Investment Q&A

Q: "We don't quite match the market in good years but will lessen your losses in bad years" say many portfolio managers to clients in exchange for a 1/2 to 1% management fee.

But, over the years, since the market has had significantly more positive years than negative years, I feel this is a good argument to just purchase some very low-fee ETFs, once you've determined your asset and currency mix. Less fees, therefore more money invested and therefore little value add from the advisor! Your comments please.

Also, I am a 65 year old retiree with a high 7 figure investment portfolio who will not run out of money. I favor a balanced portfolio of 80% equity (with a slight tilt to growth) and 20% fixed income. I also favor a 50/50 split between US and CAN dollars.

While I realize you cannot provide individual advice, which low cost ETFs should I consider?

Q: Hi 5i Team - What would your top 5 ETF's be as I'd like to purchase the best ETF's that you will recommend.
Thx - Doug

Q: This is a question about composition of a rrif. I am 77: as I age I can no longer rationally think of long term holdings ie 10 years. In your opinion would it be wiser to shift to ETFs . I probably have enough saved to last my twilight years. I prefer the clarity of stocks but I would also prefer to be ten years younger.
Thanks for your wisdom

Q: I am going to retire in 2 years what company's would you suggest to put in a TFSA for a good stable passive income.

Q: For a RESP rebuild with 5 years till 4 annual withdrawals start, to achieve a higher total return with lower volatility, do you think the above stocks will reach the intended goal. Thank you so much

Q: I have stayed away from bonds but recently I think it's time to allocate some funds to bonds. I have holdings in VANGUARD ALL-EQ ETF PTFL (VEQT) and VANGUARD GL VAL FACTR ETF (VVL) and would like to divert these funds into all-in-one ETF funds with 60-40 equity-bond funds. What do you suggest?

Q: Hi 5i
Wondering if you know of a US equivalent of vbal, that a Canadian can buy. From my own search, it seems like there is onlya US mutual fund equivalent, which Canadians can’t buy. But maybe you have other information.
Thanks

Q: If a person had a modest amount to invest in their new RSP, say ~$8K, and a long time horizon, what would you suggest? Medium risk with DRIP if possible.

Q: I have $30,000 extra in my RRSP this year. I am looking for very strong companies that pay a good dividend and low risk even if they are ETF's. Thanks again

Q: My company has a one year horizon before we need the money that is currently invested in stocks and for the better part are under water. We are currently sitting on 50% cash and would like to invest the money to try to make some capital gain to offset the losses. I know as we all know that one year is very little but we trust that the market will be higher in April 2024. Do you agree with that thesis and if so where would you invest money in order to keep a safe and optimal return? Please answer by percentage of where through index funds and secondly would you put time horizon to invest in slices or all in now?
Thanks for your precious help.

Yves

Q: What is your opinion of Fidelity Conservative Income Fund Series B.
Is it a worthwhile investment if not could you recommend some options to replace it.
Thanks

Q: Hello 5i Team
Last year stocks and bonds both had a down year, I would like to add to a fixed income ETF that you think would have upside the next few years as interest rate starts to pause and decline in the future. I currently own a position in Vbal etf which has bonds component in it.
Thanks

Q: My Daughter has about 300K to invest. She is thinking of Vanguard Etfs.
Which ones would you suggest - in Canadian dollars and low Mers and in what proportion ?
They will be in registered accounts.

What would you suggest for an unregistered account?
And many thanks for all your helpful advice.
Connie

Q: I am looking to start a RESP for my one-year-old grandson. Can you please suggest a suitable investment portfolio for an initial $5000 investment. Could you also recommend a strategy for investing future deposits to the plan.

Thanks.

Q: I currently hold investments in Fidelity Balanced Income Private Pool and Franklin Quotential Diversified Income. I will be transferring the funds from these mutual funds to ETFs with lower management fees. Please provide a list of 5 suitable ETFs and rank them from 1 to 5. Thank you.

Q: Hello 5i, Could you explain what these 4 companies are about and rank them in order from best first. I just retired and am looking for one or two companies where I can sleep at night and earn some income. Thanks

Q: I inherited the following:McKenzie Strategic Income Fund;McKenzie Strategic Income Ser.A;Invesco Strategic Yield Fund;BMO Income ETF Portfolio;BMO Concentrated Global Balanced Fund.Are these suitable investments in the present rising rate,volatile environment and where applicable, are there ETF's
that mimic these funds?Thanks for your assistance in helping me sort these out. Maurice.

Q: For a mutual fund, do you think the CIBC balance index fund managed by Jacques Prevost is a good overall fund for a conservative investor? Reported returns of 6.7% for 5 and 10 years. Mer of 1.22%. I noted 25% allocation to financials. It’s in my wife portfolio and she was looking for advice. Any comments would be appreciated. Thank you!

Q: I have roughly 15% of my entire portfolio within a Taxable account. The rest is diversified within my RRSP, TFSA( Maxed) and LIF. With regards to the taxable account I would like to keep it as simple as possible taking into consideration the tax implications. I am thinking of going with an ETF or ETFs for this account. What would be the best etf's to go with and what % breakdown. The rest of my portfolio is basically 50% fixed income 50% equities,

Q: I have 5,000 cash in my RRSP come available. I plan to retire in 4-5 years and am looking for a reliable dividend paying stock(s) or ETF(s) to put this money into and forget about it.
Can you please provide a recommendation for this cash. Thank you.