Investment Q&A

Q: Good morning, I currently use ETFs for foreign investments and I now have a large position in ZDI. I like it's growth and dividend. I have been looking at VIDY recently for diversification. I like it's growth rate of the last 5 years (does not have 10 year history). Can I have your thoughts on both these etf's and any other growth oriented ex-north-america etf's. Thank you.

Q: I have owned MAW120 for almost 10 years, and upon looking at its recent performance, I can't find any reason to continue owning this fund. Can you?

As per Mawer's web site (https://www.mawer.com/funds/performance) it shows results as of June 30, 2025 versus its benchmark:

MAW120 1yr: -0.9%; 3 yr: 9.8%; 5 yr 7.7%
Benchmark: 1 yr: 15.8%; 3 yr: 19.6%; 5 yr 13.7%

For the one year period ending June 30th it lost money! It's benchmark earned 15.8%. It has > 50% invested in the US market. I don't see how they could lose money over that time period. Can you explain how it could lose money when markets in US, Canda and Europe over that period were generally good. Even their International Equity fund made 23.3% over the same 1 year time period.

I will be "firing" them. I have sold 1/2 today, and will sell the other 1/2 next week. I would like to invest in the benchmark for this fund, or something as equivalent as possible. Can you suggest 3 ETFs for me to buy for global equity exposure that have significantly better performance than MAW120.

Thanks,
Paul

Q: Hello 5i team,
I hold a concentrated stock portfolio. If I was to start buying ETF's; which 5 or 6 would you recommend me buying slowly over the next few years that will give me a diversified portfolio. Five or six ETF's that I can continue to dollar cost average into over the next 5 years.
Thank you,
Brent

Q: With the TSX & US markets being over valued today, can you suggest a few ETF's or stocks that would benefit from international momentum, countries of interest Japan, Mexico or Indonesia.


Thanks for all you do and provide.

Q: Hello....I am looking for ideally 1 or could be in combination with a second ETF. I would like to achieve a balanced mix with say 60% with a small or 0% of US stock market and about 10% private assets and 30% fixed income. Could you suggest 1/2 ETFs that would achieve something close to this percentage breakdown. Thank you.

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