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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: Hi 5i, Another question about your model ETF portfolio.
This one is about VE-T and VEE-T.
They trade on the Toronto exchange, Does that make them like Canadian ETFs?
I mean, are their dividends eligible for the tax credit? Or are they fully taxed, just like US
ETFs?
Many thanks. Shan
Read Answer Asked by Shanthi on March 06, 2020
Q: We have given our 19 year-old Son $12K to maximize his TFSA. I have advised him to watch North American ETFs, now that we are at the top of the economic cycle. Can you recommend a few individual Canadian stocks with a 6+ year time horizon? Would you recommend any International, European or developing world ETFs?
Thank you!!
Grant
Read Answer Asked by Grant on February 18, 2020
Q: Awhile back you suggested the following percentages for my son's investments.IIP.UN 23%,VUS 16%,VEF 16%,VEE 10%,MAW 106 20%,MAW 150 15%.Just wondering if these percentages are still valid?If so fine, if not do you have other suggestions?Thanks.Paul
Read Answer Asked by Paul on January 24, 2020
Q: Currently my only international exposure is with VEE and ZWE. Can you please recommend 2 international equity ETF's that would compliment these?
Preferably one low cost index and one high yield.

Thanks
Read Answer Asked by EVAN on January 22, 2020
Q: Hello Team, thanks for providing a wonderful service! Would you have any recommendations for an Emerging Markets or Japan ETF?
Read Answer Asked by Jennifer on January 22, 2020
Q: Hi gang, I own this funds. TML735 & AIM24823. Both have not done well for me . I would like to switch to another family fund or should I just cash out and buy an ETF . Your thought please. Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Alnoor on January 13, 2020
Q: Why would you advise holding these five ETF's in a TFSA, given that the foreign withholding tax is unrecoverable?
Read Answer Asked by Terry on November 21, 2019
Q: Greetings 5i,

I will be adding the following ETFs / Mutual Funds to my portfolio over time in order to round out my sector and geographic imbalances. Could you please suggest the prefered account to hold each of these in. RRSP, TFSA, or Regular Trading Account.

VXC, MAW108, ZWU, QQQ, VEE, ZCH, EWL, REET, ZDI, ZWE

Cheers!
Read Answer Asked by Duane on November 20, 2019
Q: For the moment, I'm satisfied with each of the CDN and US holdings in my portfolio. But I have nothing that is non-North American. So I'm planning to invest about $50,000 which would be 10% of my current portfolio. I haven't tracked international equities very much and am looking for recommendations. What do you think about purchasing individual stocks ... intending LT (5+ year) hold? Could you suggest 4 or 5 stocks I might look at? Asia? Europe? etc. Finally, if you're not keen on investing in individual stocks, can you recommend a few international ETFs for me to research? Thanks very much. (5i is an awesome resource for me).
Read Answer Asked by RANDALL on November 15, 2019
Q: RE: Nov 12, 2019 Q: I found your response to Leonard’s question regarding which accounts international ETFs are best placed quite interesting.

When both (a) VWO's extra withholding tax and (b) VEE's better return than VWO (longer term - 7 years) factors are considered together, which has produced the best 'real' return (and be likely to in the future)?

VEE vs VWO Performance (approx):
- VEE: Dividend: 2.8% 7-Year: +36.9% YTD: +9.2%
- VWO: Dividend: 2.7% 7-Year: +5.5% YTD: +7.6%

Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Paul on November 13, 2019
Q: I found your response to Leonard’s question regarding which accounts international ETFs are best placed quite interesting. I hold large positions in both VE and VEE in a registered account. If I understand your response it means that I am paying a withholding tax twice (on US and International side) with no recourse to claim it back. If staying within a registered account, what two ETF would you recommend to replace VE and VEE for better tax efficiency? Would you endorse immediately switching and would there be any drawbacks to making such a switch?
Read Answer Asked by Steven on November 12, 2019
Q: Hi there, is the John Bogle Vanguard approach to investing a good one? I believe Buffett has a similar approach. Is a 2 US ETF equity portfolio good enough to get growth and global exposure, since many US companies operate on a global scale? Would a 50/50 split between ZQQ and VUN or a split between ZQQ and VFV be better? Can I go 100% into VUN/VFV? Are there better ETFs or is there a better approach to this? Thank you!
Read Answer Asked by Michael on November 07, 2019
Q: Looking to possibly switch from VEE into another Emerging Market fund. Like Mawer but Mawer 160 is quite small . Or do you other suggestions? Or stay the course with VeEE.
Read Answer Asked by Paul on October 16, 2019
Q: My portfolio review tells me that I need to add 20% to the international portion of my current holdings. At the moment, I hold only ZDM. Should I add to that or do you have another recomendation? I also need an Emerging Market ETF recomendation for diversification.
Read Answer Asked by Michael on October 07, 2019