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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: In your portfolio analytics, you used to have A list of suggested etfs for each sector. I cannot find this list anymore. Has it been removed? Could you please provide a list of recommended etfs for each sector. Thank you
Read Answer Asked by satish on May 15, 2020
Q: My target allocation to Financials is 15%. Within that group, I would like your advice on the following selection and allocation: TD-25%; CME - 8%; SIVB - 8%; MFC - 8%; BAM - 16%; BX - 16%; FSZ - 12%; XLF - 6% [or another bank].
This grouping is intended to provide both overall yield and growth; accepting some volatility. What would, in your view, be a reasonable target return for such a grouping? Please advise on target percent allocation to the sector. Which ones would you recommend and what alternatives would you prefer?.
Read Answer Asked by sam on January 16, 2019
Q: There was a discussion on a financial network with a portfolio manager regarding future rate increases. The expectation is that rates will likely be increased 3 to 4 times over the next 15 months or so. This in turn would likely result in an inverted yield curve. In such an environment, financial stocks, especially insurance companies, have historically done very poorly. So not hold them.!
My questions are
What is your expectation for future interest rate increases this year and next?
Do you agree with how 3-4 rate increases would likely affect the yield curve?
From you experience, historically, has this type of scenario been quite negative for financial stocks; that is banks and insurance companies?
And if this is very negative for financial stocks, should one continue to hold such shares beyond the end of this year?
Your analysis please. Thanks.


Read Answer Asked by John on October 01, 2018
Q: In what order would you rate the following U.S. equities
I am considering adding to a well-diversified portfolio?
IHI IWO XLK XLF KRE VISA
Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Harold on June 11, 2018
Q: Hi,
I am wanting exposure to US financials and I am wondering if there is an ETF in Canada that tracks XLF. Of the three listed names could you give me your opinion on how they rank. XLF is one that has Berkshire stock, which I would like some exposure to.
Thanks,
Gwen
Read Answer Asked by Gwen on March 16, 2018
Q: Firstly, let me compliment your staff on the VERY quick response to my latest question!
Now, picking up on our changes to the Cash Acct, I have decided to move the bulk of our RIFF accounts to the US to counter the larger CDN investments in our Cash Acts.
I have picked only ETFS as I believe they best represent US national growth potential at this time.
I would appreciate your best advice & rationale on 4 or 5 of the following: UDOW, DDM, SPSM, XLE, DIA, VTI, XLF, SPY, IGM. Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Robert on January 22, 2018
Q: I am having a hard time deciding if I should add to my financials with individual stocks or buy an ETF. XLF and MTUM have holdings that I already own and am ok with adding to these via the ETF and they also hold BAC and JPM which I do not own. Can you please give me your opinion. Sectors and weightings are fine. Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Gayle on January 17, 2018
Q: ZBK- BAC,JPM,WFC,C, =20% of holdings, rest are midsized banks, 2017 return 10% TER 0.74%
ZUB 2017 return 17% TER 0.80 %
XLF- BAC,JPM,WFC,C, = 32% of holdings + Berkshire H at 11%,rest are regional banks, insurance, financial services, 2017 return 22% TER 0.14%

Is this accurate?
I am 50% non reg., 45% RSP, 5% TFSA, retired living comfortably
Looking at 3% position
Your choice (or choices i.e. split) and why
What account
Thanks
Derek



Thanks

Read Answer Asked by Derek on January 15, 2018
Q: My TFSA is all in Can $. I have $12000.00 to add this year, so would like your opinion, on the US Tech sector, or the US Bank sector.
I would buy a ETF. At this time would you go hedged or unhedged?
Thanks for your continued support.
Shirley



Read Answer Asked by Shirley on January 10, 2018
Q: We have some u.s money in a RIF acct and would like to compliment our balanced and income portfolio and were thinking of VG - IYJ- XLF and VXUS. Does this make sense as we are also playing the currency and this is profit from 2017 thanks to you and your service....thanks...Eugene
Read Answer Asked by gene on December 18, 2017
Q: I have been looking but unable to find the names/tickers for US bank stock etfs. Would you please give me the names of the the large and mid caps etfs you recommend in US dollars?
Thank you. Cathy Further to my previous question re US bank stocks etfs, would you recommend buying them now?
Thanks, cathy
Read Answer Asked by Catherine on December 01, 2017
Q: i currently have almost $20000 in U.S. cash in my porfolio.
am looking to invest in the U.S. Banks.
would i be better off in investing in a U.S. bank etf or would i benefit more by transferring my U.S. funds to Canadian dollars and using either ZBK or ZUB??
or would you suggest a U.S. Regional bank etf?
these funds are not in a RRIF or other registered retirement account.
ed in Montreal
Read Answer Asked by ed on August 10, 2017
Q: I have owned the above US ETF's for several months in contemplation of the supposed TRUMP build out. It's not happening and I'm not satisfied. For a major change I am considering TJX, COST, V, DEO & AAPL. How would you rank & what other individual cos. would you recommend. Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Robert on May 30, 2017
Q: I own 4 Canadian financial institutions (BNS, CM, RY and TD). No exposure to life insurance companies or U.S. financials. I would like to avoid U.S. financials. I find it very hard to trust management and it seems like there is always a scandal at a major U.S. bank. I use to own Wells Fargo thinking it was best in breed and they couldn't even avoid scandal. With the advantage of the CDN dividend and BMO and TD's exposure to the U.S. I prefer to get exposure to the U.S. that way.

My question is whether I should sell CM since it is more exposed to the CDN economy than the others and purchase BMO instead for their U.S. midwest exposure? I am not opposed to getting U.S. banking exposure through an ETF like XLF perhaps. Which strategy do you favour? Each bank is currently 3-4% of my portfolio.

Thanks,
Jason
Read Answer Asked by Jason on November 14, 2016