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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: If you were setting up a diversified unregistered account for yourself from scratch using US ETFs today, for a long-term hold:

How would you approach this?
What would ETFs would you pick?
What percentage would you put in each?

Please charge multiple questions as needed. Thanks very much.
Read Answer Asked by Chris on July 18, 2025
Q: What do you believe as the best buying opportunity in the market these days?
1 small cap stock
1 mid cap stock
1 large cap stock
1 ETF

Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Nick on July 16, 2025
Q: Hello 5i Team,
Looking to add more broad-based U.S. exposure to a non-registered account. With the recent strength of the Canadian loonie to the US dollar, would you recommend buying a Canadian-dollar traded ETF like ZSP, or converting Canadian funds to US dollars and investing in SPY (or something similar)?
Many thanks,
Brian
Read Answer Asked by Brian on July 14, 2025
Q: Good morning 5i,

With your vast experience with ETFs, im looking for 2 US ones?

1) market cap weighted ?

2) Equal weighted ?

thanking you in advance

SG
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on July 11, 2025
Q: what is the annualized return of SPY, QQQ and XIC over the last 20 years. I thought I read an answer where you said the S&P only was 2% including dividends which seems too low.
Read Answer Asked by Cheryl on July 10, 2025
Q: Hi 5i
My grandson lives in U.S. and has a recent inheritance. He is asking what ho might invest in for a quite long term hold. I am suggesting a Nasdaq ETF, a S&P ETF and north American banks/financials ETF. What would be your top picks in these categories?
Read Answer Asked by Guy R. on July 07, 2025
Q: If you were only to buy 3 ETF's and a couple of high convictions stocks. Which 3 ETF's would you pick. No fixed income please.
Read Answer Asked by Cheryl on July 04, 2025
Q: Hi team. A few months ago I asked about the best stocks and/or ETFs for my 32 year old son to invest $12K of RRSP $. We didn't get to this yet.... In the past you recommended a few ETFs. What would you recommend today. I'll help him get this invested through a self directed plan next week. Thank you!
Read Answer Asked by Kathryn on July 03, 2025
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: 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: 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: 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
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