Investment Q&A

Q: Which do you prefer and why?
VIU versus MAW104?
BNDX versus IAGG?

Q: Thank you for providing a comparison of the 2 today. If I sell MAW104 for tax loss and buy VBAL within 30 days, do you think there is risk of Revenue Canada not allowing the claim of tax loss?

Q: Peter; Can you compare returns of the above two and which would be your preference? Thanks.
Rod

Q: Hello 5i Research
I would like to initiate a position in mawer bond fund . I currently own most of their other funds , what are your thoughts or should I add to mawer Canadian balance fund that holds about 30 % bonds .
Thanks

Q: Retired and I’am considering buying the above mutual fund, with a substantial amount to me $50,000 .
However the .91mer is giving me hesitation? Also not exactly sure what they yeild per year as I’m looking for 3%+ dividend.
I understand they are a solid long term choice, however would like your etf equivalent with a better expense ratio and or performance.
( also not a fan of return of capital) .Thanks

Q: Have held this fund for some time. Lately the performance of the fund appears to be under performing. Down substantially in the past 6-9 months, returns have been in the bottom quartile of comparable funds. Three year performance is around 2% a year. Are you aware of any reasons for these type of returns? I have been thinking about selling the fund and investing directly in securities that comprise your income/ balanced portfolios. Would you endorse this action or would you suggest that I continue to hold the fund. In either case would appreciate your rationale for your suggestions.

Q: Hello 5i Team,

I have a question about Mawer Funds. My wife and I currently hold about 500,00 across 4 account (2 TFSA’s 1 RRSP and 1 Cash). We own Mawer 130 and 104 split equally. We have enjoyed the funds and the performance and just wonder what your thoughts are about the size of the company. Do you see AUM growing to point where it could hinder performance. Thanks

Q: MAW105 is supposed to be more tax efficient but how can it be since the distribution under that fund is greater than under MAW104 or MAW130.
MAW104 is a fund of funds while the other 2 hold the securities. What is the difference between the global balanced fund and the tax efficient one.
What will be the best one for a non registered account and for an rrsp. Why?
Thank you for your help with this matter.

Q: Hi Guys
How do you think Mawer International fund will perform going out 5 or 10 years, or would you choose Emerging Markets instead, Would China be a risk ?
Geographic Allocation
45.9% Europe Ex. U.K.
20.0% United Kingdom
14.2% Asia Pacific Ex. Japan
10.7% Japan
5.3% United States
3.9% Cash & Cash Equivalents
0.0% Middle East/Africa
0.0% Latin America
0.0% Canada

Q: Hello,

Can I get a couple of your recommendations for the best balanced growth ETF and/or mutual fund as well as a pure growth recommendation. Sector & Geographic allocation not a huge concern.

Thanks.

Q: Hello,
I have Mawer Balanced Fund fund and Mawer Global Small Cap funds in my RRIF and RLIF to provide some diversification to the individual stocks that I also have. I am happy enough with these 2 funds, and woud like to add Mower Global Balanced Fund, to provide some further foreign diversification , but I do not wish to sell any thing right now to free up the cash, so I am considering
replacing the Balanced fund with the Global Balanced Fund. This might help my foreign diversification problem, but I am wondering if there is a disadvantage to making this swap that I cannot see. the resrt of my portolio is canadian and us stock and fixed income. Please let me know if you think that this is worth doing at this time.
Thank you

Q: Good morning,
I own a small house in Ottawa that is free and clear with a current market value of approximately $350,000.
A recent discussion with my trusted mortgage broker confirmed that a 5 year term (Closed & Fixed) term mortgage can be obtained at a rate of 2.29%. This mortgage is said to be:
a. insured through CMHC,
b. portable, and
c. transferable.
At that rate of 2.29% and given that the interest paid would be tax deductible if I use the funds for investment purposes, I'm seriously considering borrowing around $200,000 and investing this amount for an initial 5 year period with an expected net rate of return on investment of 4.5% .
Q1. With $200,000, what are your thoughts of splitting this amount in 5 different chunks of $40K in the following instruments:
a. Mawer Tax Effective Balanced Fund,
b. Mawer Global Balanced ETF Fund,
c. Vanguard Balanced ETF Portfolio,
d. IShares Core Balanced ETF Portfolio, and
e. BMO Balanced ETF

Q2. As an alternative to the above and given the 5 year time frame, would your preference be to invest the $200,000 in a selection of best in class individual stocks split between different sectors and if so, would you be so kind as to provide me with ya listing of your best ideas at this time.

