Investment Q&A

Q: I am looking for an international equity ETF that has a portion (+/-25%) of its holdings in technology but a good balance of other areas? thanks, Jean

Q: Hi guys, I own the following with the respective total portfolio weightings. My TFSA is all CDN and RRSP is a mix of USD/CDN. When I rebalance, should I try and rebalance with respect to % of TFSA and % of RRSP or rebalance each holding as a percent of overall portfolio? If the latter, I would consolidate some of the holdings in my TFSA to bump up the individual weightings. Are there any obvious adjustments that I should make? I’m heavy on AAPL but have sold so much of it over the years I’m very tempted to let the remaining shares ride.
Please deduct as many credits as you see fit and many thanks for the excellent service you provide. The Q/A is invaluable as are the periodic market summaries. You’ve pulled me away from the panic button many, many times.
RESP:
VFV 1.30%
RRSP:
GOOG 4.78%
AYX 3.77%
AAPL 11.77%
BNS 5.26%
ENB 5.50%
GH 3.69%
XQQ 6.23%
JPM 4.80%
GUD 1.63%
NVDA 5.91%
DIS 3.25%
VXC 24.23%
TFSA:
ATD.B 1.96%
CAE 1.30%
WEED 0.48%
CSU 2.73%
GSY 1.94%
GC 1.59%
KXS 1.42%
LSPD 1.80%
MX 0.67%
PHO 1.14%
SHOP 2.69%

Q: Hi
I want to reduce tech in my RRSP.
Did very good with XQQ thinking of changing to EQL
Why:
EQL only 13% tech Vs. XQQ 57%
EQL 11 sectors Vs XQQ 8 sectors
EQL higher dividend

Does this make sense?

If any other suggestions please feel free.

Thank You

Mike

Q: What is your favourite Canadian listed etf for exposure to US technology?

Q: Is there a TSX ETF that is basically FAANG stocks ? Thanks.

Q: Hello Peter and colleagues
I am trying to develop a simple but effective portfolio. What would be your opinion and recommended percentages on a simple portfolio including these ETFs: XIC, VFV, VXUS
Would you recommend adding more ETFs while keeping it simple? and if so, what would be the percentage of each. Do you recommend replacing VFV with VTI? and why?
Please deduct as many points as needed.
Thanks

Q: Greetings,
Currently my tech exposure is coming from XQQ. Analytics is suggesting adding another 2.5%. Should I add more XQQ? Or what do you think of SOXX or RYT? Thanks

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

Q: Hello,

The family RESP is composed of 15% VGG and 15% XQQ with the balance spread roughly evenly over the remaining stocks listed above. I would appreciate your suggestion for an additional position. The oldest child is 8 years away from post secondary.

Thank-you.

Q: In September issue mentioned that XQQ ETF is good tax-efficient in TFSA account. My question is if I currently own ZQQ instead of XQQ in my TFSA, should I make exchange for XQQ?
In TFSA account, can you please compare ZQQ and XQQ?

Thanks,
Alice

Q: Greetings,
I currently own ZWH, XQQ, and VUN as part of my US focus in my portfolio. I am looking to add another name or two. Time frame 5+ years. I prefer to remain with Canadian ETFs investing in the US. First of all, do you see too much overlap here? I have room to add to all 3. Can you provide 3 stable dividend ETFs you might suggest to add and a couple of growth ETFs that might complement my current holdings? Thanks in advance. KEN

Q: Hi,
I'm currently in my late 30's and have some funds in a LIRA from a previous company pension. They were invested in some funds with Sunlife before but now just sitting in cash waiting to be in invested. I'm looking for long term capital appreciation as I won't be able to take these funds out until retirement. Looking to increase my US and Intl exposure, which ETFs would be best? Currently own VGG, VUS, XEF and VEE. Should I increase these weights to my desired % or add any others? Looking for low MER core positions. Also should I approach investing in my RSP and LIRA in different ways or would you view them as the same? For example, would you buy stock A in your LIRA instead of RSP or vise versa.

Thanks!

Q: Hi
Thinking of reducing XQQ by 20% and buying LSPD
Why:
I have done well on XQQ and would
Add to Canadian stocks and growth and keep with tech..

