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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: Which ETF do you feel compliments VOO the most? This would be for my RRSP. Also, I’m 15 years from retirement.

Your top 3 in order preferably?

US/CND/international/All world.. doesn’t matter.

Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Nick on August 25, 2025
Q: I am looking to put a portfolio of ETF's together to provide exposure to the total US market as well as some limited International exposure. I would like some FX protection hence the inclusion of some hedged ETF's.

For the US segment - I came up with the following holdings
VOO - 50%
ZAA - 20%
ZMID.F - 10%
VIOO - 10%
VIG - 10%

For the International Segment - I am looking at ZDM

Do the ETF choices and mix look reasonable to you - any other suggestions.
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Gary on August 11, 2025
Q: Trump’s pro-U.S. policies (tariffs, tax cuts, deregulation) are driving U.S. market growth. What would the best US dollar etf's be to take advantage of this growth. This will be held in a unregistered account. TY!

Derek
Read Answer Asked by Derek on May 20, 2025
Q: A large portion of my portfolio is VOO, QQQM and SCHD. Would you recommend buying QQQ, VOO or SCHD when they are currently available for less from their highs?
Read Answer Asked by Don on April 07, 2025
Q: Hi I currently hold VOO. Would you consider selling for COSTO with its recent decline? I understand it’s difficult to compare ETFs and stocks, but looking for the greatest growth return long term. Do you feel COSTO could drop further in this market? If so, entry point? Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Nick on March 10, 2025
Q: Can you please share your favourite ETF for Dow Jones, S&P500 and TSX

Please share in CDN dollars hedge and unhedged. Plus in USA dollars

Thanks for the great service.
Read Answer Asked by Hector on February 25, 2025
Q: Mr Warren Buffet has recently sold his entire positions in SPY and VOO.. Can you explain or help rationalize this move?

I currently hold VOO. Would you consider these ETFs a BUY/HOLD/SELL?

Thank you for your time. Cheers
Read Answer Asked by Nick on February 18, 2025
Q: What is your opinion of this ETF? The performance history is really good beating the S&P and others over the last 10 years. They have had a couple of splits in the past and hold about 235 stocks in total. I looked at the top holdings and they are almost the same as the VOO /VFV. Would this be a good sub for the VFV or VOO? The price per unit is low
Read Answer Asked by Kolbi on February 13, 2025
Q: Hello Peter and 5i Team! it is an RESP account.

A new granddaughter born this year has a tiny new RESP in her name. It started with 3 shared of IUSG, and then, realizing that commissions were a large percentage of such small purchases, we added 2 shares of ZUQ, which has no commission.

For future small contributions, I am looking at these 4 ETFs, based on 3-year average annual return. I am specifically wondering about MER vs Tax efficiency:

ZUQ: +13.44%/yr, MER=0.33%, yield=0.60%, holds US stocks directly
VFV: +13.36%/yr, MER=0.09%, yield=0.99%, holds US stocks indirectly through VOO
XUS: +13.36%/yr, MER=0.09%, yield=1.03%, holds US stocks indirectly through IVV
ZSP: +13.30%/yr, MER=0.09%, yield=0.94%, holds US stocks directly
(as far as I know, none of these are hedged)

Generally I gravitate to low MERs, so perhaps ZUQ is not the best choice.

I recall a comment on 5i that the indirect holding of US stocks means that the withholding tax is withheld when the underlying US ETF pays dividends to the Canadian holding ETF (e.g. VFV get the dividend from VOO, less 15%). So holding in a TFSA won't avoid it, whereas it would be avoided with, say, ZSP in a TFSA.

So, my question is: do the 3-yr performance numbers take all of this into account? I am guessing not... withholding tax efficiency depends on the holders nationality, sheltered status, etc.

Bottom line - which of these ETFs would you recommend for a grandchild with a time horizon of many decades, for optimal performance?

Thanks for your excellent insights and wisdom!
Read Answer Asked by Ed on February 03, 2025
Q: Greetings!

What ETFs would you recommend to make up someone's entire investment portfolio with the intentions to add to them monthly?

Thank you very much.
Read Answer Asked by Stefan on January 21, 2025
Q: Good Morning. I have US dollars that I want to invest for my recently born grandchildren so there is a 15-20 year timeframe. Please advise 5 ideas, US $ stocks or etfs, and rank in order from low risk to high. I will likely purchase a mix and compare how they perform over time. Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Catherine on January 20, 2025
Q: I submitted this question on Sunday, so now re-submitting...

Asking this question for a friend who is relatively new to investing (and may be a future 5i client:-)

She has $200k in a non-registered account and is contemplating a balance of 75% US ETFs and 25% US equities, any sector. The account is growth-focused, moderate to medium risk; no funds will be withdrawn for 3-5 years. Given these parameters, please suggest 4 ETFs and 4 stocks she should consider. Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Maureen on January 16, 2025
Q: could you pls suggest a couple of US denominated etfs that track the sp500 - preferably equally weighted. Thanks
Read Answer Asked by gary on January 14, 2025
Q: I currently own a full weigh of the above listed ETFs and in light of President Trump's economic policies that are likely to benefit the financial sector, I'm looking at possibly adding XLF: US ETF to my US$ Non Registered account.


Q1. What would be your best idea for US$ ETF to add to a US$ Non Registered account at this time along with your rational for this choice?

Q2.What are your thoughts on XLF:US in terms of potential return for 2025 and the remainder of the Trump presidency?

Thank you and I look forward to your response.
Francesco
Read Answer Asked by Francesco on January 13, 2025
Q: Can you please recommend an equivalent ETF to VOO or MGK that is denominated in Cdn dollars. Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Greg on January 13, 2025
Q: Is there a "Best" S&P500 Index ETF, or are all the same? Which has performed the best last year?

Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Austin on January 09, 2025