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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: Which ETF do you feel compliments VOO the most? This would be for my RRSP. Also, I’m 15 years from retirement.

Your top 3 in order preferably?

US/CND/international/All world.. doesn’t matter.

Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Nick on August 25, 2025
Q: I'm looking for an ETF that complements my VDY. In particular I'd like yield with some growth, and fairly defensive. I don't mind which is greater, yield or growth. I've spotted VIDY, and it looks good, and might complement my VDY in that it is similar but EX North America. I suppose the yield is not Div Tax Credit, so if there is a Canadian ETF that complements VDY, in the sense of holdings, I'd consider that too. But the Tax Credit is not essential, so a US complement (sold in Canada) might work also. So complementary to VDY in terms of geography or holdings would be good.
Read Answer Asked by Gordon on August 22, 2025
Q: There is a lot of rhetoric coming out of Ottawa about going all in to boost the canadian economy with major growth projects, reduce internal trade barriers, and mitigate tariff impact. If this in fact all comes to fruition, do you think this would positively affect canadian ETF values and would this be a good time to buy into those? VDY for example.
Read Answer Asked by Rob on July 07, 2025
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
Read Answer Asked by Hector on June 16, 2025
Q: I have above stocks in my RRSP I like to drop FFH and trim CSU LMN (i'm up 150% on both), like to add AD.UN DIR.UN or T, trying to increase my income as I'm retired, the idea is to preserve capital, is it a good time to add this new stocks ? thanks
Read Answer Asked by Fernando on May 13, 2025
Q: Could you please provide your top 5 Canadian ETFS and top 3 dividend Canadian ETFs.  Rank the ETFs as well
Read Answer Asked by Don on April 08, 2025
Q: I sold my individual dividend stocks and am replacing them with an ETF for simplicity. How would you rate/compare these dividendETFS? Which two do you prefer? I'll put 1 in my rrsp and a another in my TFSA. I am diversified in other countries already. I'm thinking XDIV and XEI might be the safest?
Read Answer Asked by Carla on February 24, 2025
Q: Looking to buy a canadian dividend etf as one of my core holdings. Do you like VDY or XDV? What are the differences? Or is there another canadian dividend ETF you would recommend?
Read Answer Asked by Carla on February 24, 2025
Q: Following up on Harrison's RESP question from February 10th, I'm seeking advice on ETF recommendations for my grandson's RESP. He turns two in March 2025, giving him approximately 16 years until he'll need the funds.
I appreciate your ETF recommendations, particularly the split between Canadian and US markets (VGG, ZSP, ZCN, XCG, VDY). I'm also considering ZUQ (BMO MSCI USA High Quality Index), but I'm wondering if it's too similar to ZSP? Your thoughts?
I do not like CDZs holdings as much.
You also mentioned two balanced ETFs in your response (XBAL and VBAL). The fixed income allocation is approximately 40% for these balanced ETFs. In contrast, XGRO and VGRO have a fixed income allocation of around 20%, and XEQT or VEQT have no fixed income. What I like about these allocation ETFs is they have some international exposure.
Considering the long-term horizon, I'm leaning towards XEQT/VEQT, which have no fixed income. My main question is whether the 20% fixed income component of XGRO/VGRO or even the XBAL/VBAL (40% fixed income) is necessary for a two-year-old’s RESP? Or are XEQT/VEQT too aggressive, considering the other ETFs mentioned?
Finally, wouldn't it be more appropriate to introduce a 100% fixed income ETF closer to the withdrawal age or perhaps three years before we start accessing the funds?
Deduct as many points as you think necessary.
As always thanks for the great advice.
Élaine
Read Answer Asked by Elaine on February 20, 2025
Q: Hello, 1.How does one protect them selves from large market crashes?
2. If one were to start a portfolio with only index funds, etfs which are the ones you would suggest. Maximum 5 etfs. Thanks.

Shyam
Read Answer Asked by Shyam on February 19, 2025
Q: Can you name a handful of ETF options for long term holds in my son's RESP account. Growth, dividend, and balanced. Looking for exposure in Canada and USA. I don't want the headache of managing stocks for this portfolio. I'd rather have something that I can just buy and not look at it for 15 years until he needs it.
Read Answer Asked by Harrison on February 10, 2025
Q: Hello 51 and Happy New Year! I would like your opinion regarding the following ETFS : VDY, XDIV and HDIV. Considering MERs for each and total return on investment which one in your opinion is a better buy?

Thank you in advance for your response.
Read Answer Asked by Yves on January 07, 2025
Q: Most of my TFSA is in Canadian stocks (plus some US CDRs GOOGL, MSFT, AMZN). Now I'm thinking of adding 2 ETFs to my unregistered account. So far, my first choice is VFV, because I know you like it. But you mentioned another one that broadens out from the S&P 500. Not sure about that one: thoughts? But I want one more, particularly with dividend and some growth. If there is a USA one that, like VFV, trades in Canada TSX but pays dividends in US dollars, that might work nicely. Alternatively, maybe a Canadian one that is not too focused on Financials and Energy, one with which I could get dividend tax credit, may work. Between dividend and growth, I would lean toward growth and sacrifice some dividend. Between Canada and USA, I'd like USA, but only if I can buy on TSX. I'd like to stick to just two, but maybe three would work best? What say you? Thank you, yet again, for such a fabulous service.
Read Answer Asked by Gordon on December 11, 2024
Q: Would any of these ETF's have year-end distributions?
Is it a good idea to just wait until the new calendar year now, to start a new position in one of these?
Read Answer Asked by Robert on December 10, 2024
Q: If I had all of these funds would there be too much overlap? What is your favourite one out of the group?
Read Answer Asked by David C. on December 03, 2024
Q: I am nearing retirement and planning to rebalance my taxable portfolio towards Canadian dividend stocks and ETFs, so that I can live off CPP and eligible dividends in retirement. What are your favorite Canadian ETFs where all distributions are treated as eligible dividends? You recommended CDZ many times, is it still your favorite?
Read Answer Asked by Tim on November 20, 2024
Q: These are on my watchlist. Do you see any problems with these?
Read Answer Asked by David M. on November 06, 2024