Comments please

Thanks

Mike

l

Q: Do you like any NASDAC based etfs for sale in Canada?

Q: Good morning,
I need to increase the Health Care and a Tech sectors of my portfolio. Given that I wish to invest in Cdn$$$, my research for one ETF in each sector leads me to a choice among the ETFs listed above and 5i may have others that may be a better choice.
Question. What would be 5i's best of class ideas for a Health Care and Tech ETF to add to my portfolio and is there a preferred location (TFSA/RRSP/Non Reg acct) for these ETFs?
Thank you and I will await your valued suggestions/recommendations.

Q: Hi,

I heard somewhere about an EFT that reflected the S&P 500 Internet technology Index, but I can't seem to find it. Do you know of an EFT like this? Maybe it would be similar to the Nasdaq 100? Not sure...

Thanks,

John

Q: Want to replace with another etf in cdn mkt.Not happy with this performance.Can u list your picks.
tnx u

Q: Hi 5i,
HXQ vs. XQQ – Questions and Comment: 1. Is the XQQ’s dividend subject to US tax withholding? 2. If not, is it eligible for the Canadian dividend tax credit? 3. My discount brokerage site indicates that the MER on HXQ is actually lower than that of the XQQ but I understood you to suggest otherwise. Can you please just confirm on that one?
It seems to me the elimination of the total return feature of the HXQ may not be the most important element in deciding between these funds. The charting function I use shows HXQ to have outperformed XQQ measurably over a 3 year period. While some of that might be attributable to HXQ’s lower MER and ‘total return’ feature, isn’t the bulk of the difference attributable to the fact that HXQ is unhedged, while XQQ is CAD-hedged, and over the 3-year period HXQ’s return has been amplified by the Canadian dollar’s decline against the US buck? Or is there something else in the mix? In any case, maybe the decision on whether to switch from HXQ to XQQ should be mostly a matter of whether one would prefer to be CAD-hedged or currency-exposed over the anticipated investment timeframe. Whatever tax consequences might flow from the other variables involved, they could easily be overwhelmed by a currency move of a few percent and, in a taxable account, any gain on a currency move would remain tax-deferred until a disposition event. Even then, the applicable tax rate would still be the capital gains rate. So that aspect of HXQ’s tax efficiency would be preserved. HXQ may not end up being as tax efficient as it was when it could avoid cash distributions. But if it is just going to have a yield akin to XQQ’s 0.44%, and if available alternative holdings (like XQQ) are already doing that, the fact that HXQ may have to pay a distribution may not be the most important consideration for a switch decision. Or am I missing something? Thanks!

Q: Hi 5i
I am completely new to the world of ETFs but, according to Portfolio Analytics (and I did know it was a good idea before being told, really I did) I need to add US and International exposure to my portfolio. I think the only reasonable way for me to do that given I don't/can't follow non-Canadian equity markets is through ETFs.
I would like to place 55K in US ETFs and 45K in International ETFs and this will, for now, comprise the entire non-Canadian portion of my portfolio.
I am not adverse to some above average risk and while I'd like income I'm more interested in growth.
In researching where to place this money I've concluded that I might not have the candle power necessary to make rational decisions about ETFs because of the distinct possibility of purchasing ETFs that hold the same or similar underlying equities from the same or similar geographies in the same or similar sectors (assuming I'm not just concentrating on discrete sectors). Left to my own devices I feel that I could very possibly purchase a little bundle of different ETFs that are all essentially but unintentionally quite similar.
My question is two-fold:
1. Is my concern about concentration valid or have I misinterpreted the lay of the land, and
2. Could you suggest 4 or 5 US ETFs and a similar # of International ETFs that I can consider and that won't have the type of overlap I'm worried about.
I realize this is a broad and general (and perhaps rambling) question - so please deduct as many credits as you think is warranted.
Thanks a lot!
Peter

Q: Since the tax benefits for HXT, HXQ, HTB, HXS have or will be diminished, is there any reason to continue to hold them or should we be switching to other etf's, is so which ones would you recommend?
Thanks for your service.