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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: Hello 5i Team,
I was looking at the performance of ZSP vs. SPY on the Google Finance site.
ZSP shows a 1-yr return of 13.33%, and a 5-yr return of 97.04%
SPY shows a 1-yr return of 17.67%, and a 5-yr return of 81.69%
Why are the returns so different if both are looking to replicate the returns of the S&P 500?
For a long term hold within my RRSP, would it be better to take a position in one vs. the other, or take a half-position in each?
Many thanks,
Brian
Read Answer Asked by Brian on January 07, 2026
Q: Hi,

I have $50,000 to invest in my TFSA for 2026.

Could you provide your top 5 ETFs to invest in for US/Canadian, Top 3 foreign ETFs. and Top 3 dividend ETFs.

Holding for approx. 10 years. Risk level Moderate to high.

I have an ETF in SMH that has 108% ROI in the last 2 years. Would you advice on putting more cash into SMH?

Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Don on January 06, 2026
Q: Greetings 5i Team:

I'm looking to make upgrades to some RBC Funds in my wife's accounts. Deduct as many credits as needed.

Can you suggest:

1. A general tech ETF of the same ilk as RBF 620 Global Technology Fund,

2. For that matter, can you suggest a (preferably Cdn dollar) cyber security ETF.

3. A substitute for RBF 615 US Equity Fund.

4. A substitute for RBF 617 US Midcap Fund (with the idea that small caps might actually catch a bid this year).

5. A healthcare ETF, preferably in Cdn dollars.

Thank you, you're much appreciated!
Pete in Calgary.
Read Answer Asked by Peter on January 06, 2026
Q: Does 5i have a perspective on total weight a investors portfolio could have holding respective ETFS for

: SP500 QQQ DJI RUS 2000 and TSX ...... 1.5-2.5% each ?
(10-15% total)
Read Answer Asked by Brant on January 06, 2026
Q: Hi Gang
What are your top 5 etf. At this time
Thanks Mike B
Read Answer Asked by Mike on December 23, 2025
Q: Everyone, if your portfolio was only ETFs how many would you have and what would they be? Clayton
Read Answer Asked by Clayton on December 03, 2025
Q: If a new Canadian investor wanted to get into the North American market and use low cost index investing to achieve both diversification and simplicity what would you consider for such a portfolio. And if international exposure was desired what could be considered as additions for that.
Read Answer Asked by dave on October 23, 2025
Q: Peter, I’m also tiring of underperformance of MAW funds. Could you suggest alts for these two please? Thanks,
Rod
Read Answer Asked by Rodney on October 21, 2025
Q: My son has US$100K to invest in a non-registered account. He would like to keep it simple and invest in a low fee ETF for balanced growth. Please suggest suitable investment vehicle in USD denomination.
Read Answer Asked by M on October 17, 2025
Q: I will be simplifying my RRSP portfolio whereby it will be mainly comprised of ETF's that can give growth as well as income that i can use to draw on when RRSP are converted to RRIF.

Can you provide me ETF's / Index funds suggestions for:
S& P 500 index
Global large cap index ex USA
Dividend appreciation index ( large cap) for Canada and US

Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Mario on September 10, 2025
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
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