Investment Q&A

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

Q: Hello Peter,
For an RESP today and future contributions with focus on Canada and USA, I was thinking of allocating more monies to indexes such as xic and xsp and less to sectors such as xfn or zeb , and xit. What are your thoughts? Also, i noticed that xsp has not done as well as SPY. i am assuming it is do to currency. In an RESP, I would think xsp on toronto and SPY on NYSE, both have withholding taxes.. Please comment. Thank you

Q: Greetings All:
With regard to a question asked on Jan 9 by Cory concerning the above I have some further inquires. If any of you had 1 million to invest and wanted to keep it simple, as stated, and wanted to be fully invested, with a good degree of security ( As much as can be expected in the stock market) would you invest it in these two funds? What % would you have in each fund, considering you were investor " X " with no strings attached? Most advisors are currently preaching that 2022 will be the year when active investing will win, considering all the expected volatility and sector rotation. Also, if the growth rout continues off and on where could you see IWO falling to? I know this is a prediction question, but considering all the items in your knowledge basket, please make a guess. Please provide some equivalent S & P 500 fund names. I notice that no one at 5-i has an interest in IWO.
Thanks as always,
BEN.

Q: I have made good profit by investing in these ETF's. Now as the S&P 500 begins to roll down, I see losing some of the gains made so far. Should I sell these ETF's and park the money in cash and wait for the S&P 500 to move up and then invest it back. Alternately , should I leave it invested in these two ETF's. This is part of my fixed income investment. Thanks for the excellent advice you guys have consistently provided.

Q: Hi Team

When I read previous questions on US S and P 500 etf, you most commonly recommend spy over voo. why is that? are they not the same and voo has a lower mer ?

THANKS

ERNIE

Q: I am a little overweight techs in a well diversified portfolio. Considering valuation contraction where do you see a new normal forward P.E. the S&P in 2022 and for those stocks highlighted?
Please provide forward P.E. and multiples for those that make profits and guestimate where the low end could be for the others.

Thanks

Yves

Q: If you were to follow one or two index funds that held most of your capital which ones would you follow and what funds interest you the most? Thank you

Q: Hi guys,

Here are my u.s. holdings and percentage; cost 5.5%, nvda 5%, msft 4.5%, J 3.5%, amzn 3%, crwd 2.75%, abbv 2%, U 1.5%, upst 1.5%, veev 1.5% plus 2 etf's, arkk 3%, spy 3.5%
(Also i2i fund 1.5%)
Are there any red flags here or changes that you would recommend for a growth/balance portfolio? The rest of my portfolio is a cross between your (5i's) balance and growth funds.
Happy new year and stay safe,
Jim

Q: Thoughts on this US Dividend ETF: DIVB:US?

If it is reasonable can you add it to database so Portfolio Analytics picks it up please?

Q: All things being equal If you could only buy one etf , what industry would it be in?
What is your favourite etf in that field?
Philip

Q: Hi,

I'm looking for 2 or 3 broad based ETFs that track the CDN TSX closely, and two or three ETFs that track the US broad market closely, for a 'couch potato' strategy.