Investment Q&A

Q: My stock allocation for Canada and US combined is close to 90 per cent.
I’m very pleased with my portfolio growth and I have your team to thank for the advice and suggestions. In my portfolio analysis, your suggestion is for me to have 30 per cent allocated to international stocks. Since the vast majority of your advice and reports pertain to Canadian and to a lesser extent American stocks, how do I gain the expertise and suggestions having to do with international investing? Is it really a concern or can I accomplish steady growth without the full 30 percent international diversification? Thanks

Q: I will be simplifying my RRSP portfolio whereby it will be mainly comprised of ETF's that can give growth as well as income that i can use to draw on when RRSP are converted to RRIF.

Can you provide me ETF's / Index funds suggestions for:
S& P 500 index
Global large cap index ex USA
Dividend appreciation index ( large cap) for Canada and US

Thank you

Q: Which international ETF do you like the best for a RESP account ? Money not needed for 10 years.

Thanks

Q: Hello 5i...what would be your current favorite ETFs in the following criteria:

International ex N.America in $USD and $CDN overall market

International ex NA with Growth tilt and with Dividend tilt. $USD and $CDN

Perferance in RRIF vs TFSA..

Holding period > 5 yrs....

thanks/ Art

Q: I am building a small non-registered portfolio to provide income with modest capital appreciation. Your thought on these 4 ETFs or other suggestion.

Q: I have a portfolio of 25 individual stocks (diversified among most sectors) with no ETFs. Within this portfolio I own companies that trade in CAD and the US but have operations and/or varying degrees of revenue in other countries such as CLBT, AXON, TOI, VHI, UBER, BKNG, WSP, TRI, BN and some of the MAG 7 with their worldwide reach such as GOOG. I often wonder if this is adequate international exposure for a healthy portfolio or should I have a specific international ETF?
I have not been a fan of ETFs due to the often wide exposure that can include "the best along with less than the best" (and they are boring, :), haha). But for long term growth and healthy diversification I often consider opening a position in an international ETF such as VIU.
But then I face my conundrum. In the past 5 years the return on VIU has been 41.4% (Yahoo Finance). Perhaps my expectations are out of line, but I would not be happy (and I would be bored, :), ) with the same return from VIU in the next 5 years. Even a conservative Canadian bank with some international operations such as RY has done 90% in the past 5 years (Yahoo Finance). It seems to me that I must give up too much possible growth in order to achieve a healthy level of international diversification through the instrument of an international ETF.
Perhaps this is a conundrum that need not be solved, but do you have any thoughts that may lead to a wiser investment perspective or a needed tempering of my expectations?
As always, thank you for your excellent service.
Cal

Q: Hi 5i,
With reference to your response to Les's question July 08 you say :"The criteria is pretty intense if one is looking for 4% dividends and 10% appreciation. There is nothing in this category that would not come with significant equity risks. VIU qualifies on historical numbers, trades in Canada, is international, and has a yield of 5.02% indicated and five year return 10.22%. "

How do you calculate or find these numbers?
My broker shows dividend at 2.39 % (.95 cents)
Does the annualized 5 yr return of 10.22% include dividend or reinvestment of the dividend.?

thx

Q: I'm seeking to buy 3 or four ETFs that would give me stable dividend distributions in the 4% range with the possibility of capital appreciation yearly at about 10%. I also seek global diversification and I would like to pay for my investments in Canadian dollars. I am interested in return on capital not return of capital. Please advise if you have ETF's that you can suggest.

Q: I would like to help my 12 year old granddaughter with a RESP. Can you recommend a few choices?

Q: WHICH ACCOUNT SHOULD VIU BE HELD IN?
Thanks.

Q: Is Vanguard FTSE Developed All Cap ex North Amer Idx ETF
VIU the best ETF for the international exposure ex amrerica of a portfolio?

Q: Hi team. A few months ago I asked about the best stocks and/or ETFs for my 32 year old son to invest $12K of RRSP $. We didn't get to this yet.... In the past you recommended a few ETFs. What would you recommend today. I'll help him get this invested through a self directed plan next week. Thank you!

Q: I switched jobs and am looking to convert my pension into a lira. Want to put into a low maintenance type of portfolio of ETFs or one balanced growth etf. What would you recommend I consider for a balanced portfolio with 20+ year horizon.

Q: I'm looking for an ETF that excludes Cdn and the US but focuses on mid to large cap in other countries. Would you have some suggestions?
Thanks,
Murray

Q: If I were to buy VIU, then what benchmark would you suggest???.....tom

Q: For the listed stocks above, in what order you purchase them....the top being the first/? Also what would be a suggest purchase price?....Thanks for your insights....Tom

Q: Hi, I'm looking for recommendations for ETFs to complement HXS and HXT in TFSA, for recurring biweekly purchases. What are your top two picks?

Q: Emerging Markets, Developed Markets, Europe or Bonds. Which represents a buying opportunity now? Which does one need to wait for a pullpack before buying ETF in these areas?

Q: Hi! Thoughts on best international stock ETFs for TFSA using Canadian dollars. They are at all-time highs. Do they still represent value or should one wait for a dip? Thank you!

Q: Could you suggest for a RSP portfolio, starting from a cash balance of 150K, an array of 5 ETFs, covering Canadian and US/International sectors.
Would VGG selling in CAD qualify for the exemption of US taxes, or does it need to be a US traded ETF to qualify.
Take as many questions credit as needed.
Thank you.