Investment Q&A

Q: SPY is down over 20%QQQis down over 30% ytd.BAM is down over 25% ytdMSFT is down over 25% ytd.Do you think now is appropriate to enter into any of these names…and if so how would you rank each one to enter?Kim

Q: For a ultra conservative retired income based investor can you please give us your 10 best portfolio building blocks starting a new portfolio?...many thanks...

Q: How would you invest 40K USD (which stocks and/or ETF's) in a balanced way, to limit downside risk, but maximize capital appreciation over the next 1-3 years. What timing would you use to make this investment. Thanks

Q: Follow your balanced portfolio. I have about 15% of my portfolio in US funds. It is split with15% google and 85% vgg. Wondering if I should split my vgg with another us etf.
T Steve

Q: I am currently down over $35K in SPY and would like to crystalize capital losses as I feel we are nearing the bottom. I understand that selling SPY and buying VOO would be deemed as an artificial loss by CRA, so I am wondering whether you can recommend another, less obvious replacement with high degree of correlation to SPY? Ideally, a USD-traded one. Thanks.

Q: Could u rank your preference in putting the above in TFSA account, from most prefer to least prefer, over a 5 year horizon, or any other choice you would add. Thank you

Q: I have held JEPI thinking that in a bear market, or any down market, JEPI should do better than SPY or RSP. Is this in fact correct? The decline in JEPI seems about the same as the decline in SPY. I am however not sure. In comparing charts, even premium sources I have access to do not footnote whether or not distributions are taken into account. I also cannot tell from JEPI’s history what portion of distribution is in fact return of capital.

Q: I purchased some ZSP last week for my Grandchildrens RESP, in an answer today you chose SPY , was the reason simply for currency diversification?

Q: for an 18 year old buying TFSA of 6 000, summer work earnings, but not needing money for a long time, probably targeting first home buy 10 + years down the road (education covered) what would you suggest if ETF, 3 suggestions please. Also, plan B, basket of 5 growth stocks, (being 18, she is interested in apple, alphabet, amazon and Microsoft)

thanks

Q: Hi Peter & Team:
Can you give me some idea which of the above companies for TFSA , rank from your best and down. Thank you as always.

Q: Peter,

I look at the S & P 500 index as the gold standard for performance measurement. It has been my theory that any portfolio performance should be compared to this index first. Do you agree?

For diversification purposes please list your top 5 indexes & associated ETF codes that you feel would be relevant whenever looking at an equity portfolio. This can be anywhere in the world. { Fixed Income I strictly take a ladder approach.} I would be interested in ones with a lower correlation , if that is realistic. It may not be.

Thank you

Paul

Q: What ETFs/mutual funds ( not limited to Canadian equities ) would you recommend for a young couple (in their early 30s) for their TFSA. It will be for a long term hold. If more than 1 ETF is advised, what percentage in each ETF. Thank you

Q: Good morning,

Truly enjoy reading your reports and answers to queries asked by members!

In your response to Chris, on April 8th, you outline a starting strategy for a young 16 year old investor.

You state: "we might start out with a broad market ETF that pays a dividend"

Would you be comfortable listing a few broad market ETF that fit this criteria taking into account a 10 year lock up of the funds?

Perhaps suggesting a few for high, moderate and low risk tiers.

Have a great weekend!

Art

Q: My son (30) has some money and wants to put it in your small cap growth model. He wants to include a number of ETF's to have some other exposure. He would put 30% of his money in the small caps and 70% in ETF's. Here is the list of ETF's he is considering, but is worried it is too many. Can you please help with the ETF list as he is concerned that he has too many. Please take as many credits as needed. Thanks.

XIC 15%
XIU 15%
CDZ 5%
QQQ 10%
IWR 7%
DIA 10%
SPY 10%
SDY 5%
VTI 8%
IDV 5%
VXUS 5%
VEE 5%

Q: Dear 5i,

Where can one go to find out planned S&P500 index additions and deletions? Where can one go to find potential S&P500 additions and deletions? Thanks

Q: Good Morning,

I have recently retired and need to improve yield. The above noted holdings have a low yield or have not performed well.

Can you please rate from first to sell down to last to sell and possibly provide some basic reasoning.

Thanks very much.

Q: Hello Peter and team,
Would you prefer VOO or VTI at this time? Also, is there an etf in canadian dollars (tsx) that mimics VTI similar to xsp on tsx and SPY? Thanks very much.

Q: Hi there,

In terms of the US dividend withholding tax should any of these three be held in my non sheltered account?

Thanks,

Q: Q.

Would you recommend one ETF for a 12 yr+- time frame for my sons RESP?
One that I can add to over time, growth minded, MER friendly with CDN & US exposure taking into consideration US taxation.

Thanks,
Dan

Q: I have enough exposure to the Canadian market but I need additional global equity exposure for the next 10 years.

Would you please recommend an ETF for each of the following categories:
US
International
Emerging markets

Thanks