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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: Hello 5i,
Interesting times. Thank you for the backup.

I am trying to help my sister rebalance her portfolio and to get it retirement ready. She does not want to watch the portfolio but is open to rebalancing a couple of times a year. She is in the 40:60 to 50:50 bond:equity range for comfort (although this market is a great test about that assertion). She will live 3 - 4 months in the us during retirement.

I’ve been playing with the above mentioned etfs, keeping in mind that USD are already held (25% of portfolio), to find the proper mix of etfs to get to a 40:60 mix of bond to equity, with an equity exposure 25:50:25 Canada, US, International.

Please feel free to suggest other etfs as necessary if the above are not appropriate. Can you suggest an appropriate etf composition/ collection to satisfy the above criteria?

Tia
Read Answer Asked by Kat on April 01, 2020
Q: Looking to simplify my life going with either XBAL or VBAL. They seem very comparable with slight differences regarding how much Canadian content.I also have the following ETF's .. QQQ,XQQ,SPY ,IWO ,XHC and ZAG. Could one still retain these or am I doubling down when really XBAL or VBAL will cover most of the stocks in these ETF's. Are there any that could be sold eg ZAG I don't mind having a bit extra in tech though.Thanks for your sound advice in these crazy times.
Read Answer Asked by Paul on April 01, 2020
Q: What is the one stock you would suggest to go all in with this correction?
Read Answer Asked by Nino on March 25, 2020
Q: Peter and team
I sold off all my equities part way through this recent collapse.
I have followed your BPort, along with some picks from the GPort.
I do not have the time to diligently follow individual stocks anymore, and was thinking of switching to ETFs.
What are your thoughts about splitting some 400k in cash between ZCN,ZDV, and ZUE. Is there too much overlap in the two Canadian ETFs, and what are your thoughts on going with the "hedged" ZUE?
This is a non registered account. I am pretty sure that ZUE is treated as a Canadian Equity with no foreign withholding tax. Correct?
Thanks

Phil
Read Answer Asked by Phil on March 13, 2020
Q: Hi Team, My friend was convinced to buy this fund. What can you tell me about its performance, distribution, cost on closing the position & management fee. What better alternative can she consider as first time investor? Exchange traded funds?
Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Victoria Y on February 27, 2020
Q: I have my registered accounts with a broker RRSP and TFSA. They have suggested Manulife Global Balanced Fund, managed by Mawer. Please give me your opinion on this fund. I am not sure that is what I want, but would like your opinion. Could you suggest something better for both a RRSP and TFSA.
Thank you so much, Shirley
Read Answer Asked by Shirley on February 20, 2020
Q: Hi there, I'm new here and joined after hearing great interviews on Build Wealth Canada. I have a question and am really hoping you can help. I have decided to invest in Asset Allocation ETFs. 60% equities, 40% bond. For both the equity and bond portion I would like equal split of Canadian, US and international (no emerging markets, developed markets only). I need one asset allocation ETF with dividends or interest to buy with my TFSA & RRSP accounts. I need another with no dividend/interest to buy in my non registered account. I am new to this and overwhelmed with how to pick the 2 asset allocation ETFs for me. Can you please recommend 2 that meet my needs? Thank you so much!! Deborah
Read Answer Asked by Deborah on January 28, 2020
Q: Hi 5i, We hold 6% of our portfolio in this fund which has done OK and provides nice monthly income. It's our last remaining mutual fund. Any suggestions on how I could replace it with similar ETF(s) and still achieve a decent yield and some growth. Monthly distributions are not necessary. Thanks for your help.
Read Answer Asked by Martha on January 22, 2020
Q: Hello,
I'm considering buying the Edgepoint Global Growth and Income fund, however the MER is very expensive series A at 2%. This would be a 25% holding in a LIRA account. I like the set-up income distribution with 70% global equities and 30% bonds. Can I please have your opinion on this fund, and could please provide the names of any alternative funds/etf's with a similar structure.

Thank you,

Glen
Read Answer Asked by glen on January 21, 2020
Q: Re article in today’s National Post re ETF of ETF’s, no ticker symbols were included. Can you provide same and indicate your opinion on general suitability and if favourable your choice?
Thank you for considering my question
Read Answer Asked by Gail on January 13, 2020
Q: Happy New Year 5i,
Is there anywhere I could get a complete list of the holdings in HBAL, VBAL, XBAL? I realize VBAL is 12,595! XBAL 16,000 plus! I am thinking there might be spreadsheets available somewhere. I am just doing a bit of education with my children and grandchildren.
Thanks
Chris
Read Answer Asked by Chris on January 09, 2020
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
Read Answer Asked by Peter on December 13, 2019
Q: Hello 5i team,
I'm looking for a one stop global balanced dividend etf at this time, for the next 4 year time frame.
Maybe VGRO, Vbal etc. but not prefered, I'd like about 3% Canadian content in it.
Too much in Canada already.
Any ideas other than balancing MAW120 or XAW with a GIC ladder ?
Read Answer Asked by Bernie on October 28, 2019
Q: Would you please suggest 2 or 3 US balanced funds, available in Cdn$ and hedged. Thanks
Read Answer Asked by gary on October 23, 2019
Q: I currently own 200K in vbal, 200K in vgro, 150K in xwd and 50K in vee, I am thinking of switching out vee with zlu as zlu performs better in the long run and also vee is covered in vgro and vbal.
Thoughts?
Thanks
SF
Read Answer Asked by Steve on September 17, 2019
Q: Having been doing some research on couch potato investing as opposed to me being actively involved.
As such, I am considering VGRO for myself and VBAL for my spouse's TFSAs. 4-5 year investment time frame.
Do you think this a good idea in putting all eggs in Vanguard's basket? What alternatives would you suggest?

Appreciate the insights and information you have provided and continue to provide.

JOhn
Read Answer Asked by John on September 17, 2019
Q: Greetings 5i

I continue to focus in on dividend producers that offer security as I enter retirement. At the present time in my TFSA I already have a 20% weighting in VBAL and 5% in XRE. I have another 5% to allocate which will be coming from my sale of BAD as I slowly transition to more security. Which do you suggest as the best alternative? Any other suggestions?

I know VBAL and XRE are very different in context and dividend payout so I need your insight. What I do know is that I’m having a great long ride with Shopify. For that I’m happy not to receive a dividend. Thanks 5i!

Peter
Read Answer Asked by Peter on August 29, 2019
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