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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,
I am trying to understand how Horizons S&P 500 Index ETF tracks the index. At the moment I'm typing this message, the S&P 500 sits at 0% daily change, SPY at -0.03% while HXS is at -1.09% and HXS-U is at -1.08%. Why do we see such significant deviation from the index in $3.5B ETF with very high trading volume and close spread between bid and ask? Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Michael on July 13, 2022
Q: If you had to pick 4 ETF's as a core of a portfolio. What would they be? US listed ETF's are ok.

1- Can Equity
2 - US Equity
3 - International Equity
4 - Bond
Read Answer Asked by Joe on July 13, 2022
Q: Hi Everyone at 5i!!!

My son is building his RRSP holdings. What 5-10 stocks or ETFs would you consider to add for long term, sleep at night positions in the RRSP.
Cheers, Tamara
Read Answer Asked by Tamara on July 10, 2022
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...
Read Answer Asked by adam on June 10, 2022
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
Read Answer Asked by Charles on June 10, 2022
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.
Read Answer Asked by Michael on May 24, 2022
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.
Read Answer Asked by Adam on May 18, 2022
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
Read Answer Asked by Ernest on May 13, 2022
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.
Read Answer Asked by DAVID on May 13, 2022
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
Read Answer Asked by paul on May 11, 2022
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
Read Answer Asked by Teresa on April 22, 2022
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
Read Answer Asked by Arturo on April 11, 2022
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%

Read Answer Asked by Gregory on March 18, 2022
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.
Read Answer Asked by Dave on March 10, 2022