Investment Q&A

Q: CIF 823 is the last remnant from the portfolio of my former financial advisor. How would you assess this mutual fund? Would an ETF (or several) be a preferred replacement?
Your input is always appreciated!

Q: looking for an S&P 500 ETF with low fees. do you prefer a hedged or unhedged ETF? i am considering the ZSP and TDB902 or any other you would recommend. 20 year time horizon.

Q: Hi there, I like the risk profile of the names that you tend to select in the Balanced Equity Portfolio, however I am looking to build a growthier version that is concentrated in fewer names. Which 7 names would you remove to produce a portfolio with more torque?

Also, I am looking to layer on some US exposure at about a 25% weighting of my portfolio. I was thinking either going all HXQ, 50/50 HXQ/CYBR or 50/50 HXQ/VFV. Which do you think would be the best mix?

Thanks!

Q: My question is highly speculative but I would appreciate your opinion. I have $500,000 which I would like to invest in the above securities. My own gut feeling is to invest the funds with 60% in VFV and 40% in XIU over a period of 120 days. Thanks, Bill

Q: I currently have an in-trust account for my daughter with $5400 distributed between AQN and FSZ. I have another $6000 to put in. I would like to put half in VFV and half into VDU. These funds I am hoping will sit there until she retires (she is currently 13).

I am concerned about taxes with the two ETF’s in this unregistered account. Do you think this is a good approach with the funds or would you advise otherwise?
Thank you for your great site and forum!

Q: I would like to set up a passive portfolio for my mother. Could you please recommend indexes in Canada and the United states that would reflect the market while giving diversification.

Q: Other than VFV , can you please recommend a US etf that you like ,that sells in Canada
What are your thoughts on XUS.
Thank you

Q: I've just started contributing to an RRSP this year. I would like to implement an indexing strategy for the most part since I wont be using the money for 30+ years. I've only looked at vanguard so far: VOO, VFV, VSP and maybe VOOG. My question is, would it be better to use a canadian fund etf that tracks the s&p 500 like vfv, or would it be better to use one in american dollars like voo. If I do go with Canadian, should I go with a hedged one such as VSP? Or perhaps a mixture?

Thanks

Q: Good Morning,

Which would you choose for a TFSA, long term core holding? Currently mid thirties. Thanks

Q: Please suggest an S&P 500 ETF and U.S. Dividend ETF that would be best served as a long term hold in a TFSA.
Thanks

Q: Hi

Im planning to invest an etf(VFV) for my wife for a retirement fund(15 yr horizon).I will be doing it for 100/week.Just want to ask your opinion at which acct is better to put it for tax purposes.Also can you recommend other ETF’s that I can pick?

As always your comments are greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Q: Hi,
I’m looking at a long term (30 year) rrsp portfolio. What do you think of making it up of these 4 etfs? Do you think long term it’s better to have the hedged or unhedged versions (where applicable)? I’m thinking 25%vfv, 25%vef, 20%xqq and 20%vdy. Then 10% in cash for buying dips when I see them. I’ll also be using any drips (even proxy drips if needed) as well as adding new funds every 3-6 months and rebalancing annually (unless there’s some major movement before that). Do you see any areas that are too redundant or underrepresented?

Thanks

Q: Hi,
I am struggling with a decision and would appreciate your opinion please. I would like to increase my US and International equity exposure using ETFs in US dollars that I already own (VIG and VXUS).
The Canadian dollar is obviously very weak right now. Does it make sense to convert Canadian dollars to US and adding to US dollar ETFs right now, or should I be using equivalents that trade in Canadian dollars? If the latter, would you kindly suggest the two ETFs that I should consider?
I know you like foreign currency as another form of diversification and I agree. I realize there is a FX prediction inherent in this question: if the CDN dollar strengthens, that creates headwinds for US-denominated investments.
What do you suggest?
Thank you. Michael

Q: Between these two ETF's, would you have a preference of one over the other. I note that recently XIU is outperforming VFV and pays a better dividend. Thanks, Bill

Q: You suggested the above ETF's for my daughter . She is moving to the USA so could you please suggest the closest equivalents if she is based in the US or would the 4 ETF's mentioned still be appropriate ? Thanks again.

Q: Are these ETFs complementary...or overlapping? Considering putting both in my RSP. Thank you. Similarly, would you consider RYT and QQQ complementary or overlapping? Thank you.

Q: I need to diversify outside of Canada, although I do have some individual US stocks.
1)What markets do you think will be the best - least volatile, some growth - over the next five years?
2) Can you recommend two etfs within those categories?

Q: I currently hold both VTI and VSP in my RRSP for US exposure.
VTI is my only US holding (i.e. trades on US exchange) in my RRSP, so it is the only holding that forces me to occasional exchange currencies (US dividend).
Which of the following options do you prefer (feel free to suggest an additional option):
1) Do nothing (continue converting the US dividends to CDN$).
2) move VTI to VSP. (CAD hedged.)
3) move VTI to VFV. (not hedged)
4) move VTI to VUN. (not hedged, broader index)
5) move VTI to VUS. (hedged, broader index)
Thanks.

Q: I am an old man (86) sitting on a lot of cash ($800.000) and I am considering on purchasing the following stocks equally invested what I think if is a conservative based portfolio.
VFV yield1.7%,XIU Yield 3.2%,CBO yield 2.61 %, XBB yield 2.9%,CBO yield 2.61 %
Would appreciate any comments you may have. I am looking for yield and relative safety. Thanks, Bill

Q: Recently read John Bogle, "Common Sense Investing"

What are my choices for purchasing the s & p 500 index, please compare MER, do all offer a canadian hedge? and what are the pros and cons of buying it hedged to canadian dollar?

thanks

Ernie