skip to content
  1. Home
  2. >
  3. Investment Q&A
You can view 3 more answers this month. Sign up for a free trial for unlimited access.

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 building a small non-registered portfolio to provide income with modest capital appreciation. Your thought on these 4 ETFs or other suggestion.
Read Answer Asked by Roy on July 21, 2025
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
Read Answer Asked by Calvin on July 17, 2025
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
Read Answer Asked by jim on July 09, 2025
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.
Read Answer Asked by Les on July 08, 2025
Q: I would like to help my 12 year old granddaughter with a RESP. Can you recommend a few choices?
Read Answer Asked by Denis on July 07, 2025
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!
Read Answer Asked by Kathryn on July 03, 2025
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.
Read Answer Asked by Matt on June 30, 2025
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
Read Answer Asked by Tom on June 23, 2025
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?
Read Answer Asked by Gurdeep on June 16, 2025
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?
Read Answer Asked by Neil on June 11, 2025
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.
Read Answer Asked by francois on June 05, 2025
Q: Do you like these equally? Goal- growth, safety, income in TFSA for exposure outside Canada/US. Thank you!
Read Answer Asked by Neil on June 05, 2025