Investment Q&A

Q: My wife has never dabbled in the markets and has often labelled it as too risky. She has tended to stay with GIC’s or higher interest saving accounts, yeilding perhaps 2-3.5% annually. However, after seeing returns on some of my equities and ETF’s she is reconsidering. While I know you cannot personalize what is best for her, can you please give your highest conviction for lower risk stocks/etf’s for an RRSP (about 130K) with a 3-5 year window. I have shown her RoR on Canoe ETF (about 8%) and HMAX (about 12%). Lower risk stocks like BN or GOOG are also being considered. Your input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again for all the great work you do!
Brian

Q: Dear Peter et al:

I know portfolio allocation is personal based on one's risk tolerance and age Cobo etc.,
Let us say that I decide personally to keep 50% in a defensive part,
can you give 3-5 ETFs for this defensive part of the portfolio?
Does Covered Calls ETFs play a role? Do Bonds play a role? Should one focus on solid dividend players.
I know from reading literally thousands of Q&A they all play a role! What I struggle is what percentages one should allot for each of these buckets:)
Capital preservation with mild to slightly moderate risk! Is that asking for too much?!

Q: I have $ 60000 to invest in my tfsa. I am retired. What 3 etfs would effectively give me a good somewhat conservative diversity especially for these chaotic times. Stability and income would be my main focus

Q: Can you suggest an ETF that will safeguard against a market correction and still provide growth if the market does not correct?

Q: If you were setting up a diversified unregistered account for yourself from scratch using US ETFs today, for a long-term hold:

How would you approach this?
What would ETFs would you pick?
What percentage would you put in each?

Please charge multiple questions as needed. Thanks very much.

Q: I am setting up a TFSA for my wife. I have been managing my own TFSA for 7 years but my wife has maintained her account with a BMO investment advisor. We also both have RIFs managed by the same advisor. My TFSA has far outperformed the accounnts managed by the professional (thanks to your advice) but my wife is very risk adverse. She has about $100 K to invest. We are both in our 70s and don't have pressing needs for the cash. Could you. suggest a basket of Canadian/US stocks/etfs that would provide some low risk growth with a 10 year horizon.

Q: Please suggest some US equivalents to ZLB and your preferred account to hold them in.

Q: For a long term income play, would you pick up any one from above ETFs today and why? thank you!

Q: I am currently managing my TFSA/RRSP funds and some money outside of registered accounts, which are largely individual stocks. With the market volatility, potential recession and war in Ukraine, I am finding it more difficult to keep on top of the individual stocks and am therefore considering going to ETF's. I am a year away from retirement but would be ok with more risk in the TFSA/RRSP's.
Could you please suggest 5 ETF's for the registered accounts and 5 ETF's for the non-registered accounts.
Thank you,
Jacquie

Q: could your recommend a low volatility ETF for the Canadian, US and International market? would you prefer a Canadian or International ETF over the US given that the US has had such a large run?
thanks

Q: Hi folks, I am expecting an inheritance of about $50-70,000. I currently have what I would consider a med-high risk portfolio for retirement. I'm 46 so I am a ways from retiring but would rather put that $50-70,000 in a small number of low-med risk equities or an ETF with a good dividend and just let it grow slowly but surely. Can you provide any recommendations?

Thanks!

Q: hello 5i:
recent discussion on Factor Investing on your Questions board. this item probably should be in the Blog section (not sure how many use it), so publish if you wish or think it adds value to the ETF discussion. Material is dated, but I have invested a portion of our portfolio in the suggestion, on this article in Seeking Alpha:
https://seekingalpha.com/article/4275985-beating-market-factor-etfs-simple-approach
thanks and hope this helps someone
Paul L

Q: I just read your answer re the above symbol, Larry Bermans newest addition. My question would be, what would you recommend that has a longer track record and is similiar to zpay's philosophy, maybe not quite the best word for an etf !!. Thank you.

Q: Hi 5i -- my son (age 26) has recently started working in a well-paying job in the US. He's saving a good portion of his salary and has asked me what he should be investing in. No debt. He's looking to invest for long-term growth for retirement in 40 years or so. About 1/3 of his holdings right now are in Brookfield Asset Management, 1/2 are split between VIG and USMV, and the rest is Berkshire Hathaway and CN for his non-registered accounts. Right now non-registered savings are $75k.
His 401k is separate in Vanguard SP500 index fund. He is a believer in pay yourself first and has been able to save and invest 5,000/month US!

He's looking for good growth stocks or funds that will increase steadily over the long term. He's earning enough now that he doesn't need dividends in the short term but he's not opposed theoretically if everything fits together. Any thoughts on what he should be investing in? Thanks.

Q: Hi,
If one believes the Canadian dollar will depreciate vs USD, what products/strategies available to hedge ? For example could you suggest unhedged ETF with less volatility tracking some US/International markets ? Thanks a lot

Q: Hello 5i,
Interesting times. Thank you for the backup.

I am trying to help my sister rebalance her portfolio and to get it retirement ready. She does not want to watch the portfolio but is open to rebalancing a couple of times a year. She is in the 40:60 to 50:50 bond:equity range for comfort (although this market is a great test about that assertion). She will live 3 - 4 months in the us during retirement.

I’ve been playing with the above mentioned etfs, keeping in mind that USD are already held (25% of portfolio), to find the proper mix of etfs to get to a 40:60 mix of bond to equity, with an equity exposure 25:50:25 Canada, US, International.

Please feel free to suggest other etfs as necessary if the above are not appropriate. Can you suggest an appropriate etf composition/ collection to satisfy the above criteria?

Tia

Q: Which best bang for the buck should a retiree look at when looking for some US exposure through ETFS, for the future recovery, I have no US exposure as of now and would like to take advantage of the downturn, I get by on the pensions I have.
Thank you.

Q: I want to rebalance my portfolio and increase my US holdings to ~60% of my portfolio using ETF's.
I currently hold VFV (15%), VB(10%) & VIG (10%).
- What other ETF's should I consider adding
- Recommended percent in each.
My timeframe is 3-5 years
You provide a great service for investors, thanks to you and your staff...

Q: I have some US funds to invest. Growth and some protection in a downturn. What stocks? I am thinking IHI,VZ, V or IWO ?? other suggestions?

Q: Would zlh be a fairly safe and effective investment for a 3 to 4 year holding? I need some more US exposure and would like to preserve my capital with some upside potential. Are their other low volatility US etf that you would prefer? Thank you.