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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: Hi Peter & Team,

In our combined portfolio, we own the following International ETFs: ZEM, VEF, VA, and VIDY. Please list which ones to keep if you think there’s too much overlap.

As always, many thanks for your perspective.
Read Answer Asked by Jerry on April 29, 2026
Q: How high a percentage of your portfolio would you feel comfortable keeping in VIDY? Would that number be lower if one also had, say, an additional 5% in VXM?
Read Answer Asked by John on February 18, 2026
Q: I am a retired investor of 60 living comfortably off my pension. I have done very well with your advice over the years, but want to be a more passive investor.. I have read many of your answers regarding etf's. I am thinking of moving my investments towards etfs in the future. For US ZSP and VGG 40% XIC/VDY Canada 40% and International 20% VIDY. Thoughts on my choices and percentages. Any other suggestions? Thank you for your great service over the years. Also any thoughts or preference between BMO vs Vanguard. Thanks Stephen Deduct a few extra credits if needed.
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on January 12, 2026
Q: I have both VIDY and VIU. How similar are they? Should I keep both for a long term hold? If I kept only one, which should I keep.
Thank you for your excellent advice.
Read Answer Asked by Ivars on December 16, 2025
Q: Could you give me three Canadian and three US
ETFs for international exposure.
Read Answer Asked by Roy on October 31, 2025
Q: I am thinking of selling my bonds for an an international (ex-North-America) ETF that is fairly non-volatile (defensive, consumer cyclical, industrial).

I heard this as a strategy in the Canadian Financial Summit and it made sense because the bonds I've held for stability offer less in returns and in stability than the diversification does.

I'd like to hear your opinion on this strategy. Can you also recommend 4-5 ETFs that would play well into this strategy.

Thanks as always.
Read Answer Asked by Kevin on October 31, 2025
Q: I'm looking to increase international exposure inside a TFSA account focused on long term growth. Is there enough difference between these two to own both ? If only one, which one would you add?

thanks
Read Answer Asked by Raymond on October 14, 2025
Q: Good morning, I currently use ETFs for foreign investments and I now have a large position in ZDI. I like it's growth and dividend. I have been looking at VIDY recently for diversification. I like it's growth rate of the last 5 years (does not have 10 year history). Can I have your thoughts on both these etf's and any other growth oriented ex-north-america etf's. Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Roger on October 09, 2025
Q: Are any of these above companies worth investing in? Also if so, at what price would be a good buy.

Thank You
John G.
Read Answer Asked by John on October 07, 2025
Q: I am retired but with a small consulting business that has cash sitting in an investment account. I have some concern about the valuation of the current markets and looking to invest with some tilt towards safety realizing nothing is guaranteed. I think ETFs may add a small amount of safety. With that in mind, I am looking at the following ETFs: XUT, XSU, XST, VIDY, TECH, TEC, JXI:US, FEQT with a slightly higher position in FEQT.

I would greatly appreciate your comments/thoughts and suggestions for improvements.

Thanks for this super service!
Read Answer Asked by Danny-boy on October 03, 2025
Q: I'm looking for an ETF that complements my VDY. In particular I'd like yield with some growth, and fairly defensive. I don't mind which is greater, yield or growth. I've spotted VIDY, and it looks good, and might complement my VDY in that it is similar but EX North America. I suppose the yield is not Div Tax Credit, so if there is a Canadian ETF that complements VDY, in the sense of holdings, I'd consider that too. But the Tax Credit is not essential, so a US complement (sold in Canada) might work also. So complementary to VDY in terms of geography or holdings would be good.
Read Answer Asked by Gordon on August 22, 2025
Q: Hi Peter and 5i Team,

I need to raise some cash and plan to sell/reduce in a non-registered account to accomplish this. Of the stocks and ETFs addressed in this question, please rank them in the order that YOU would sell/reduce, starting with the ones to sell/reduce first. If any holdings are an outright sell, please indicate. For example, we've held BYD for a long time and have a decent gain, but it's short-term performance has faltered somewhat.

As always, thanks for your insight.
Read Answer Asked by Jerry on August 21, 2025
Q: Hello 5i...what would be your current favorite ETFs in the following criteria:

International ex N.America in $USD and $CDN overall market

International ex NA with Growth tilt and with Dividend tilt. $USD and $CDN

Perferance in RRIF vs TFSA..

Holding period > 5 yrs....

thanks/ Art
Read Answer Asked by Arthur on July 29, 2025
Q: Hi Peter and team,
European ETFs such as the ones listed above have a relatively high concentration of pharmaceuticals. With Trump's plans to curb such imports to the US, do you believe that this will be a headwind for these ETFs?
Your insight is greatly appreciated.
Read Answer Asked by Jerry on May 13, 2025
Q: Which one do you prefer for international exposure?
Read Answer Asked by David C. on February 04, 2025
Q: What other ex north america etf's would be good?

Thanks
Read Answer Asked by David C. on February 04, 2025
Q: If you were adding a dividend producing ETF to a pipeline, insurance and bank-focused portfolio (North American bias), which ETF would you use for:
a) dividend/total return
b) diversification?
Read Answer Asked by David on July 26, 2021
Q: I would like to invest using only 4 ETFs. One for short bonds, one for all Canadian stocks, one for emerging markets, one for the whole US market, and one for the developed world (as wide as possible) excluding Canada and the US.

Which ETFs should I use?

Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Federico on July 19, 2021
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