Investment Q&A

Q: Thanks to rising oil prices, I have cashed out of an oil stock at the original price paid 5 years ago. I feel lucky to have done so as this is a sector I wish to avoid. This makes my TFSA ( small part of total portfolios and is my fun money ) 50 % cash.
Knowing that momentum is important to you, what are your thoughts on the momentum of the S&P 500 ? The growthy small caps seem to be out of favour at the moment. Do I wait until market sentiment has changed back or look at other larger growth stocks ? Your 3 suggestions for a risk oriented TFSA is appreciated. Derek

Q: Is there any difference in performance between between a US listed ETF and the equivalent Canadian TSX listed ETF? Is it best to keep it in Canadian currency?
For example: VOO// VFV/ VSP or QQQ// QQC.F/ QQC
Also what would you recommend for hedged vs non-hedged and also market weight vs equal weight?
Thanks

Q: Can you recommend your top-5 ETFs ? I am looking for medium-to-high risk/growth positions.

Thanks!

Q: I am 80 and stopped investing in companies Investorline..
Not to loose out to inflation I put all my RIF USD into the 3 indexes IYY/VOO/VGT. Feb 1 to todate I made in CAD 9.9% Is that a reasonable way to invest with little effort and no trading fees no exchanges. Pls advise

Q: If you had to pick only ten stocks or ETF's to hold forever which would they be?
Thanks

Q: Hello,

Which aggressive growth ETF (or a set of ETFs), would you recommend for a long (e.g. 14+ years hold) in a RESP account?

Thank you

Q: I recently asked a question about recommended ETF holdings in my RRSP for coverage of the US market. You had suggested converting my holdings to USD and purchase VOO direct on the US market rather than the CAD ETFs I currently hold. This would eliminate withholding taxes.
How much of a drag on performance would these withholding taxes represent?

Q: I would like to own some simple diversified US equity both in my RRSP and a non registered account.

#1.currency exchange aside does it matter TAX-WISE (dividend withholding tax) which one is in the RRSP

#2. considering currency exchange costs, do you recommend going with VOO or sticking to VFV in a non registered account. (factors to consider , amount invested will likely be upwards of 100 000 and long term hold)

thanks

Ernie

Q: I'm looking for a ETF holding US stocks that will work well with ZWH.CA
This would be in a RRSP.

Q: S&P 500 High Beta ETF (SPHB). What is your opinion of SPHB vs VOO? The fee is .25%, but it seems to perform better long and short term to make up the fee. Can you add SPHB to your database?

Q: Over the next 5 to 10 years, which index do you expect to perform better? The S&P500 or the NASDAQ100 and what would be your reasoning? Thanks in advance.

Q: Dear 5i,
Comparing MOAT vs VOO it appears that in general MOAT outperforms even thought
MER is considerably higher. It looks like they both distribute dividends but, no return of capital. I am interested in purchasing for my NonReg account and don't want to update my ACB if there is a ROC or phantom distribution. Should I buy one of these or both? Do US ETF's ever have phantom distributions like some Canadian ETF's and mutual funds? I'm afraid I could not find any information on this matter.

thanks

Q: Hi, friends!
I collected some money from BMO dividend and would like to invest in VOO ETF , but I am afraid of double taxation on capital gain and dividend, in Canada and USA!
Can you tell me when I have to pay taxes for USA and Canada and approximately how much?
I am retire with a small pension, 71 yr.
Thank you, very much
!

Q: I listened recently to a discussion involving Cathy Wood and the principal of the Van Eck fund. Cathy Wood said that she thinks possibly fifty per cent of the s and p 500 could be negatively affected because they failed to invest in innovation. A bit scary when you own rsp or voo. On the same interview was van Eck, who seemed to agree with her. And partially for this reason they have developed MOAT. He seems to think that with these companies he circumvents the problem. Perhaps this is my reading into his comments. Wondering whether you might think it would be worthwhile to trade out of rsp and voo and into most
Thanks as always

Q: A few questions re best index ETFs for safety, total return and tax efficiency:
(1) S&P/TSX 60 (unregistered account): Is XIU, XIC or another ETF better?
(2) S&P 500 (RRSP/TFSA): What CAN listed ETF is best for long hold: ZSP, XSP or other ETF? If held in an RRSP (ie US dividend tax except), can you recommend the best US listed ETF for the S&P 500?
(3) NASDAQ 100 (RRSP/TFSA): What CAN listed ETF is best: ZNQ, ZQQ or another ETF? Is QQQ the best US listed?
(4) Ex-North America index (RRSP): Can you list the best CAN listed ETF index fund? Would you stick with large caps or all? XEF? VIU?
(5) Emerging market index ETFs (RRSP): ZEM, VEE or other?
(6) MISC: Has HXT, HXS and HXQ permanently resolved gov't issues and are these ETFs safe for long term hold?
Thank you!!

Q: Hello,
Is there any material difference between SPY or VOO? Which would you prefer?
I'm considering selling covered calls and will buy one of these to start the process.
Thank you

Q: To avoid dividend withholding tax in an RRSP, the best solution from a tax perspective is to hold US ETFs that hold securities directly, such as VTI. This was your answer to my first question.

Is there any downside for a Canadian RRSP investor to own a US listed ETF such as VOO? Thanks again.

Q: Good day!

I've noticed a trend with respect to your recommendations for RESP ETF holdings with a longer timeframe (10-15yrs). You seem to like VGRO +/- IWO. I'm looking for growth and can tolerate risk. Currency doesn't matter.

VGRO has a 19.9% weighing of bond ETF's and the rest are a combination of other vanguard ETF's. In looking at performance since its inception, it lags behind IWO which often lags behind the S&P 500 ETFs. From a non-expert viewpoint it would seem that a combination of large and mid cap US/CAN ETF's would achieve similar purpose and improve returns by eliminating the bond component.

1. What am I missing re VGRO? is it that the bond component satisfies the usual 80/20 combination as an all-in-one and is simply easy?

2. If you were to improve the 'all-in-one' VGRO using a combination of ETF's, which US/CAN growth/index ETF's would you assemble to eliminate the bond component? Perhaps a combination of XIC, VFV/ZSP/VOO, VTI, VUG, ZQQ or others you think work better?

3. Out of the S&P 500 ETF's, do you have a preference between ZSP or VFV? Is there an advantage to holding the US listed SPY, IVV or VOO vs the Canadian-listed? and if so, which do you prefer?

4. If you were to devote 25% of the RESP to high potential equities, which would you choose?

Thanks!

Q: Hello,
It is OK to have QQQ, VOO and VIG in TFSA accounts ? If not, are there any equivalent Canadian ETFs that are focused on US stocks like them ? Thank you very much.

Q: Hi Peter/Ryan, my 20 year old son wants to get into Vanguard ETF's. He has a TFSA stock account and now wants to add a Vanguard ETF. What is your opinion of Vanguard and is there one you would recommend. Thanks, Nick