Investment Q&A

Q: Should I infer from Danny's question this morning that you are selling XHY in your Income Portfolio?

Q: Regarding your Model Income Portfolio decision to sell XHY, where would you be looking to redeploy that money?

Q: I’m looking for ideas on the best way to park a meaningful cash position safely while still earning a competitive yield.

My priorities are:
• capital preservation / low risk
• strong liquidity or predictable maturities
• a competitive yield relative to today’s rates
• flexibility to choose either monthly income distributions or annual interest payouts

I’d appreciate your thoughts on the best options available in Canada today.

Specifically, how would you compare the pros and cons of:
• a 10-year bond ladder
• GIC's
• a money market fund
• a monthly income ETF such as ZMI
• a high-interest savings ETF or HISA
• other safe alternatives I may be overlooking

For context, this is retirement-oriented capital, so I value certainty and reliable income, but I also want to avoid having too much cash sitting at low HISA rates if there are better low-risk choices available.

Would like to understand your thoughts wrt balancing yield, liquidity, and safety in the current rate environment.—

Q: I hold 2 bond funds in my RSP, ZAG and BND. Both bought last summer after a GIC matured and I didn't want to lock in funds again at that time. Both ETFs are slightly under water on the stock price, and getting worse. Interest payments don't do much more than make me even. With a low yield (esp. ZAG), market movements can be a killer and has me thinking a money market type fund might have been better, despite lower yields still. I know you seem to think rates will be coming down - which I assume will be a plus - but the market seems to be pointing the other way. Questions:
1) would you continue to hold these funds
2) do these complement each other, which was my thinking
3) do you see either of these funds changing their monthly payments
4) are there better alternatives
Thank-you

Q: Good Morning,

Retired income investor with almost 100% of funds in equities. I feel it is time that I added some bond exposure but I am not well informed on this market. Can you please suggest investments that would get me started, cover the basic gamut and provide reasonable returns.

Thanks very much.

Q: I have no Bond investments and would add to my TFSA and RRSP's. Are there any other that I should consider. Thanks

Q: Hello, can you please confirm these 2 ETF would not be subject to Withholding Tax? Also, can you please recommend 2 diversified stock ETF for exposure outside Canada which would not be subject to Withholding Tax, with decent dividend and buy and forget type of security. Thank you.

Q: Hello,
Can you please recommend 2 USD ETF equivalent to XHY? I would prefer to buy in USD for currency diversification. Thank you.

Q: Good Mormning.
Given your positive comments om XHY and BND, I am considering adding to my holdings. How safe are the distributions on these types of funds? Will the distributions remain constant regardless of market conditions?
Thank you.

Q: In your Income Model Portfolio XHY shows a negative 24% return since inception, yet it yields 5.99%. I've held it in my RIF for many years but its price history is weak. Is this a good time to add or a value trap?

Can you suggest better options?

Q: I would like to add to my bond holdings. I am considering adding to my XHY and BND holdings. I would appreciate your opinion on adding to these and would you have other recommendation?
Thank you.

Q: I am all equities in my RSP and RIF portfolio. Although a solid blue chip list of Cdn, US, some international, I would like to mitigate risk by adding one or two bond etf's (cdn dollar). These can be Canadian bonds or a combination NA and global. Please offer one or two...and are we looking at shorter duration or longer in light of current interest rate environment/future outlook. Ideally 4%+ yield

Q: Hello team.
The above are my highest dividend payers in my unregistered account, however at the end next year I have to start withdrawing from RRSP and LIRA account and would likely elevate my income to a substantially higher tax bracket. For that reason I am think of reducing my income generating holdings in the unregistered account and be less focus on income. Conversely, while divesting in the unregistered account I would rebalance the RRIF to be more income oriented. Does this make sense and could you suggest 5 growth oriented equities with SOME income to replace the above. I already TD,BNS,BN,BAM, TFII (small position)?
Thank you
Frank

Q: Considering recent interest rate reductions can you please advise on investing in xhy.to or ushy at this point? Are they equivalent but just in different currencies?

Thanks.

Q: Good morning - With the market rising so nicely, it's timely for me to do some re-balancing. For fixed income, I have positions I xlb, xbb and XHY. What fixed income investments do you suggest these days. I could add to the above and/or to corporate bonds, if that makes sense. But, I am nervous about the prospects for Canadian companies as the Trump tariffs take their toll. What does your crystal ball reveal? Many thanks.

Q: I have been trying to find a high yield bond fund for the last year, and was looking at zhy and xhy, and was shocked when I saw their 10 yr charts.
Can you explain why the dramatic share price decline from about June 2014, until about Sept. 2022.

Thanks

Q: Hello, which fixed income: ETF/Bond/GIC investments would work best under current economic conditions of lower rates coming from the US FEDS and Canada.? And, do you suggest staying short or long? .. Of course the lowest possible risk.
Thanks
Carlo

Q: In an effort to balance my portfolio, I’ve invested in both short-term (XBB, currently +0.9%) and long-term (XLB, currently -2.74%) bond ETFs, all held within a registered account. Despite these being commonly recommended by industry analysts for portfolio diversification and stable returns, I’m seeing losses across both and finding it difficult to understand how to generate positive returns from bonds in the current market environment.

Given this, I’d appreciate your guidance. Should I consider:
• Selling XBB and XLB and moving the funds to a high-interest savings account?
• Adding to my bond holdings by including alternatives like XSB or VAB?
• Holding my current positions and staying the course?

I’m open to adjusting my strategy but would value your insight on how best to approach bond investments right now.

Q: Which fixed income investment instruments would be your most favourite at this time based on cost and potential returns?
Thank you,
Miroslaw

Q: I'm wondering if you have any recommendations for ETF's with international exposure for income and growth, and also a good way to invest in the bond market for income.