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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: I am 53 years old. I have worked 31 years in my Federal Government job, making $100,000 + a year. I will have a defined benefit pension. Currently, I have a $200,000 in an RRSP, self directed,with 100% in equity divided 60/40 between CANADIAN AND US dollar investment. I am planning to retire in 2-3 years.

With this in mind, I want to rebalance my portfolio to make it more conservative. What ETF funds/percent allocations do you recommend to build the fixed income/bond portion of my portfolio both on the Canadian and US side of the house? What funds should I buy (Canadian and US) and how much should I buy of each?

Thanks in advance.
Read Answer Asked by Donald on October 19, 2017
Q: Hi 5i team, I'm looking to add one more name in the real estate sector. I currently have BTB Reit, Artis Reit and the etf XRE. Could you please suggest a few ideas. What are your favourite reits at this time and would you replace any of my current holdings? Thanks. Mario.
Read Answer Asked by Mario on September 20, 2017
Q: Hi 5i,
Just a comment on Nino’s question and your answer about the choice between paying up for a REIT ETF like ZRE/XRE versus holding 8-12 individual REITs. My choice has been the latter and I have been happy with it. Your answer suggested that rebalancing 12 holdings annually would cost $120 at $10 a pop. My experience has been that the reality is much less than that. Because the REITs tend to move as a group more than their individual movements relative to the group, in holding 8-12 decent quality REITs I haven’t had to do more than 2 or 3 rebalancing transactions in any given year. Except for a couple of extraordinary years my REITs have really been low maintenance holdings. Cheers!
Read Answer Asked by Lance on June 13, 2017
Q: My wife and I, retirees, are considering adding a real estate ETF to our portfolio, to hold in TFSAs. You commented that ZRE has an equal weighting in REITS and is more diversified than XRE (that has a 30% weighting in RioCan and H&R). ZRE has a slightly higher distribution % that appeals. My question is on safety of capital. I perceive Rio Can and H&R to be high quality REITs versus say an Artis or Cominar that have a higher weighting in XRE. Which of the two ETFs would you consider safer, or is it a coin toss between the two? Thank you for your comments
Read Answer Asked by Edward on May 17, 2017
Q: Hello 5i team,

Which ETF is best suited for a long term hold (30 yrs) in a TFSA that will be DRIPPED and contributed to annually. I like the equal weight positions of ZRE but with a higher MER of .61% over the long term it seems the fee's could really start corroding my capital. VRE is the cheapest but also has the smallest yield and is market cap weighted. Is it possible BMO could lower these fee's in the future to stay competitive? I would eventually like to draw income from the holding.

Always appreciate the you insights
Read Answer Asked by Keith on October 13, 2016
Q: I have no REITS in my portfolio and since I do my own taxes I like to keep things simple and did read that it better to hold REITS in an RRSP account if you don't want to be bother with return on capital, etc. I am wondering if I have no room in my RRSP would it be okay to put in my TFSA? I am looking at ZRE and XRE which one you prefer and CSH.UN or is just one index fund good enough.

Thanks
Dolores
Read Answer Asked on September 27, 2016
Q: Good Morning 5I team, I have been building a cash position and would like your opinion on these stocks/etf to add to a mostly buy and hold dividend generating portfolio.
Read Answer Asked by STEVE on August 29, 2016
Q: I currently hold BPY (up 50% over cost) and H&R in my portfolio 4% and 3% respectively.
I am considering swapping BPY for BEP for the additional income. Your thoughts?

I also plan to crystallize my capital losses and purchase the following ETFs:
Non registered:
ZPW – US Put Write
ZWE – Europe Covered Call hedged to CAD.
ZWH – US covered call
CPD – CAD preferred
XRE – Capped REIT

Registered (RRIF):
PGX:US – Preferred.

Each would constitute 2% - 3% of my portfolio. Diversification is my intention, but risk and surety of income is the primary consideration in all of the above noted.

Again, your thoughts.

Thank you for considering my questions

Gail
Read Answer Asked by Gail on August 02, 2016
Q: BMO US Put Write(ZPW)
BMO Europe High Dividend Covered Call Hedged to CAD(ZWE)
PowerShares Preferred Portfolio(PGX:US)
BMO Laddered Preferred Share Index(ZPR)
BMO US High Dividend Covered Call(ZWH)
BMO Equal Weight REITs Index(ZRE)
iShares S&P/TSX Canadian Preferred Share Index(CPD)
iShares S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index(XRE)
BMO Covered Call Dow Jones Industrial Average Hedged CAD(ZWA)
iShares Convertible Bond Index(CVD)
BMO Canadian Dividend(ZDV)
Above are ranked as to yield - high to low. Can you rank as to risk - high to low?
Thank you for considering my question
G. Reynolds
Read Answer Asked by Gail on July 18, 2016
Q: Like others, I hold a number of REITs, mainly for income. I'm increasingly concerned how the value of these would be effected when Canadian real estate corrects.

I'd like to know how much would you expect the price of REITs (in general, ofcourse) to change if there is a hard landing for real estate in Canada (say a correction of 30%). Perhaps an estimate with respect to Industrial, Commercial and Apartment style REITs.
Read Answer Asked by Cameron on June 21, 2016
Q: Hi,

I am looking to replace ZRE in my non-registered accounts with 2 - 3 REITs. I am trying to adopt a best-in-class approach, versus holding the "basket". Do you have any suggestions for best-in-class REITs, that will hopefully endure as best-in-class (versus a flavour of the month)?

Second question (please don't hesitate to deduct another credit): I am not quite sure what constitutes best-in-class but would guess a promising growth profile, strong management, manageable risks, and a reasonable distribution. Am I missing something? What do you look for or consider important when evaluating a REIT as a stand-out, best-in-class? Or are they generally all the same?

Thanks,

Derek
Read Answer Asked by Derek on June 20, 2016
Q: Hi,

I am looking to buy some REITs. I would prefer to own a few (4-5) rather than purchase an etf. Which names do you have a preference for? Also, should I follow the supposedly conventional wisdom to buy only after we see a hike in interest rates? Also, since the Vancouver and Toronto seem saturated, is it best to look for exposure in other cities?

Many thanks
Read Answer Asked by Cameron on June 20, 2016
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