Investment Q&A

Q: Your Portfolio Analytics is expressing serious concerns about my lack of International content. It seems reasonably pleased with my CDN and US content. I was looking at ETF VEA but maybe a combination of it and an emerging market ETF. Oh, No or limited China please! I looked at VEE holdings and Yahoo says it is 100% VWO which seems weird and maybe wrong.
Have a great holiday season and thanks for your your great work!!

Q: You provided an answer to a recent question for worthwhile Global Equity MF & ETF.
The examples you provided were Canadian listed - thanks - now - could you provide 3 each of American Listed Global Equity MF & ETF that are in your opinion worthwhile investments. They will be in my RRSP account. I currently have CIF843 there but am interested in possibly better options.
Thanks

Q: What is the best European stock index and best/lowest cost ETF for that index? I think larger caps may be better for stability, like the TSX60. I have no investments outside of North America. Would it be better to buy a more Global index ETF, that is ex-North America vs just Europe?
Thanks!!
Grant

Q: Hi 5i,
Thinking of selling VXUS and buying VEA, VWO, DIM, DLS in its place to gain wider exposure to international stocks, what do you think of this idea. I will be able to control percentages in various market cap. companies too.

Q: Hi 5iTeam,

I wish to setup a long-term equity portfolio for my child consisting of the following:

QQQ - 30%
SPY - 30%
XIC - 10%
VEA - 30%

Rebalancing will be done annually.

Do you have any suggestions on how to improve the risk-return profile of this portfolio? For example, should additional ETFs be added to incorporate "value", "small-cap", "emerging markets" and "frontier markets"?

Your comments are most appreciated.

George

Q: What are your thoughts on diversifying your portfolio with ex-USA international ETFs? Are there any European or developing markets focused ETFs that you would recommend or consider including in a portfolio?

Q: hello again

For my non canadian and non USA holdings, I have relied almost exclusively on VEA for the last two years with ok results. I'm wondering if the Asian markets ( China, Taiwan, Japan in particular) won't fare better in the coming years than will many other geographics. Do you think it wise to switch to a different ETF and if so, which would you suggest? thanks. Al

Q: Hello 5i,
I a question on Sunday which hasn't been answered so I will try again. In a recent article which you generously shared with us on Nov 13, entitled, "You May Regret Staying in US Stocks" the author says that a good number of US investment managers are in agreement that for various reasons, US stocks will not be growing as fast as international stocks in the future. I was wondering whether you agree with this thesis? Also, do you think that the etf"s mentionned above will cover what is needed, or should I look at others? I will not be going out and selling all of my US stocks if this thesis is correct. But, I am low on my international section anyway. But, I have been hesitant to add to them.
thanks very much

Q: hello 5i team
i just read one of the articles you recommended to us stating that the consensus amongst money managers is that European stocks will do better than US stocks in the coming years. they give various reasons for this view. i was wondering what your thoughts were on this thesis. i am a little light on foreign equities but have been a bit hesitant to add any. But now i am rethinking this. if you see this as more or less an accurate perception of the investing reality today would you think that the etf’s mentionned would provide the coverage needed?
as always thanks for your expertise

Q: Hi Team,
Is there a ETF similar to VGRO but sold in $US without converting to Cdn? I have some cash on the US side of my RRSP and like the set up of VGRO but would rather not convert back to Cdn at this point.

Q: Hello,
I recently asked a question regarding a substitution for vea. You mentionned that a high dividend might be a good approach currently, and you suggested vidy.ca. I was wnting to do this in US dollars, however, and i cannot seem to find the US vanguard equivalent of this etf? Is there one?
Thanks

Q: I have positions in each of these ETF's inside my RRSP. Am I paying witholding taxes on any of them? If so - What is the tax treatment if I held them in my TFSA? Also what would the tax treatment be for each if held in my non-registered account?

Q: Hello 5i,


I am wanting to move more into US and rest of world, as the analytics program directs me.
Due to a sale in my tfsa, i will have US dollars that i can then put in my non registered account. ( i will fill the tfsa once afain from that same non registered account). I was wondering what to buy with these US dollars, though. I dont want to lose too much of. The divident break we have for US stocks in the Rif, so i was looking for low or no dividend yield candidates. One problem encountered is that in my non Canadian portfolio, i am moving away from individual stocks and towards etf's. Harder to find low or no dividend payers.

VEA was one I was looking at.

In the 5i portfolio tracking and analysis it says that vea has a yield of 1.89, which although not ideal, maybe something we could live with. When i go on the bmo site, though, it seems to indicate a yield of 2.99, which is becoming less livable.

I imagine you are riht about the dividend. But, would like to be sure. Also, do you see the 1.89 yield as being too high for a non registered account? Thanks once again

Q: I asked a question earlier about international exposure in US dollars. At that time you said VEA would work. I am just getting ready to put your advice into practice at the moment but I notice that VEA holds 8.7% Canadian. According to your analytics program, I really have to reduce my Canadian exposure and so was wondering whether there was another all world etf with no Canadian. Perhaps, though, 8.7 % is not that bad.
thanks

Q: Hi, thank you for the article on international stocks and the portfolio analytics.
I am now trying to decrease my Canadian home bias (40% to 25%) by increasing my international exposure (20% to 35%) and maintaining my US at 40%. My wife and I own XWD, VE and XEF in our TFSAs. I was thinking of selling XWD and adding VEE or VWO (RRSP) and/or VDU or VEA (RRSP). The switch to RRSP additions is to benefit from US withholding tax exemption.

Could I have your thoughts on the above changes. Is there too much overlap in owning all four ETFs? Could I simplify to one, two or three?

Thank you.

Q: I have 11% ZLU, 19% CDZ, 50% SDY, !% VWO, 15% VEA and 3% CGL in a RIF. I need to sell $12K from a RIF. Is there something you would recommend selling, or just move in kind?

Q: Greetings, I have a portfolio of Canadian and US stocks that is weighted about 60% in banks and insurance companies. I want to hold dividend paying stocks and am considering AQN, CU, & EMA to get more exposure to utilities (have Enbridge already) and PG for a consumer staple. Does this make sense or are their other names in the utilities and consumer sectors to consider?
Alex