Investment Q&A

Q: Follow your balanced portfolio and hold the above etfs for american exposure.. Vgg has performed better over the last 18 months. Thinking of selling vun, vfv and buying vgg. What do you think? T steve

Q: Greetings,
I currently own ZWH, XQQ, and VUN as part of my US focus in my portfolio. I am looking to add another name or two. Time frame 5+ years. I prefer to remain with Canadian ETFs investing in the US. First of all, do you see too much overlap here? I have room to add to all 3. Can you provide 3 stable dividend ETFs you might suggest to add and a couple of growth ETFs that might complement my current holdings? Thanks in advance. KEN

Q: I would appreciate your recommendations for the most tax-efficient ETF's for US equities in non-registered , RSP & TFSA accounts .
Thank you.

Q: Is VUN considered a tax efficient ETF to hold US stocks in an TFSA account?
If not could you suggest another?

Q: Can you please give me your recommendations for ETFS in the following categories?

US S&P 500
US Total Market
US Dividend

Thanks

Q: As per Steve's July 10 question on income portfolio cash position, I would like to deploy my 12% cash to increase my dividend flow. I am light on fixed income and US exposure. Please comment on buying DYN1567 or Dynamic global div. Fund for dividends and switching my VUN holding to dynamic power American growth fund. Mid 70s couple on rrifs and lower risk.
Thanks in advance,

Q: Hi 5i team,

I am wondering if you can compare VUN to VTI. Which is better to add to my portfolio? Since the holding of VUN is VTI, are they the same ? Are them both tax efficient in RRSP and TFSA accounts?

Thanks,
Alice Liu

Q: Have all of these and so far all performing fairly well---they all around 2%
Want to top 2 of them up to 5%----or maybe you have a better choice.
Please advise your thoughts
Peter

Q: As I need more US exposure, I am thinking of purchasing VUN, in my TFSA . Will this be subject to US withholding taxes?

Thanks
Helen

Q: Hi
I am increasing US exposure by 15-20% to a total of 35-40% from cash into ETFs. Portfolio Analytics suggests VUN for this exposure. I am thinking of using a more factored ETF, IWO or VGG. The US exposure would be the similar, the latter two have a lower financials weight (helpful for sector balancing also needed at this time), and possible relative out performance with small cap or dividend growth. Do you think 1, or a combination of 2-3 is better than the other? Any suggestion on weight (1/3 each)? Do not want to overlap too much nor one factor negate the other.

Any suggestions for adding some torque to passive component of US exposure welcome.

Thanks

Q: I'd like to simplify my rrsp and have a constant stream of income. I was thinking of selling my 30 stock over weight in canada and buy 5 or 6 ETF. Making easier to manage and have more investment outside of Canada. Do you like ZWC 20% weighting Ca, ZWH,20% weighting Us , ZWP20% weighting Eur , ZQQ 20% weighting Global tech company and Maybe ZRE for last 20% because reits usually goes up in a negative market. Please give me your opinion on my ETFs and your 6 picks would be? take as many question credit needed. Income and diversification globally are my goal.

Q: Thank you for all your help
I am a novice investor learning the ropes
For that reason, although I want to increase my US exposure , I am not comfortable picking individual stocks
Which of the following etf’s would you recommend, and why
VUN VGG XHU. (I already own VFV)
Also,I heard you do not want US in a TFSA. Why is that..?
Thanks again

Q: You are recommending etfs based on my analytical profile. What is a US HEDGED ETF.
Does it mean if the Canadian dollar goes up agai st the US dollar I would lose money. I am having a hard time buying the etfs at all time highs with small dividends. The one I want to buy is vun or zsp since they hold a lot of US technology, I think.

Q: I have 30% of my money in diversified CDN equities and don't need the money for 20 years.
I am not interested in bonds or REITs. I was considering putting the other 70% in the following ETF's.
45% VFV
18% VUN
18% XQQ
11% XEF
8% VEE
This would put around 57% of the total money in the USA. I am fine with that.
The MER would be around 0.18% based on the blend. I know this breaks your rule of keeping less than 25% in one fund. It also places a lot of money in Vanguard - which has been around since 1975, but nothing is for sure. Wondering what you think of this set up and also maybe I could sub out VUN for XUU. This would make 53% Vanguard and 47% iShares. Trading VUN for XUU would lower the MER a little as VUN is 0.16% and XUU is 0.07%

Q: Hi - looking for recommendation for ETF recommendations within my TFSA. 40% of TFSA will be for this ETF mix and 60% is in your Balanced Equity model. Long term investment horizon for me as in mid 30s. Any recommendations?

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 5i: Am considering SCHD .. Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (symbol not in your database) for a medium to long term hold in my non-registered account. It tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 index. Seems to have a good track record and 5 star rating from Morningstar with a low mer of 0.07%. What is your opinion of this ETF ? Would you prefer VUN or VGG ? Any other suggestions appreciated.
Thanks as always for your great advice !
Steve

Q: A while back you stated you preferred a S&P 500 etf over VUN because the s&p 500 etf had more concentrated holdings ie 500 companies vs several thousand holdings. Yet I notice many instances where you recommend / suggest VUN. I hold VUN and am somewhat confused wondering if I should trade VUN for a s&p 500 etf. Thank you.

Q: I would liked to switch the focus of my investments from equities to ETF's. Could you give me some broad parameters for guidance.
Could you suggest 10 ETF's for starters. Mid to long term with medium risk.
Thanks for your help.

Q: Hi 5i,
what can you tell me about the Dynamic Equity Income Fund other than its high MER of 2.15%?
Any other suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
Ron