Investment Q&A

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: Hi Peter, Ryan & Team
In addition to my current 5i Balanced portfolio I want to build an additional RRSP ETF portfolio.Time horizon 3-5 Years and my risk level is moderate.
I am thinking to invest in the following ETF. Appreciate you advise on the distribution, concentration and risk level.
XMD 30%
VUN 20%
XIU 10%
VEE 10%
VXUS 10%
IXC 10%
IWO 10%

Thanks,

Q: Regarding the above noted portfolio introduced in the November, 2018 etf/mutual fund update, I am uncomfortable with the overweight of the financial sector. Would you please suggest some possible alternatives to the 10% allocation to ZWB. Thank you.

Q: I am currently down 82% on this stock. I am in a Growth Portfolio. I have diversified across all sectors and geographies. I am considering selling and then investing proceeds in one of the following: XWD, CEF, or VGG.

Do you see any future growth potential for ACQ? If not, which of the 3 options would you suggest I invest in for growth.

Thanks for your continued assistance.

Q: I'm rebalancing my RESP holding. As far as A US etf would you prefer purchasing VIG or is there a Canadian listed etf similar to vig that you would prefer?

Q: Can you recommend a lower yielding, but higher growth dividend ETF?
Tks

Q: Have $20,000 I would like to allocation outside Canada. Already receiving an average of 6% dividend return on my C$ portfolio. Not really looking for additional income , what do you think of the above or is there other ETFs I should research.
I have a small position in VGG. Maybe etf holding Amazon, PayPal but not a pure internet such as FDN.

Q: I'm looking for suggests on where to invest about $18K that I have in cash that's in two RRSP's and my TFSA, from stock sales and cash deposits in 2018.
My total portfolio is about $53K, with $22K already in RBC, BNS and BAC, also $3.5K in Goeasy and $1.5K in Orca Gold, I'm still up on all of these even with 2018. I have a further $7K in various oil, gas and a driller, these I'm under water over 50%, but like to keep them for now and try to recoup some of those loses as I think they are very oversold.
Can you give me some ideas for investing my cash, I'm looking for longer term investments not just trades, I would prefer dividend paying stocks but would also be interested in non-dividend payers as well. I want to stick to Canadian companies for now as the dollars is down some much against the US.
Also should I look at trimming the banks stocks I currently have, I'm quite overweight on them, but I'm not worried at this point with the amount I have tied up in them.

Q: Hi there, can you please recommend a good dividend based ETF.

Q: Hi 5I,
I am retired and living off my RIF. With the current volatility and market downturn, I am thinking of getting more defensive. My current holdings of ZWC, VVL, VUN and VEE are each about 8% of my RIF. I am thinking of switching ZWC for ZLB, switching VVL for VVO, switching VUN for VGG and switching VEE for VXC. What do you think of this strategy? Should I hold some and do nothing? Please explain your reasoning.
Thanks for your help and have a happy holiday season.
Dick

Q: Given the current market conditions, would you consider it prudent to invest in the USA market via Canadian ETF'S. If so, what ETF's would you recommend?

Q: I just transferred 100,000 from an investment company to Questrade because i'm fed up with the high management fees. I was thinking of splitting it between Index Funds and ETF's. I'm 59 and this money is in an RRSP acct. Where would you recommend I invest this money.
Thanks

Brian

Q: On my US portfolio I have: VGG @ 33%, HXQ @ 25%, HXS @ 25% and a combination of IWO,XSU, XMH @ 17%. I am trying to minimize taxes (dividends & form 1135) while maintaining US exposure/growth. Would you comment on this set up? Thank you for your service.

Q: Thanks so much for your reply to my earlier question. You suggested the following ETFs and I was wondering what a good portfolio allocation would be for each (I was thinking 50% allocated toward your BE portfolio however if a lesser/more percentage makes sense then please advise):

XWD (global expoure), VFV (S&P 500), VGG (US dividend growth), HXQ (US technology), XSU (US small-cap)

Thanks!

Q: Good afternoon, looking to hold a 20% allocation of the American market through ETFs (CAD dollar preferred). Currently hold VUN, and I am looking to add another ETF to complement it - was thinking ZSP or VGG. Any opinions on either of these or any others? Thanks

Q: Which etf's or index funds would you use today to allocate $100k in a Canadian registered acct. for a longer term hold and in what proportion?
Thanks.

Q: For US dividends, why own VGG (MER = 0.30% , div. yield = 1.34%) vs. DGRO (0.08%, 2.44%)?

Q: I currently have some cash in RRSP USD and RRSP CAD accounts. I also have some US cash for Non-Reg USD account.

I am wondering how to allocate VIG/VGG/ZDY amongst these accounts to minimize FX fees while also minimizing taxes.

For e.g. if I put VGG or ZDY in RRSP CAD, I believe a 15 per cent withholding tax applies to dividends if US stocks are held via a TSX-listed ETF (yes, even within RRSP account)!

If I put VIG in RRSP USD, I will have to pay the 15-percent withholding taxes on the US dividends.

Please do you have any recommendations on how to avoid paying these taxes?

Also given that VGG is listed in TSX and tracks the VIG ETF in the US, I am wondering whether there is any difference in putting VGG in RRSP CAD account or should I prefer putting VIG in the RRSP USD account (given smaller MER).

Thanks!

Q: Hi Team, I have 20% of my rsp in cash. Im considering going with growth oriented ETFs. Can you suggest 3 ETFs, and I would go with 7% for each? Is 7% too high when adding an ETF to my portfolio?
Thanks

Q: I am looking for a dividend ETF in Canada and USA. What do you recommend?