30%, XIC 30%, VMO 15%, VIU 10% and QQC 15% with the intention of rebalancing once a year.
Is this approach and suggested portfolio viable for the next 5 to 10 years, please do not hesitate to suggest appropriate changes to achieve for the long term capital preservation, a reasonable return of 8% and a certain peace of mind with minimum effort.
I always valued your wisdom and advice and above all I would like to thank you for your help to manage my moneys with success.
Raouf

Q: Hi 5i Team,
My husband and I are in our RRIF years so we have large injections of withdrawn cash into our investment accounts throughout the year. We also sell stocks from time to time when they reach a target price and end up with more cash. The intention is to reinvest but often deciding what and when to buy means that large sums are sitting idle for long periods. HISAs, GICs and other interest bearing alternatives are generally not worth the effort given how they are taxed.

We would like your recommendations on what to do with these funds while researching and waiting for appropriate investments to surface. I’m thinking index funds and ETFs - things that are taxed efficiently and are liquid.

Have you any specific, short term recommendations? They could be Canadian or US as long as they can be bought and sold easily and quickly.

Thank you for your thoughts!

Q: Hello 5i team,
I hold a concentrated stock portfolio. If I was to start buying ETF's; which 5 or 6 would you recommend me buying slowly over the next few years that will give me a diversified portfolio. Five or six ETF's that I can continue to dollar cost average into over the next 5 years.
Thank you,
Brent

Q: I currently hold these ETF's in a RESP. I have only XIC ,ZNQ and IWO at a 11% weight , would you be comfortable bringing them up to 15-20% each ?

Is there any other ETF you would add ?I am looking at XAW.

Thanks

Q: I asked a question last week but it must have got lost. This is a follow up question regarding my question about if you could only hold 3 ETF's what would they be. You answered ZSP, XIC and ZNQ. Can you please explain the rational for owning both ZSP and ZNQ. Is there not a lot of overlap between the two? And if I were to hold only these # ETF's can you also explain why you wouldn't include another international exposure ETF? I believe ZNQ is currency hedged which usually means higher fees. Is there another option to ZNQ that isn't hedged with a lower MER?
Thank you for your service.

Q: what is the annualized return of SPY, QQQ and XIC over the last 20 years. I thought I read an answer where you said the S&P only was 2% including dividends which seems too low.

Q: I would like to help my 12 year old granddaughter with a RESP. Can you recommend a few choices?

Q: If you were only to buy 3 ETF's and a couple of high convictions stocks. Which 3 ETF's would you pick. No fixed income please.

Q: Hi team. A few months ago I asked about the best stocks and/or ETFs for my 32 year old son to invest $12K of RRSP $. We didn't get to this yet.... In the past you recommended a few ETFs. What would you recommend today. I'll help him get this invested through a self directed plan next week. Thank you!

Q: I switched jobs and am looking to convert my pension into a lira. Want to put into a low maintenance type of portfolio of ETFs or one balanced growth etf. What would you recommend I consider for a balanced portfolio with 20+ year horizon.

Q: Good afternoon,

I am planning on rethinking the majority of my investment strategy (choosing my own stocks). I plan on switching to a more ETF focused approach where I have 20% in bonds/gic, 15% US ETF, 20% Canadian ETF, 20% Foreign ETF and the rest left to my whims. For the Foreign ETF I was think VXUS and SPY for the US but what would be your recommended ETFs for US, Canada and Foreign (and perhaps bonds)?
For reference I am in my early 20s so I have a bigger risk appetite and presumably longer time horizon.

Thank you very much,
Aidan

Q: Included in my previous question answered today for EEM thare was also a question regarding general allocation of funds. What would be your best allocation of funds in Bonds, US, Canadian and International allocation. Sorry if my question was not properly formulated.

Thank you
Yves

Q: Rebalancing my portfolio vs risk for a young retired.
My portfolio consist in 23% bond ETFs, 37% US, 11% International, no emerging market and 29% Canada. I am ready to take on some EEM. What would be your allocation of funds from here? All current assets would trigger capital gains excepts for bunds which I wouldn't touch and may raise the amount over time. I may take 6 months to do part of the allocation due to capital gains tax hit.
Thank you for your precious advise over the years you have been a tremendous help to grow my portfolio and help navigate dangerous times.

Yves

Q: Is there any ETF that qualifies for dividend tax credit. If there is please share few of your favourite ETF.


Thanks for your great service

Q: What would be your top picks in individual stocks and ETFs for a 21 year old starting a TFSA

Q: Hi All at 5i!! A young friend is starting to invest in his TFSA. He has a long time horizon. Basically, he wants to just put the money into the TFSA and let it grow until retirement in an uncomplicated manner. (IOW no individual stocks). If you were to suggest an ETF, would VFV fit the bill, or would he be better off investing in a more structured ETF which encompasses several markets (US,Canadian etc) and a small bond holding as well?. What would you suggest?


Cheers,
Tamara