Investment Q&A

Q: Which do you prefer for 2025 VIG vs SCHD?

Q: Hi

My partner has funds to invest in a TFSA for a 3–5+-year hold starting now. Can you please suggest several diversified ETFs that would be worth considering both USD and CAD hedged that are likely to see growth, including any mid-cap ETFs to consider. Please also suggest any bond ETFs to consider providing balance.

Thank you for the great service!

Q: My wife has some money should would like to invest in eft. Which ones would you recommend.

Q: Happy new year 5I! (this question is not urgent),

Given how far the Canadian dollar has fallen, in an RRSP is there any merit to switching a VIG to VGH if one thinks the CAD will bottom soon and then slowly work its way up by 9-10% in value over the coming years?

Thank you for all your insight in 2024!

Q: I plan to own above 4 ETF is there an overlap on these ETF. If there is an overlap which one would you recommend as a buy for long term hold.

Thanks for the great service

Q: Recently you answered my question regarding US dividend WHT on Canadian domiciled ETF issues (Vanguard Canada, RBC Ishares etc) and noted that withholding taxes are owing on distributions since the Canadian ETF is simply holding the US ETF and the taxes would be levied when distributions are paid by the US ETF to the Canadian ETF.

Some follow up questions:
- I am assuming that the WHT would apply even if the Canadian ETF is held within a registered account?
- Does the WHT explain part of the difference in yield when comparing the US ETF and the Canadian ETF? For example - VIG yields 1.69% while VGG yields 1.17%. Assuming also that the higher MER on VGG also explains part of the yield difference??
- Given these factors - the WHT and higher MER - why would anyone choose the Canadian version of the same ETF. Further to this - In another question posed by Jacques - you point out that the Canadian ETF ZSP would be preferable to VFV since it holds the stocks directly and not thru the US ETF VOO....thereby avoiding WHT's for registered accounts. However - when you look at VOO - the yield is about 26 bp's higher than either VFV and ZSP....again why would you not just buy VOO.

Many thanks

Q: Are there US withholding taxes associated with the ETF's that are offered by Vanguard Canada (or any other Canadian ETF issuer) that pay a USD distribution??
Thanks

Q: Please provide a suggestion for an US ETF that invests in basket of US dividend paying stocks such as PM, BAC, HD, MCD, BLK. Thank you

Q: Hi team, I would like to generate some income in US dollars.

Could you please recommend 2 or 3 dividend paying US stocks, together with a brief explanation as to why you like those companies. I would also be OK with an ETF if you think that is a better way to go.

Thanks as always,
Paula

Q: Could you please provide a list of top US ETF’s that can be bought (low cost with great management)
a) using a US dollar acct
b) using a CDN dollar acct
3-5 for each.

Thanks

Q: My son moved to the USA a few years ago and has opened a Roth IRA upon which I am advising him. He holds the ETFs listed above. I have two questions upon which I would appreciate your advice. In which order of preference would you add to the existing holdings? And can you suggest two additional ETFs to complement the current holdings?

Q: I am still toying with RRSP strategies - I have about 50% of my RRSP in US funds and 50% in Canadian funds. I plan on starting to draw my RRSP down in January and need about an 8% annual return, including dividends and growth for the next 10 years. I have slowly been rolling my Canadian side toward your income portfolio, and am about half-way there. On the US side, I hold the above positions. What are your thoughts on the following - mirroring your income portfolio with the Canadian side, and on the US side hold a combination of ETF's/Equities, or just ETF's. I have been actively growing my RRSP (with success thanks!) But hope to be able to spend less time on it once I retire. The above idea means, for the Cdn side, I can continue to follow your moves on the income portfolio. For the US side, I will continue to monitor/rebalance, but I don’t want it to be a daily task - please suggest a tactic, including whether to mix equities/ETF's, or just go to one or a few ETF's, and please suggest holdings in either tactic. Thanks!

Q: Up to this point I have been a growth investor. Recently retired, I am converting some RRSP into a RIF and want to lower the risk profile. I am 60 y/o.

Kindly advise some ETFs that you would recommend in Canada or US.

Thanks a lot,

Q: I am trying to decide which ETF to purchase for an RRSP. VFV and VIG have been performing well. About a 3 year hold. Any other suggestions?
T Steve

Q: Can you suggest 2 or 3 U.S. dividend ETFs that trade in U.S. dollars ? Preferably low volatility. Thanks. Joe

Q: Could you please suggest 2 or 3 dividend ETFs that I could look at to increase the amount of dividends in my account.

Thank you
Paula

Q: Thanks for the market update in details.

What will be the best 5 CDN/ USA stocks to buy in this sell off. Plus 2 to 3 ETF would you suggest.


Thanks for the great service

Q: Can you recommend a list of safe dividend income ETFs with high steady monthly distributions? Thanks.

Q: I've decided to buy VIG and SCHD to increase my US portion of my portfolio. What is a fair entry point for them? I tend to wait until stocks go "on sale" but have watched these go up and up over the last few months. VIG's top holdings are Apple and Microsoft, so if the Tech sell-off continues it could go down. SCHD has not hit it's all time high but is getting close. What are your thoughts? Thanks so much!

Q: At 60 I suddenly find myself semi-retired. Although it's a few years earlier than anticipated, I'm actually pretty excited - I've used the CRA retirement calculator (an excellent tool) and have a solid plan. I do need to make a $150,000 RRSP account last until I am 70 when I plan on applying for CPP and OAS. I want to pull $18,000 per year from the RRSP account a so it does require some growth. Can you suggest a mix of US and Canadian holdings and or etf's (about 50% allocation each country) for such a scenario? Thanks so much.