Investment Q&A

Q: I’m looking to increase both US and international exposure in a TFSA account, which is focused on long term growth. Knowing you can't provide specific advice, I'm curious: In today's volatile market, is it wiser to slowly add to each investment or commit to a full position all at once?

Q: Is there a CDN traded etf representing total US market similar to VTI? Thank you.

Q: RE: I retired two years ago.

I hold roughly equal amounts of VUN and XUS in my RRSP. Both have performed well, and I now want to generate some cash. I’m trying to decide if I should trim both or just one? Selling VUN would reduce my portfolio risk more than selling XUS, correct? What are the pros and cons of each sell option? Thanks.

Q: Hello,
From what i gather, VUN has similar performance to SPY except that it is in cdn dollars. Since SPY has greater exposure to tech companies, i was wondering if it is best to diversify slightly by putting one third in VUN (total us market), XQLT (ishares msci usa quality ) and VGG (US dividend appreciation ) or do you think it is best to just have one VUN , or VGG or XQLT. I am looking for an etf that is not too heavily weighted on technology. Much appreciated.

Q: I’m looking for a way to assess the correlation of certain holdings to determine whether it makes sense to consolidate positions.

How would you think about this? Are there any free tools to pull correlations? What kind of correlation figure should one look for when assessing whether two holdings are too correlated to provide diversification value?

Just as one example, I’m looking at VVL and VUN. But please keep your answer focused on the general questions above.

Thanks very much.

Q: Looking of some growth ETF suggestions for my non-registered account, hold for at least 5 years.

Q: I there a US withhold tax on VNN? Does it make a difference if it is held in a RRSP or a TSFA account?

Q: Hello ,
I was thinking of buying TD technology leaders etf (TEC) instead of XQQ , the nasdaq 100 etf as it has performed the nasdaq and seems to be more diversified. Any comments please?

Also, I looked at the details of VUN and XUU etfs, They both seem to have similar holdings and over 5 year period both have similar performance. However , going over more than 5 years, why has VUN out performed XUU. I am not clear on this..

Regardless of the tariffs situation, the US market seems to do well over time, and hence i thought instead of total Europe exposure, go with VEQT etf. Any comments please..

Also, do you prefer unhedged products like VUN as opposed to VUS? Lastly, i use yahoo to to compare charts. Do you know a better site please? Thanks very much

Q: Which one do you prefer and why?

Q: Which one do you prefer for a 3 year hold? Thanks

Q: Most of my TFSA is in Canadian stocks (plus some US CDRs GOOGL, MSFT, AMZN). Now I'm thinking of adding 2 ETFs to my unregistered account. So far, my first choice is VFV, because I know you like it. But you mentioned another one that broadens out from the S&P 500. Not sure about that one: thoughts? But I want one more, particularly with dividend and some growth. If there is a USA one that, like VFV, trades in Canada TSX but pays dividends in US dollars, that might work nicely. Alternatively, maybe a Canadian one that is not too focused on Financials and Energy, one with which I could get dividend tax credit, may work. Between dividend and growth, I would lean toward growth and sacrifice some dividend. Between Canada and USA, I'd like USA, but only if I can buy on TSX. I'd like to stick to just two, but maybe three would work best? What say you? Thank you, yet again, for such a fabulous service.

Q: Watching Bermans call. He suggests the midcap space in the US will flourish with Trump.
I have done quite well with VUN. What is your opinion re the large cap space vs the midcaps in the next 4 years.
Do you think this is so and with extra cash in my RRSP, would you just stick with the large cap ETF or go with the small cap ETF.

Which of the large cap ETF would you choose, VFV with a lower MER over VUN?
Is XMC your choice for the mid cap ETF?

Thanks
Jeff

Q: Hi,

I've gone through the questions/answers but I don't see this precise question before.

What would you recommend holding between VFV and VUN?

Thanks,
Robert

Q: NTSX/VUN Peter; Would owning these two be too much overlap? Thanks.
Rod

Q: For etfs like these held in a cash account, is the holder paying a withholding on the yield, in some way?
Is the tax withheld at the level of the etf provider, or would one see the amount withheld in one’s brokerage account.

Q: For an RESP with withdrawals starting this year, ending likely 10 to 11 years out for youngest child:
Largest holding is the ETF VUN (US) at 43% followed by BN and AC at around 12% each, then TOI, DOO , ATZ, SU, BAM in the 3-10% range each. Not included is the unfortunate loss of about 8% of the RESP due to failure of XBC.
So the focus remains on growth for the next 4-5 years to keep withdrawals mostly funded by growth.
Thoughts on keeping VUN as is? What about a higher-yielding ZWB in lieu of the individual stocks? Any concerns / risks that you know of for the stocks listed or maybe can offer some lower-risk substitutions?

Big thank you!

Q: Hi 5i
Wondering if you know of a US equivalent of vbal, that a Canadian can buy. From my own search, it seems like there is onlya US mutual fund equivalent, which Canadians can’t buy. But maybe you have other information.
Thanks

Q: We have been keeping in cash the proceed of the sale of a condo. what would you suggest for a conservative growth ETF in canadian currency. That would represent 10% of our equities holdings. Looking for more growth than yield, as this would be in a non registered account. We would like something all in one, as I do not want to add more names to the list of equities we have.

Q: Hello,

I need to sell approximately $100,000 from my Unregistered account. I am trying to hold off as long as possible. Looking for your suggestions on which of the listed ETF's I should sell or should I sell a certain percentage from each one given where the market is now and where it might be going? If Industrials or Health care, etc. are projected to go higher then I obviously want to sell out from some other sectors.

Thanks for your great service. It was much easier to stay the course with my diversified portfolio and Portfolio Analytics keeping me on track.

Q: 1.For Canadian coverage would you choose xic, vcn or xiu?
2.Would it be worth putting half the total amount in one of the above(xic, vcn, or xiu)and the other half in vdy?
3.For the U,S. allocation should I choose vig or spy which both require payment in u.s. dollars which I don't have, or would it be adequate to simply choose vun.

Thanks in advance. I plan to hold these allotments for many years and I appreciate dividends but do not need them for my living expenses.