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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: Received corporate action notice
Appreciate your advice
Conversion privilege as if dec31/18
I am presently down $5400 loss
1. To receive one cumulative floating rate préf share of series 4 CPX for each capital power Corp cumulative rate reset pref share series 3 converted If you recommend this option can u explain what it means going forward
2 those who do not convert need not submit — I assume this means it’s cashed in in dec31/18
Appreciate your advice
Read Answer Asked by Indra on December 10, 2018
Q: In the past I have had very good results from investing in Mawer Equity Funds. In world markets, I have found that they typically outperform the comparative benchmark. I have virtually no exposure to emerging markets so thought that I would invest a small percentage of my assets in the Mawer Emerging Markets Equity Fund. Currently, because it is a small fund, the MER, all in, is in excess of 1.9% and at mid year they were underperforming the emerging markets index; however, I believe they have outperformed since that time. I understand it can be a very volatile area of the world to invest in but thought I should be there so hopefully have picked the fund that will perform best over a 10 year or so period of time. I recognise that this fund has a much higher MER than an ETF but thought that this may have value in this area of investment. I appreciate very much your comments. Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by ED on December 10, 2018
Q: I've been comparing these two funds and while they appear to be essentially taking the same approach. HFR has Canadian & US holdings and FLOT has exclusively US holdings. Yet their is a substantial difference in their yields. But FLOT yield is 4.3% and HFR 2.3%. I don't get it.
Yield is nice to have but I'm more concerned with capital preservation through the end of this business cycle. Your thoughts would be appreciated.
Read Answer Asked by Brian on December 10, 2018
Q: Hi there, going into 2019 I'd like to re-balance my portfolio to start the new year. I'd like to use your BE Portfolio as the Canadian exposure of my portfolio and add ETFs to add diversity. I'm in my mid 30's and have a 15/20 year outlook with a private DB plan at work. In terms of risk and volatility tolerance, I am okay with the profile growthier names in the BE Port (ie: SIS, KXS, TOY, CSU, PBH etc) but usually stay away from the Growth Portfolio names, as the volatility is usually too much for me. At first glance I was thinking of the following but am not very experienced and am completely open to your advice and expertise:

50% BE Portfolio
40% HXS/VFV
10% HXQ

Could you suggest a 1) TSX ETF only listed portfolio make up and 2) TSX and/or US listed ETF make up? Please remove as many question credits as required.

Thanks for your advice and guidance!
Read Answer Asked by Michael on December 10, 2018
Q: Your update sent to subscribers on Thursday: "Amid all the negativity, investors can find solace in remembering that volatility is a part of investing in the market and solid long-term returns are earned by accepting this risk in the markets."
Your article on the Post on Friday: "One of the most important things to watch for as an investor is when there is a market or economic ‘shift’... We may be entering a shift in the economy right now. Companies are guiding to lower growth. Stocks have been weak. The market is in a slow train-wreck crash. The Fed even has indicated the economic party may be winding down."
The 'tone' in your Q&A section and all your updates has been to stay the course, don't sell, and even to add to numerous names. This is a completely different 'tone' than your article on Friday. Please clarify.

Also, your Balanced Portfolio has a significant growth tilt that doesn't seem appropriate at all at this time. Over the last 3 months, it's down almost 16%, 7% more than the TSX. Are you planning to 'shift' the portfolio?
Read Answer Asked by Darcy on December 10, 2018
Q: Hello,

We live in "interesting times"!

I have been patiently waiting to add more of AQN but price keeps rising without respite, even during major pullbacks! What magic is going on at AQN?

1) Does it look like a Top is forming around $14?

I'm sure the stock is very compelling as a momentum vehicle and maybe I should nibble both on the Up and on the Down.

As ever, your helpful thought appreciated.
Regards
Read Answer Asked by Arzoo on December 10, 2018
Q: I would like to add some income stocks or ETF's for the US side of my RIF that pay the income in US dollars. Income is the primary focus and growth is secondary. Do you have any suggestions?

Thanks you.
Read Answer Asked by Hans on December 10, 2018
Q: Im looking at the Dalio/Robbins "All-weather Portfolio". Do you have any comments about it fundamentally? They both say its about diversifying the risk rather than the sector or products in order to increase the chances of making money in almost any market and decrease losses.

Can you make recommendations for each category please? They also recommend low cost etfs to get further diversification within each category. I would still keep a small amount of cash aside for higher growth names to "play with", so any profit taking would potentially go into the All Weather Account.

What they lay out is:

30% Long term bond (20-25 year)

15% Intermediate Bonds (7-10 years)

30% Stocks

7.5% Gold (possibly a bouillon etf, or possibly just gold with no etf)

7.5% Commodities


Please deduct what you feel for credits since this is a multi part question.
Thanks


Read Answer Asked by david on December 10, 2018
Q: I currently don't have any REITs in my income portfolio but am now considering adding a couple. I was considering the above 4 but really want to add only 2 names. Which would you consider or would you suggest something else? Looking for reasonable income with an eye on preserving capital during rising interest rates.
Read Answer Asked by Rudy on December 10, 2018
Q: Good morning,
I currently do not own the above listed equities from the BE Portfolio which I follow pretty closely. Are there any you would not recommend purchasing right now? Thanks for your counsel. I am watching sector allocations.
Ted
Read Answer Asked by Ted on December 10, 2018