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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: Good afternoon,

I am planning on rethinking the majority of my investment strategy (choosing my own stocks). I plan on switching to a more ETF focused approach where I have 20% in bonds/gic, 15% US ETF, 20% Canadian ETF, 20% Foreign ETF and the rest left to my whims. For the Foreign ETF I was think VXUS and SPY for the US but what would be your recommended ETFs for US, Canada and Foreign (and perhaps bonds)?
For reference I am in my early 20s so I have a bigger risk appetite and presumably longer time horizon.

Thank you very much,
Aidan
Read Answer Asked by Aidan on June 19, 2025
Q: Included in my previous question answered today for EEM thare was also a question regarding general allocation of funds. What would be your best allocation of funds in Bonds, US, Canadian and International allocation. Sorry if my question was not properly formulated.

Thank you
Yves
Read Answer Asked by Yves on June 17, 2025
Q: Rebalancing my portfolio vs risk for a young retired.
My portfolio consist in 23% bond ETFs, 37% US, 11% International, no emerging market and 29% Canada. I am ready to take on some EEM. What would be your allocation of funds from here? All current assets would trigger capital gains excepts for bunds which I wouldn't touch and may raise the amount over time. I may take 6 months to do part of the allocation due to capital gains tax hit.
Thank you for your precious advise over the years you have been a tremendous help to grow my portfolio and help navigate dangerous times.

Yves
Read Answer Asked by Yves on June 16, 2025
Q: S&P500 forward p/e is over 20x (MAG7/tech influence), while equal-weight is likely more reasonable...how should we frame this? Apples to apples stay with the S&P benchmark for historical comparisons and say valuation is expensive? Looking at EW is more reassuring but is it rationalizing? Interested in your take...thanks
Read Answer Asked by Michael on May 13, 2025
Q: What ETF would you buy to be long the market in this volatile environment (moderate risk - some income if possible)? If you can suggest 3 with a brief comment that would be great. Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Pierre on April 10, 2025
Q: During this mayhem I was telling a family member how I observed these mini-crashes since the mid-80’s and how we used to make transactions in the early days. I’m convinced a lot of recent investors, hooked my huge gains since 2020 have never experienced such painful losses. Zenfulness -if this is a word- comes with time.

Would you have a history of when all the self-directed accounts were created and available online?
For example, BMO InvestorLine was created late 1988 (fax! or phone) but available online in 1997, I was there …

Keep supporting us.
Read Answer Asked by Denise on April 07, 2025
Q: Hello 5i Team,
Currently building out a small portfolio for my son, with a VERY long time horizon (30 years +). Looking to add U.S. exposure, but instead of picking individual names, I thought I would do this through an ETF or two. Was considering putting 50% of the US exposure into SPY, and the other half into VGG. An alternative to SPY would be ZSP, which I can buy in Cdn. dollars in Toronto. Your thoughts on this strategy and the allocations?
Thanks very much!
Read Answer Asked by Brian on February 24, 2025
Q: Hello, 1.How does one protect them selves from large market crashes?
2. If one were to start a portfolio with only index funds, etfs which are the ones you would suggest. Maximum 5 etfs. Thanks.

Shyam
Read Answer Asked by Shyam on February 19, 2025
Q: Good Morning and Seasons Greetings to the 5i team and everyone out there.
If you had to start a new TFSA account what 15 to 20 stocks, ETF,s Etc. would you buy in order of first to last. US and Canadian mix?

Thank You
Read Answer Asked by Joe on December 30, 2024
Q: Best holdings for a US dolar RRIF, I already have QQQ and SPY, up sustantially and think I should take some profit and redeploy the cash. lookings fior capital appreciation not dividends
Thanks for good advice as always
Read Answer Asked by steve on December 18, 2024
Q: I'm planning on purchasing some additional US investments in my RRSP. I already own QQQ, which represents approximately 38% of my US holdings. I was planning on dividing the remaining 62% between SPY and VTI. I'm described as a growth investor with a 5-7 time horizon before possibly beginning withdrawals. May I get your thoughts on this division? Should I consider cutting back on QQQ to redistribute to the other two? The US represents 45% of my overall RRSP holdings.
Read Answer Asked by bernie on December 02, 2024
Q: Donald Trump is causing so much uncertainty in both Canadian and US markets. Canada might even go into a recession.

I know that you mentioned that we should not react to the Trump threat.

However, if I had to sell all my stocks and ETFs ($400k) and start from scratch today, what would be the top 20 stocks/ETFs ( US and/or Canadian) that that you would invest in.

Would you just buy SPY/ZSP.to/ VGT/ SCHG ETFs in the USA market for safety?

Fyi, I don't like bonds.
Read Answer Asked by V on November 28, 2024
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