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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: At age of 85 is it worth for me to consider converting my present holdings of 20 diversified ETF's to All-in-One ETf's?
If yes can you give me an idea as to the negative or positive reasons behind this decision and which ones from your blog list that should be considered! All the present holdings are in RRIF and TFSA.
Thank you for taking the time for your reply & Merry Xmas!
Read Answer Asked by Terry on December 09, 2025
Q: Seeking an conservative - balanced ETF portfolio of $800,000 new money in Canadian Dollars.
Could I have your opinion and thanks for your service.
Rick
Read Answer Asked by Rick on June 30, 2025
Q: if a conservative investor wanted to invest in one ETF or stock in their TFSA today was would you suggest? Although the question was one, I would like a ranking of the top 3, Canadian only. please.
Read Answer Asked by Brenda on June 09, 2025
Q: I am helping my in-laws take ownership of their investments. Presently, they have the majority of their funds managed by banks/'financial advisors' in high fee mutual funds. What is your opinion of the following funds and can you offer equivalent low-cost ETF solutions? RBF209, RBF269, RBF272, Invesco Global Select Equity Series P
Read Answer Asked by Matthew on March 22, 2024
Q: Today, on a risk scale of 1 to 10, 10 being high risk, where would you place a portfolio of 3 parts vbal and 1 part vcns for an 89 and 83 year old couple? Funds should never be required for use, other than being transfered as an inheritance. If wanting to decrease risk a bit, would a one year gic for say 25% be the best idea or?
Read Answer Asked by Charles on March 14, 2024
Q: Hello 5i
First, thank you for your excellent service and guidance! I am retired, looking for income and growth. Following are my questions.

1) What do you think of VCNS? Could you suggest an alternative. I presently have a half position in VCNS.
2) At this time would you still recommend a 4.5% position in ATZ?
3)I am down about 30% with MMM. Is there a better place for these funds?
4) I am down 11% with CLF. What has to happen( with interest etc.) to recoup this loss?

Thank you, Bill
Read Answer Asked by William on July 21, 2023
Q: Hi
I am considering the smith manoeuvre and would prefer to invest in an etf rather than individual stocks because of the benefits of diversification. I would appreciate if you can share your thoughts on a few ets that would qualify and would also be less of a hassle in reconciling the ROC and ACB during tax time. I would appreciate your insight in smith manoeuvre using and etf rather that dividend paying stocks. I am in the 50% marginal tax rate. Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Sandak on September 07, 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: What ETFs do you recommend for a retired senior with a company pension age 79. I am a conservative investor. How should covid developments affect my selection?
Read Answer Asked by Donald on January 03, 2022
Q: I am looking to finally replace the following mutual funds held in a self admin RSP account, to equivalent ETFs.
FID269 - Fid Monthly Inc;
FID5973 - Fid Global Innovation;
FID207 - Fid Global Concentrated Equity;
RBC460 - Sel Bal Ptf
TDB2760 - Td Retirement Balance
TDB652 - Td Global Entertainment & communication
TDB976 - Td Health Science
TDB2580 Td Tactical Monthly Inc
My goal is to replace these mutual funds with long term, high yielding where possible, low MER, CDN or US $ equivalent ETFs. Please provide 2 or 3 suggestions for each. Please deduct as many credit s as need.
Thank you for all the invaluable investment help you provide.


Read Answer Asked by Mark on October 15, 2021
Q: Good morning. I was wondering if you could recommend an ETF that is conservative with some growth and also having a world wide focus.

Thank you for all your outstanding investment information. I couldn't invest without you.
Read Answer Asked by Mary Jean on June 04, 2021
Q: I am interested in an 'all-in-one' diversified ETF to provide regular (quarterly/monthly) income such as VCIP, that best meets the following criteria:
1) Fairly conservative
2) As tax-advantaged as possible as it will be held in a non-registered account
3) Yield that can reasonably be expected to outpace inflation over time
4) MER<0.4

The rest of the investment portfolio is well diversified across geography, market cap, and sector, achieved with a few broad market index ETFs.
Read Answer Asked by Walter on April 16, 2021
Q: Please list the above in order of preference. Would all three, equally weighted, be sufficient for a conservative portfolio? Two of three?
Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Paul W on February 11, 2021
Q: Good Morning
In my wife,s riff she has the following etf,s VCNS VBAL VGRO all a small position. What would your opinion be to sell all 3 and buy XAW to make a more significant position and also to help increase her international exposure?

Thks
Marcel
Read Answer Asked by Marcel on February 01, 2021
Q: Only two holdings in my parents portfolio that both include a significant portion of bonds. Concerned if interest rates rise more than expected in a short period and bond prices decline. Wondering about putting a hedge in place , would a financial services etf accomplish this? Better ideas or thoughts on the bond portions of the holdings I referenced?
Read Answer Asked by Charles on January 14, 2021
Q: If one is only invested in North America, would now be a good time to buy VEE, or if you have a better idea for emerging markets? Also, if one has built a conservative portfolio for elderly parents using only VBAL and VCNS, would adding VEE be a good compliment, or would it add significant risk ?
Read Answer Asked by Charles on November 23, 2020
Q: With understanding bond prices go down as interest rates go up, with the near zero rate situation, is now a bad time to be buying bond funds when one is looking for long term safety and some capital appreciation? In regards to VCNS, being 60% bonds, when bond values go down, the yield goes up, how does rising yields effect the ETF ?
Read Answer Asked by Charles on October 23, 2020
Q: Would like to create a 2 etf portfolio in the 500k range for my elderly parents, considering VBAL for the TFSA account and VCNS for the unregistered account. They will likely never have a need to access these funds but of course are risk adverse at their age. Thoughts on this approach, better options for ETF's ?
Read Answer Asked by Charles on August 12, 2020
Q: Hi
I am slowly selling into the rallies and consolidating my portfolio.
Of the two VCIP/VCNS which is safer to hold for 1 to 2 years.
Or should I simply put the money in a Hi Savings a/c or in an ETF like PYF/PSA. I won't need the money to survive for 1 to 2 years. But will need it to "wade into the market" as per your suggestions. Is PYF bit too fancy a place to park? One of the gentleman on BNN mentioned this product recently. I wasn't even aware of this product!
Thanks in advance.
Read Answer Asked by Savalai on May 13, 2020
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