Investment Q&A

Q: Hello 5i Team,

I have a question about Mawer Funds. My wife and I currently hold about 500,00 across 4 account (2 TFSA’s 1 RRSP and 1 Cash). We own Mawer 130 and 104 split equally. We have enjoyed the funds and the performance and just wonder what your thoughts are about the size of the company. Do you see AUM growing to point where it could hinder performance. Thanks

Q: MAW105 is supposed to be more tax efficient but how can it be since the distribution under that fund is greater than under MAW104 or MAW130.
MAW104 is a fund of funds while the other 2 hold the securities. What is the difference between the global balanced fund and the tax efficient one.
What will be the best one for a non registered account and for an rrsp. Why?
Thank you for your help with this matter.

Q: Peter; I own multiple Mawer funds thanks to you . One is the Maw130- I just tried to buy some more and was told by BMOINVESTORLINE that it is F class fund and I can’t buy it - yet I must have once because I own it and it shows in my holdings. Can you clear this up ? Thanks. Rod

Q: Hello,
I have Mawer Balanced Fund fund and Mawer Global Small Cap funds in my RRIF and RLIF to provide some diversification to the individual stocks that I also have. I am happy enough with these 2 funds, and woud like to add Mower Global Balanced Fund, to provide some further foreign diversification , but I do not wish to sell any thing right now to free up the cash, so I am considering
replacing the Balanced fund with the Global Balanced Fund. This might help my foreign diversification problem, but I am wondering if there is a disadvantage to making this swap that I cannot see. the resrt of my portolio is canadian and us stock and fixed income. Please let me know if you think that this is worth doing at this time.
Thank you

Q: Good morning,
I own a small house in Ottawa that is free and clear with a current market value of approximately $350,000.
A recent discussion with my trusted mortgage broker confirmed that a 5 year term (Closed & Fixed) term mortgage can be obtained at a rate of 2.29%. This mortgage is said to be:
a. insured through CMHC,
b. portable, and
c. transferable.
At that rate of 2.29% and given that the interest paid would be tax deductible if I use the funds for investment purposes, I'm seriously considering borrowing around $200,000 and investing this amount for an initial 5 year period with an expected net rate of return on investment of 4.5% .
Q1. With $200,000, what are your thoughts of splitting this amount in 5 different chunks of $40K in the following instruments:
a. Mawer Tax Effective Balanced Fund,
b. Mawer Global Balanced ETF Fund,
c. Vanguard Balanced ETF Portfolio,
d. IShares Core Balanced ETF Portfolio, and
e. BMO Balanced ETF

Q2. As an alternative to the above and given the 5 year time frame, would your preference be to invest the $200,000 in a selection of best in class individual stocks split between different sectors and if so, would you be so kind as to provide me with ya listing of your best ideas at this time.

I thank you and look forward to hearing your thoughts on both of these investment strategies.
Francesco

Q: Dear Team,
Of all the Mawer funds, which one or two would be your preferred choices?
And yes, your information and services have been excellent in these uncertain times!
Thank you for that!

Q: Hi There,
Just curious if I could get your opinion on the following funds MAW130, XSP, XMS and XQQ. I am looking to invest some money outside of Canada with some decent balanced/growth potential.
Could you please list in order of preference with the first being the most favorable.
Thank You,

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

Q: I have about 150k in an RESP account for my 2 kids ( grade 9 and 12) so next year kid 1 will start withdrawing funds and kid 2 in 4 years. I've maxed out the match up grants so no new contributions. I hold mostly global growth mutual funds and am thinking I should shift to a more conservative dividend aristocrat type of holding. This would maintain equity and start generating some income vs more global growth focus I have used to get to this point. Do you have a suggestion for 1-3 low cost mutual funds or ETFs to generate some income and be good holdings for the drawdown period over the next 8 years.

Q: HI,
Do you see any problem with holding significant amounts of Mawer global balanced fund and Mawer balanced fund to provide diversification for a portfolio of canadian stocks selected from the 5i portfolios and carefully selected US stocks ?
Additional fixed income required would com from
PH&N or other suitable sources

Thanks in advance