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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: Our 19 year old daughter has funds to maximize her first TFSA contribution, and to start contributing to a FHSA. Her profile is conservative. What advice would you give her? Which companies or other instruments do you think she should consider?
Read Answer Asked by Joel on January 16, 2024
Q: on friday i asked:
why do 4 different S&P 500 index funds all have different dividend yields?
To simplify, if we narrow it down to just VFV and VOO, it is the 15% witholding tax on VFV that accounts for the difference. In an RRSP VOO gets exempt.
It seems like we are getting punished for purchasing a Canadian domiciled fund.
So then it comes down to picking the best of 2 bad options:
VOO and pay roughtly 1.5% exchange on the purchase and then again on the sale
or
VFV and always pay a 15% witholding tax on dividends.

Have i misconstured anything?
Is it still a cointoss between VFV and VOO
Read Answer Asked by Rob on January 15, 2024
Q: why do 4 different S&P 500 index funds all have different dividend yields?
SPY 1.413
VFV 1.183 (Canadian listed but still)
VOO 1.452
IVV 1.442
Read Answer Asked by Rob on January 12, 2024
Q: We have a self-directed RDSP set up for my son (age 21, qualified for the RDSP 12 years ago). Up until now we've invested his funds in 5 different equities (4 CDN dividend paying - ARE, AQN, SU, TCL.A and 1 US - DXCM) and the overall performance has unfortunately been abysmal (I'm just getting the opportunity to be more actively involved in managing my son's RDSP). Because my son has a relatively long investment horizon for his RDSP (to age 49), what are your recommendations to optimize this much-needed benefit for his later years? Are ETFs a preferred option over equities?
Read Answer Asked by Michele on January 03, 2024
Q: Opening a fund for my grandson (5 months old). Could you recommend a few ideas please.
Thank you and Happy Holidays To All
Read Answer Asked by Don on December 22, 2023
Q: I am looking to set up an RESP for grandchildren aged 8 and 6 with about $40k that will be added to annually. I am thinking of purchasing 8 stocks in roughly equal amounts - ISRG, CROX, GOOG, NVDA, BN, LMN, SMCI, HPS.A

Is 8 stocks too limiting and should I look at ETFs for some sectors or should this give the plan a good start and greater diversification can occur as the plan grows?

Anything you see here that raises a red flag or are there other stocks I should consider?

Appreciate your insight.

Paul F.
Read Answer Asked by Paul on December 15, 2023
Q: The U.S. is growing much faster than Canada. Canada’s much slower economic growth relative to the U.S. seems to be related namely mortgage debt, Given this situation, can you suggest 1) Individual U.S. stocks for capital gain 2) Individual U.S. stocks that pay dividends, and 3) U.S. ETFs? Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Ronnie on December 14, 2023
Q: Looking to add S&P 500 exposure in my portfolio through one of 3 ETF's;
VFV or EQL hedged or not hedged. Normally would prefer unhedged but with our low dollar may be some merit in selecting a hedged version of EQL.

What would you recommend and could you please provide some rationale for your recommendation. Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by John on December 11, 2023
Q: Hello, I hold RBF5733 & RBF5737 in my RRSP from a previous employment contribution plan. Would you consider VFV a suitable replacement for a lower MER and a bit of a dividend or is there a compelling reason to stick with the two RBF funds?
Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Randy on December 08, 2023
Q: As grandparents, we are interested in making a long-term investment for our two grandchildren that will be held for the next 20 years. Could you please recommend the most suitable type of investment account to avoid personal investment and tax implications? Additionally, we would appreciate your suggestions for a few ETFs to consider for this extended investment period. Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Ronnie on December 08, 2023
Q: Hello,
I currently hold RBF5737 & RBF5733 in my RRSP as it was the only way to get index exposure in my work contribution plan. I was wondering you would consider selling the two RBF funds and replace them with VFV for a lower fee and achieving a bit of a dividend or is there a reason to leave it as is?
Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Randy on December 08, 2023
Q: Adding to a TFSA for a 20 year window.
Please advise 5 ETFs to buy and hold for the duration.
Read Answer Asked by Don on November 30, 2023
Q: Hello 5i,

If you were to start a 15,000 USD TFSA which 3 funds would you start with?

Thank you

D&J
Read Answer Asked by Jerry on November 30, 2023
Q: Recently a question response included something to the effect that "the Berkshire basket of companies are higher quality than the entire market". I couldn't find the exact answer but I have pondered it a lot!

Would BRK.B be "higher quality" than VFV? I currently hold a decent amount of VFV and a tiny bit of BRK.B. It feels like all "the rules/norms" have been discarded for last several years but for next 5 -10 years which would you favor?

Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Marilou on November 27, 2023
Q: In my open (unregistered) account, I currently own VGRO and am looking to invest some funds in ETFs . What is the difference between ZLU and ZLU.U? How would your rate the above ETFs for growth over the next 5 years? Do these ETFs hold similar investments (stocks, bonds, etc)? If I invested in 2 ETFs, which ETFs would be complimentary? Can you suggest similar ETFs with better growth potential in the next 5 years? Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Don on November 24, 2023
Q: Hi 5i, 95% of my rrsp account are in the above stocks , recently I trimmed technology to add BNS TFII QSR BN VFV , before it was very-highly tech oriented, now I'm looking to preserve capital and get a bit of dividends, Am I in the right track, looking to start withdrawing in the next 2 years, they all are between 8 to 12% of portfolio. Any suggestions for me. Grateful to 5i!
Read Answer Asked by Fernando on November 23, 2023
Q: Could you please suggest a mirror ETFs from the listing below in Canadian dollar?

VOO
VGT
QQQ
PSA

thanks,
Read Answer Asked by Shi on November 23, 2023
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