Investment Q&A

Q: HI,
Are there any tax consequences keeping these in TFSA account.

Thanks,
Milan

Q: Which of these two funds would you prefer and why ? Please compare the managements, the fees, the yield, and the safety, origin , and selection of bond products . Thankyou

Q: What are your thoughts on these low mer Vanguard etfs?
Thnx

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: TD Mgd Idx Bal Growth Port - e (TDB852). Would you consider this fund a good choice for a child's RESP, the Child would not need the money for 15 plus years. I lean towards more growth but family would prefer something more balanced. This is close to the"couch potato" method. MER is 1.27%. There are no fees to purchase this e-series fund with TD and no fees to sell after 2 months (not that it would be sold for a long time). It is a mix of their 4 e series funds (40% Canadian bond index, 23 % us index, 20% canadian index and 76 percent international index). Would you recommend something else?

Q: Following up on Maureen's question about regional allocation - if you looked at Canada 40% US 35% Europe 15% and Emerging Markets 10% could you give me some suggestions as to which ETF's you might suggest I look at to achieve such a distribution.
Thanks,Terry

Q: age 80, have large amount to invest, looking to make up low risk portfolio that doesn't require constant watching

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

Q: Good morning,
Both of our family TFSA accounts are currently invested in their entirety with a variety of Mawer Mutual funds (100% Equity). At 70 years old, I would like to reduce the risk profile of our TFSA accounts from 100% Equity to a more classic 60% (equity)/40% (fixed income) balanced portfolio.
Of the five investment options for our two family TFSA accounts which are used as an estate planning tool with the intention of never withdrawing any funds and leaving the proceeds to our grandchildren, which of the following options would you recommend, in what order and why?
Option 1: Staus Quo.
Option 2: Invest all TFSA funds in the Mawer Balanced or Mawer Global Balanced Fund.
Option 3: Invest all of the TFSA funds through a Discretionary Money Manager that currently manages our family RRSP and Non Registered accounts with total management costs of 1.30% (Money management fee, Sub Advisor fees, Custody fee, Transaction fee plus HST). The average long term target rate of return being 4.5% after fees for this balanced portfolio of which 25% of the portfolio is invested in alternative investments to supposedly further reduce volatility.
Option 4: In an effort to further simplify, reduce fees and perhaps improve long term performance of our TFSAs, invest all the TFSA funds directly in the Vanguard Balanced ETF portfolio (VBAL) through our discount brokerage account.
Option 5: Invest all the funds directly through our discount brokerage account in a combination of ETFs that covers 20% Bonds/32% Canada/32% USA/16%Global and if so what would be your preferred ETF recommendation.
I thank you in advance and look forward to hearing your response and recommendations.
Francesco

Q: Would you recommend either of these for a lazy TFSA investor? Thanks. Peter

Q: My daughter has been sold this fund (agf elements bal portfolio fe,483) by her advisor a few years ago. She seems to feel she is locked in, although I doubt that. I suggested a switch to maw 104 since she seems apprehensive about VBAL with it's shorter history. I would appreciate your wisdom. Thanks

Q: Hi 5i team,

My dad is almost retired with a +/- 5 year timeline of when he will need a majority of his savings. I feel he should move it out of a bank account that earns him 0.07% and into an ETF or into some blue chips stocks. Can you recommend some ETF's or blue chip stocks for his timeline?

Thanks.

Q: Hey Guys,
Would you buy these ETFs today?
Are there other ETFs you prefer today.
This is for a long term hold.
Thank you,
John.

Q: I'm considering investing my entire TFSA in either VGRO or VBAL.
Would you recommend one or over the other, or perhaps a different strategy?
Thank you.

Q: 5i team: would you please advise on your opinion on these ETFs. Is it a good opportunity to buy into a new etf when the initial price is about 10$ or is this a misconception on value. In contrast to say vbal & vgro at the 25$ range? Also can you coment on mpcf . If it was a core holding what could compliment it as for diversity. Do all of the above have enough canadian exposure? Tks

Q: Can you advise as to a hands off type of income fund or etf that is most likely not to return capital.should these be avoided to have a more accurate income with less year end adjustment for tax purposes? Do you think the vanguard ones as per vbal would most likely do this?I have held xtr in the past and it does need to ret.cap. to keep up with the high yield. Any reflection on this and suggestions greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Q: 5Iteam: If you look at the track record of phn balance d fund of which I have held off and on over the year's and allways ended up wondering why I sold. Could you give an opinion as to why anyone who wants a hands off approach to part of their portfolio would be any better off with say Plv or Vbal or even Pimco or other. Your comments greatly appreciated.

Q: Am I correct in assuming pmif is 100% bonds and would it be a good fit for the fixed income portion of a retirement portfolio along with a GIC ladder with vbal to pick up enough equity for the balance.other thoughts appreciated. Thanks

Q: Good morning,
Are there any studies or perhaps form your own experience, that have determined a general optimal balance between equity and fixed income allocations over time for someone who doesn't want to keep re-allocating asset mix. Is it 60:40 equity , 65:35 etc....?

Thank you

Q: I have about 7 years before i will need to withdraw and money from my RSP's. With $100K to invest how much would you recommend to put in each of the above managed ETF's. Just want to invest and not look at them until the 7 years are up. I am open to other suggestions?