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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: I would like to make an investment in the lithium space. Are there any particular companies you would recommend? Or would you suggest an ETF? (assuming there is one) Thank you for the great service and happy holidays!
Read Answer Asked by Patrick on December 15, 2017
Q: Happy Holidays 5i!!
If you were to pick one or two ETFs or two to four companies which are expected to be show very good growth in the USA in 2018 which would you choose. I am not concerned about sectors and I realize you don't follow US companies closely. I do, however, respect your overall knowledge and welcome your comments.
Thank you
Dave
Read Answer Asked by Dave on December 15, 2017
Q: What are your top 5 gold companies? Is it time to buy gold shares ? RAK
Read Answer Asked by bob on December 15, 2017
Q: I own NBC7603 - Meritage International Equity Portfolio - which represents ~4.5% of my cash account. I am thinking of replacing it with MAW102 as the MER is lower ( 2.8% for NBC7603 vs 1.43% for MAW102). I would have a good capital gain which I could offset with a large contribution to my RRSP (I haven't made any contributions in a couple of years).
Instead would you suggest a Canadian ETF which would have a similar exposure and a lower MER such as XAW( World except Canada), VEE (emerging markets) or XEF (MSCI EAFE)?
Season's greetings to the 5i team !
Elaine
Read Answer Asked by Elaine on December 15, 2017
Q: Hello,
My question is portfolio construction strategies for a RIF. Assume the value allows for sufficient diversification to total 20 positions, as long as a max 5% (say $5,000.00 per investment) weighting is respected in each. Also assume one wants foreign exposure and uses ETFs for that portion with a goal of maintain a minimum 25% (say 5 positions) exposure.

Based on the above, that would mean +/- 15 individual CAD stocks can be purchased. I like the fact individual stocks can provide greater returns and outperform the index and/or its sector. But they can also produce far more portfolio carnage for a variety of reasons? Capital preservation is an important consideration but low volatility is acceptable. Other investments can be drawn on to avoid selling in a market downturn and I am still a few years away from reaching 71. I am assuming the value of the portfolio is stable and the strategy would change if the withdrawals started reducing the portfolio value below an amount where a reasonable diversification could be maintained. I believe it is a useful exercise to have an objective yearend review. It helps to understands risks and plan/structure investments going forward with a vision.

In your opinion, what factors might be prime considerations to simply move the funds entirely into ETFs?

Given some recent questions, I would like your insight into FOREX and Covered Call options on ETFs for my foreign exposure. Other than travel, our living expenses are CAD. Consider foreign bank ETFs ZUB and ZBK as a good example since you have provided responses on them . Would buying a block of each which add up to my desired individual investment weight also give some FOREX exposure but a defensive position thanks to the hedge? Similarly, would a strategy of picking two ETFs one with a covered call and the other full market exposure increase capital appreciation potential while enhancing monthly returns?

Thank you for your insights. Season's greetings!

Mike
Read Answer Asked by Michael on December 15, 2017
Q: Hi 5i,
I’m continuing to hold some Callidus (CBL) shares reasonably patiently. But I’d be interested in any further thoughts on the insider activity on CBL over the past few months. The INK report shows predominantly two buyers: Braslyn Ltd and Callidus itself. (You noted previously that Lewis controls Braslyn) The shares repurchased by Callidus are consistently cancelled at the end of each month. The Braslyn purchases are small lots (a few as big as 10-15,000 but smaller most recently), certainly relative to the size of Braslyn’s total holding (over 7.1M shares). Small lots obviously won’t move the price significantly on a given day. But is this buying too incremental to be significant or might something be going on? Obviously if there is to be a go-private takeover at a premium, continuing to accumulate near $10 might work out well for Braslyn. But is it likely that Braslyn is angling to orchestrate a takeover itself? The trading share float seems relatively small on this already (around $100M and less than 20% of the market cap). I don’t know if I have seen a situation quite like this one before. It seems like if the float erodes enough the current insiders could just have it go private by agreement. Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Lance on December 15, 2017
Q: All of my RRSP bond holdings (25% of portfolio) are invested in two PHN funds, about 2/3 in the core government bond fund RBF1110 and 1/3 in the High Yield Bond fund RBF1280. Is there any value in diversifying a bit more using either XHY or CVD? The rest of the portfolio (75%) is equally split between Canadian equity (modelled from the Balanced Portfolio) and US/International Equity Funds and ETFs. I have about 15 years ahead of me before transferring to a RRIF and don't expect to have to rely much on this money because of my employer defined benefit pension plan. Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Christian on December 15, 2017
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