I thank you and look forward to hearing your thoughts on both of these investment strategies.
Francesco

Q: Mawer is the only fund company I have used for quite some time. I use it in accounts where there is no tolerance for mistakes, e.g. RESP, spousal RRSP, spouse's TFSA.
More recently I've started using MAW105, and MAW150 as well.
Before Mawer I was fond of Saxon funds.
Are you able to name one or two other fund companies that have a similar philosophy with low fees?

Q: Hello 5i: Thank you for holding our hands during this difficult time, it is much appreciated. I ask about the Mawer funds, in particular 104, 150, 102. I hold these funds in a RRIF and as all above purchase price I ask if you would keep these funds or are there vehicles that have more potential upside? Thank you Barb

Q: Greetings

I have a US dollar account with 10% in US cash at the present time. In Canada, I have MAW 104 and like its set up.

Is there a similar US fund company to MAW 104 available or would you suggest just going with a product like VBAL? If VBAL, what is the US designation name for the product?

Thanks

Peter

Q: I have about 150k in an RESP account for my 2 kids ( grade 9 and 12) so next year kid 1 will start withdrawing funds and kid 2 in 4 years. I've maxed out the match up grants so no new contributions. I hold mostly global growth mutual funds and am thinking I should shift to a more conservative dividend aristocrat type of holding. This would maintain equity and start generating some income vs more global growth focus I have used to get to this point. Do you have a suggestion for 1-3 low cost mutual funds or ETFs to generate some income and be good holdings for the drawdown period over the next 8 years.

Q: Hi, I currently have $11,500 to add to my TFSA with a long term horizon. I currently hold CNR (2.53%), NTR (2.88%), PLC (5.04%) PPL (2.98%), TD (4.21%), V (4.71), WCN (6.15%), XLV (3.31%) MAW 104 (25.11%). I am wondering if I should add to the current companies or might you have any other suggestions?

Q: HI,
Do you see any problem with holding significant amounts of Mawer global balanced fund and Mawer balanced fund to provide diversification for a portfolio of canadian stocks selected from the 5i portfolios and carefully selected US stocks ?
Additional fixed income required would com from
PH&N or other suitable sources

Thanks in advance

Q: I currently have an RESP invested in the Mawer Balanced Fund (MAW104) which I've been pleased with performance (we'll be needing it in about 6-7 years). Considering switching this to either XBAL or VBAL to lower fees and hopefully improve returns accordingly.

I've read some of your answers to Mawer Balanced vs. the XBAL and VBAL ETF's. Would like your opinion on XBAL vs. VBAL for this account. The new XBAL mandate is pretty much the same as VBAL, but it's MER is slightly lower at 0.18% vs. 0.22%. XBAL is much smaller than VBAL currently, but I expect will catch up quickly, and they'll probably match MER's over time.

Do you recommend either of XBAL or VBAL over each other, and suggest even bothering switching from Mawer Balanced Fund in the first place? They all seem like good options!

Q: Good morning,

All four of our family TFSAs and RESP are invested in a mix of Mawer equity and balanced funds.

I'm reading a number of very favourable articles on the benefits of holding a one etf solution for a well diversified portfolio and was wondering if I should consider:
a. keeping the Mawer funds in our TFSAs and RESP but purchasing either VBAL or CBD.A for new TFSA and RESP contributions;
b. Sell all of our MAWER funds and buy either VBAL, CBD.A and perehaps some VGRO for the RESP given that our grandchildren are only 7 years old.

Your thoughts and adjustment suggestion to our TFSA and RESP holdings would be appreciated. Thank you.

Franco