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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: My daughter wants to start a TSFA with $5000.00. This will be a long term investment with nothing else added for at least a year or two. She is 24. Would you recommend a couple of stocks or would etf's be the way to go? Which stocks or Etf's would you suggest? Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Lois on November 20, 2017
Q: What would you pick as the best handful of etfs to own to build a beginner, well balanced portfolio for building up investment dollars? At what dollar amount would you see it to be more beneficial to split the money among 20-30 individual stocks rather than a few funds?
Read Answer Asked by david on October 27, 2017
Q: I would like to buy some etfs but am concerned about liquidity. I would prefer to buy US Europe and emerging markets in US currency. Can you recommend the best etfs in canada US europe and EM thar have a large nuber of shares traded daily?
Read Answer Asked by hal on October 24, 2017
Q: May I please have your opinion on taking a new position in gold? I am an ultra conservative investor, retired for 14 years, who covers all my daily living expenses through company and government pensions, and use investment income primarily for holidays and extra pursuits. Most of my investments are in fixed income such as GIC's, preferred ETF's, and bond ETF's. Would you recommend a gold ETF or a specific equity? Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Paul W on October 02, 2017
Q: I've been unsuccessful picking my own stocks thus far but have roughly 15k sitting in cash (afraid to lose it). What/How would you suggest investing this amount to return consistently over a long period.

Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Kevin on September 18, 2017
Q: Two questions: Can you recommend a simple/small set of low-fee ETFs for a young, long-term investor for a TFSA, and one for an RRSP? (If not the same.)

Thanks very much.
Read Answer Asked by Chris on August 21, 2017
Q: Hi 5i
I am heavily in financials 32% am working to diversify in my portfolio. I have listed a number of my invested companies. Investments are in Can. Cash, TFSA & RRSP heaviest in (RRSP)
I would like to re-invest in divided stocks and 2 ETFs. can you advise which would be best replaced and list a few that are in your top considerations.
Thanks,
Scott


Thanks, Scott
Read Answer Asked by Paulette on July 04, 2017
Q: Hello 5i - I am soon to become a grandparent and would like to start a $1,000 portfolio the day the baby is born and continue contributing $1,000 on each birthday for the next 18 years. Which two stocks, or ETF(s), if that would be a better choice, would you suggest starting with?
Read Answer Asked by Sandy on June 05, 2017
Q: Good afternoon,

I'm thinking of replacing individual stocks that I've held for a long time in my RRSP with either XAW or VXC for the foreign portion of the RRSP portfolio and adding XIC or XIU for the Cdn portion of the portfolio. Is this a good idea and if so which would be your preference and recommendation. Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Francesco on May 30, 2017
Q: Hello.
I need some advice on ETF, one Canadian and one US. I was thinking Spy for US but not sure for Canadian ETF. I own 27 equities 65% CDN & 35% US. I have two accounts that I would like each one to contain an ETF. I would then twice a year take all my dividends and repurchase shares in the same ETF. Seeing that the ETF holds many equities in different sectors to my way of thinking I would not have to think of asset allocation nor the size of my position.? Or should I? Right now all my positions are below 5%. Good Strategy?

Regards.
Read Answer Asked by Robert on March 20, 2017
Q: Hi 5i, I'm moving money from my broker (40+ stocks, 500K) to a few ETFs (Equal Weight) , I'm considering the following ETFs: XIC, IWO, CDZ, SPY, FDN, and FIE; would you please help me choose four or five ETFs from the list, I'm looking for moderate growth, and of course preservation if capital.
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Fernando on March 15, 2017
Q: I am connected to a 41 year old who is about to start investing and putting some money away for retirement

He has very little investment knowledge
He has about $ 200,000 to invest We are going to start with his TSFA and make the maximum contribution and then we will set one up for his wife

Where is a good place to start Would you recommend a basket of ETF's or buying individual stocks His investment horizon is 20 to 25 years

Which are your preferred ETF'S or your 6 equities

Thank you very mucb

Paul
Read Answer Asked by Paul on January 30, 2017
Q: What etf (or more than one) do you like to cover the broad Canadian market? There are so many, and they are so overweight in financials and resources. I would be most interested in one that has a lot of holdings, but welcome your opinion/advice if you think a smaller holding is more appropriate. This is for a non-registered account, so tax-deductible investment ideas are welcome.
Read Answer Asked by Elizabeth on January 20, 2017
Q: I asked this question several hours ago but did not get a response.I don't know if you respond the same day...so I am asking again. I have a non-registered account and would like to buy an eTF that is Canadian in content, to reap possible tax benefits. Can you recommend one that holds many stocks. There are so many - it is really hard to pick the one that holds the most stocks representative of all sectors. Or do you feel an S&P/TSX EFT holding just 60 is the way to go? Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Elizabeth on January 20, 2017
Q: The above 5 etfs are core holdings with VXC and XHY at 15% each and the others at 10% each. The balance of my portfolio is made up of a diversified set of individual stocks (Canadian companies). I am considering exchanging XIN with ZWE to still have European exposure but with a better yield or should I keep XIN and just add ZWE to my core holdings? As always, thanks for the advice.
Read Answer Asked by Rudy on September 12, 2016
Q: Hi 5i,
I have 200K invested on these ETFs as follows:
XEC: 10% VUN: 25% XQB: 35% XEF: 10% XIC: 20%

My time horizon is 5 years, How can I change my current setup to make it more rewarding, These are outside RRSP.

thanks
Fernando
Read Answer Asked by Fernando on September 01, 2016
Q: I am looking to invest about $200K (non registered) for a minimum of 5 years into a moderate growth couch potato type portfolio. I am 5 years from retirement. I am considering the following portfolio and would like to know if you would agree with these ETFs and distribution.
XIC or VCN 25%, VUN 25%, XEF 20%, XEC 5%, VAB 15%, CBO 10%
Read Answer Asked by Kimberley on June 20, 2016
Q: I have made some good gains on XCS(24%) and XIC (10.5%) from the market runup from January. Thanks to your article about small caps stocks from last year. Now I am wondering if I should take the gains, wait for a sell off and buy in again. With most of my stocks I never time the market and its all buy and hold but with XCS and perhaps XIC I am considering taking profits. Or mayble I should just take profits from XCS..Note that the holdings are in a registerd account so tax is not an issue. Your opinion is most valued. cheers, Shyam
Read Answer Asked by Shyam on June 13, 2016
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