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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: Hello 5i,
your portfolio analysis says that i am over 15 percent in my Canadian a;llotment and under 14 percent im my international allocation. I am thinking about addressing this at the moment and wondered whether it is a good time to do this? I would be selling Canadian and possibly US stocks to do it. if this is an opportune time to do this, should I use the above etf's or supplement them with something else? My portfolio is quite bananced. I suppose many of the stocks I own could count for international exposure, too but I don't know how to calculate that. So, the question boils down to whether this is a good time to invest internationally, where to do it, if it is and under what etf?
thanks
Read Answer Asked by joseph on September 24, 2025
Q: Can you suggest a list of best emerging market ETFs Traded on TSX in CDN$ and on US exchange in US$.

Can you also suggest list of ETFs with defense companies
Read Answer Asked by Naren on July 22, 2025
Q: I would like to hedge my US Investments from a falling US dollar. I have USD cash to deploy and I am looking at IGOV the IShares International Treasury Bond ETF and BWX the SPDR Bloomberg International Treasury Bond ETF. What do you think of these ETF's as hedges to the USD, and do you have any alternative solutions? Thank you for your assistance.
Read Answer Asked by John on April 25, 2025
Q: I am two years before retirement and have a moderate risk profile. My current allocation is 25% Canada, 70% US, 5% Developed, and 0% Developing. Considering the state of the economy in Canada and Trump's threats about tariffs, I am wondering whether it's a good idea to decrease my allocation for Canada to 20% and instead allocate 3% to VWO and 2% to ILF. What's your opinion on this? Where do you anticipate better returns—in Canada or in the emerging markets covered by VWO and ILF?
Read Answer Asked by Ron on December 12, 2024
Q: I am deciding on whether to sell this ETF. It has done very poorly over the past 3 years. It is sitting in my RRSP so I can't get a capital loss which I can use for the future. What would be a better ETF to replace this with? Does IEMG have some future upside?

Thanks for your assistance.
Read Answer Asked by Mauro on December 04, 2024
Q: May I please have your top two emerging market ETFs?
With appreciation,
Ed
Read Answer Asked by Ed on August 27, 2024
Q: Although I realize you are not tax experts, I have a general question about holding ETF’s in an an open account. My understanding is that Canadian-listed ETF’s are exempt from the T1135 filing. So I believe HXDM, even though an International ETF, could be held in a non-registered account without any filing requirement. Is my assumption correct?

On the other hand, any ETF could be held within an RRSP without filing (eg. VWO).
Read Answer Asked by James on July 30, 2024
Q: Setting aside currency considerations, which ETF-- VWO.US or ZEM.CA-- is better to hold within an RRSP? (I am asking this question because I know that based upon the different ways that ETFs are structured, some have less losses based on foreign tax rules and considerations.)

Ted
Read Answer Asked by Ted on January 09, 2024
Q: I currently have little emerging market exposure and would like to move some surplus funds into that sector. The transaction would be in my USD non-registered account. I've been looking at a few ETFs and think that DEM:US would be a good pick as a start. Of course if you have other suggestions please include them with your response.

What should be the maximum allocation to an emerging market ETF given I am retired and this income stream would supplement my pension, LIF and RIF income.

Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Ronald on August 16, 2023
Q: For non-NA coverage I own ZDI, ZEM,XIN, and VWO. Do any other ETF's need to be added or do I have the world covered? Thanks Ron
Read Answer Asked by Ronald on July 20, 2023
Q: I am looking at investing 2023 contributions (2 x $6500) in stocks and/or ETFs. Please provide 5 stocks and 5 ETFs for long term hold. Rank the stocks and ETFs and comment on why they are being recommended,

Current stock holdings include: BYND, BAM, BN, REGN, TSLA

Current ETFs: QQQ, VGRO, ZEM, SKYY, IHI, XIT and SPY

Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Don on June 12, 2023
Q: How stable is the $2 dividend, currently yielding 8%?

Any similar etf you would consider to be a better choice for income and some growth?

Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Donald on June 02, 2023
Q: I have no International exposure to date. Can you please suggest your top three International ETF's.
Read Answer Asked by John on April 10, 2023
Q: Hi,

Now, I realize this is not your area of tinkering and please, if you feel its an area you are not comfortable with, say so.

In the many podcasts and financial shows that I follow and listen to a growing number of 'experts' ae waxing eloquent on how they expect the markets ex NA, whether they be EM or Europe will outperform over the next year +

Can you tell me

1)Do you agree with this, why yes or no?

2)If one has no direct international exposure should one , in your opinion own something to give then that exposure. and

3)Finally if you do agree what options would you reccomend investors consider.

Thanks in advance.



Sheldon
Read Answer Asked by Sheldon on February 08, 2023
Q: I sold above today as part of tax loss harvesting. What would be good substitutes for them if I still want exposure to these markets (my cash position is in US dollars). Or would you recommend waiting out 30 days to repurchase VEU and VWO?
Read Answer Asked by M on November 14, 2022
Q: Hi Peter,

Over the next five to ten years, what is your expectation from a risk-return prospective for the following asset classes? Please provide your ranking with a brief explanation for your rationale.

Annualized returns for the past ten years are noted below as per BlackRock:

U.S. equities – 13%
Canadian equities – 8%
Infrastructure – 7.3%
Japan equities – 6.6%
REITs – 6.1%
European equities – 5.3%
China equities – 4.9%
High yield bonds – 3.4%
Emerging Market equities – 3.3%


Thanks George

Read Answer Asked by George on September 14, 2022
Q: I am looking to diversify to more reasonably valued markets. I already own North American and European stocks / ETF's. So I want to increase my Emerging markets portfolio weighting. I own VWO (heavy Chinese component) and also ZID, so I would like even more diversification in S.E. Asia.

You've recently answered a question about EWY and mentioned how reasonably priced it was. Would EWS also be good value right now (i.e. P/E, P/S) ? Is 6% the correct dividend yield for that ETF, and are there any taxes withheld if it is part of one's RRSP ?
Read Answer Asked by James on February 08, 2022
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