Investment Q&A

Q: Can you you rate from best to worst spy.us, vti.us, spgp.us, vus.ca and recommend a good entry price.
And is there a non hedge version of vus.ca.

Thanks

Q: I want more US exposure, but would be moving Ca $ to US $. Is it best to exchange ones cash to buy US ETFs such as VIG.US, or to buy a Ca ETF with US exposure? What would be equivalent to VIG be? Thank you.

Q: Hi,

For total return, long term, do you prefer VIG or DGRW (not in database?) and why please? Thank you. Michael

Q: Hi, I'm thinking of gradually reducing my individual stocks and moving into etfs for an all around set it and forget it roughly $3 million portfolio for someone retiring in the next few months. Can you give me your suggested etfs and percentages to hold to accomplish this balance? A chunk of these funds are not invested yet so I'd also like to know how you would suggest deploying these funds? Would you edge in gradually over a period of time or just get the money working? I'd really appreciate any advice you could give me in this format.
Thank you as always!

Q: I am looking for a US listed ETF that holds US listed Dividend Growing Equities. I have found RDVY (First Trust Rising Dividend ETF) and CUD (Ishares US Dividend Growers). Both have relatively high MERs for ETFs (0.49 % and 0.6% respectively). Both have a current distribution of around 2% yield. Is there anything else out there in this segment of the market ? While CUD is hedged I am not too concerned about that at this time. Would you prefer one of these over the other or would you think splitting between the two. I will be holding them in my RRSP and am looking to invest around 1% of my total RRSP holdings in this investment.

Q: Want to simplify my RIF investing as I am almost 80. Can you recommend several etfs that provide an easier and more comprehensive approach; I have a number of dividend holdings but I would like to broaden my exposure to international markets. Thank you.

Q: My wife and I would like to convert our diversified portfolio of 20 active companies to a portfolio of ETFs. We are in our 70s and would like to simplify our portfolio.

We picture 5 to 10 ETFs.
One or two ETFs for all Canadian stocks, same for the USA and one or two for indexes outside North America.
As I say, we’re currently pretty well diversified and earning dividend income of around 5% and would like to continue around that level of yield and diversification.

What ETFs would you include? Is this a dream or can it really be done?
Many thanks for your research and opinion.
Frank

Q: Hello,

Do you have data showing the 5 yr divided growth rate for the listed ETF's?

Thanks,
Brent

Q: My question is on First Trust Rising dividend Achievers ETF, RDVY and RDVI. Wondering if you know much about them, or if you had other suggestions for a US ETF that holds a group of strong companies that are growing their dividends. Thanks.

Q: I recently retired and looking to place some of my savings into the market with a 5 year horizon at which time I will re-evaluate. Will tolerate a moderate to light risk. Could you please recommend 3 or 4 stocks or etf’s for my TFSA and 5-6 stocks for growth. Appreciate all your efforts. Thank you. Brian

Q: Hi

I hold ZSP in my non-registered account and VIG in my RRSP.

My understanding is that it doesn't really make a difference from a withholding tax perspective where I hold ZSP but that the RRSP is where I should hold VIG.

Do you agree?

Q: My daughter is just starting out with a RRSP account. She has some VDY and we would like a suggestion of 5 or 6 non Canadian Vanguard funds

Q: Good morning,

I currently hold VIG ETF in my Non Registered US$ account and VGG in my Non Registered Cdn$ account. Both of these ETFs have the same holdings but the VIG appears to be cheaper in terms of MER and perhaps more tax efficient if held in a RRSP.

Given that both VIG and VGG hold the same holdings and taxation not a consideration, I was thinking of selling the VGG ETF and purchasing some additional VIG ETF.

However, I just stumbled across another ETF (DGRW ETF) that I would appreciate your thoughts on as a potential replacement for VIG ETF. Although a bit more expensive in terms of MER, the annual performance over the last 10 years appears to be much better.


Thank you and I'll await your response.

Francesco

Q: Can you recommend 3 US ETFs for a long-term hold.

Thanks as always.

Q: Hi,

I would like to purchase a large, dividend paying US stock that has some potential for future growth (or is currently undervalued) in my RRSP. Could you provide some suggestions?

Thank you,
Evan

Q: Hi,
I am under weight in both international and fixed income.
I have US$ cash in both my RSRP and TFSA that I'd like to invest in these areas.
Can you recommend some US$ ETF's.
Much appreciated.

Q: Hello. What are your best recommendations for ETFs that focus on dividend growth companies?

Q: I have a grandson who has just graduated from university in the United States. He is serious about investing and wants to know whether the best way to get started for long-term wealth accumulation is starting a high-yield savings account or an IRA?
Or, is there something else you would suggest.

Q: Searching for a stable high dividend US ETF for my RRSP. Looking at VYM and SCHD or perhaps you can recommend a different high dividend ETF? VYM has 450 holdings and SCHD 104; VYM appears to have a bit lower P/B and P/E. 10 year return for SCHD is 11.03% and 9.38% for VYM; SCHD also has a higher yield. Thanks for your comments!

Q: We have a self-directed RDSP set up for my son (age 21, qualified for the RDSP 12 years ago). Up until now we've invested his funds in 5 different equities (4 CDN dividend paying - ARE, AQN, SU, TCL.A and 1 US - DXCM) and the overall performance has unfortunately been abysmal (I'm just getting the opportunity to be more actively involved in managing my son's RDSP). Because my son has a relatively long investment horizon for his RDSP (to age 49), what are your recommendations to optimize this much-needed benefit for his later years? Are ETFs a preferred option over equities?