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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, the distribution paid by these ETFs is starting to come down, even before the new rules becoming effective Jan 31th. Distributions will also follow the BoC rate when it starts going down as well. What would happen if shareholders start selling PSA, CSAV or CASH en masse? Is there some sort of marketmaker for these ETFs that, no matter what, will keep the share price close to NAV? Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Martin on January 15, 2024
Q: Happy Holidays,
I have a question about tax efficiency on HISA ETF investments in non-registered accounts. Do the dividends received from these ETFs qualify for any dividends tax credits? Or are they being treated as interest income, such as GIC, which will be subject to the usual marginal tax rates?

Thank you,
Read Answer Asked by Roger on December 23, 2023
Q: Dear 5i
Do most or all high interest savings accounts pay distributions monthly or quarterly ? How would you rate the above ones that i've listed ? Do you have to be a little cognizant of when you buy them as i see the price can fluctuate slightly throughout the day ? Are you best to buy the one with the highest % distribution or a combination of % distribution and the smallest 52 week high /low spread ?
Take as many points as necessary as i have multiple questions and lots of points .
Thanks
Bill C
Read Answer Asked by Bill on October 17, 2023
Q: I have money invested in non-registered accounts which I will need in 1-3 years for a downpayment on a house.

Am I correct that money needed in a 1-3 year time frame should not be invested in the markets ?

If so, what should be done with this money ? Any "money" ETF s to consider ? Thank you !
Read Answer Asked by laurent on October 16, 2023
Q: Hi there, could you please name your favourite high-interest savings account etf for a non-registered account, with a short description of why?

What is your favourite for a registered account and why?

Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Chris on August 01, 2023
Q: For the High interest savings etf's listed, which has the best net yield (or if another has a better yield that is not listed please let me know)?
With the HSAV product not paying a distribution, how do you find its yield? (In an answer to a previous question recently, it had the highest gross yield at that time of 5.25%)

And lastly, for funds held within a corporation, what would be the best tax advantaged way to go (pay tax on the dividend or the capital gain on HSAV)?

Thanks very much,
Read Answer Asked by Dustin on July 26, 2023
Q: Hello 5i Team

Further the many questions on HISA ETF (i.e. CASH, HSAVE, PSA etc.)

The Globe and Mail on February 09, 2023 a summary of the brokers services including availability to purchase HISA ETF; HISA Mutual Funds; and GIC.

Link (may be behind a pay wall) - https://www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/article-canadas-top-digital-broker-is-td-direct-investing-with-an-assist-from/

Essentially the three brokerages which do NOT allow HISA ETF are:

BMO Investor Line
RBC Direct Investing
TD Direct Investing

Regardless most brokers allow access to HISA mutual funds, however you may be restricted to the particular brokerages affiliated products (i.e. Royal Bank at RBC Direct Investing TD Bank at TD Direct Investing).

Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on March 16, 2023
Q: My sister needs to park around $90,000 which she intend to put on a house down-payment next February.

She can get around 4.5% for a 9-month GIC.

From reading your website over the years, I know that the above funds are also an option. However, I don't know how to judge the return that can be expected.

Which of the two options (GIC or one of these funds) would you recommend?

Thanks as always.
Read Answer Asked by Kevin on March 13, 2023
Q: I deal with CIBC Investors Edge and was wondering if there is a good ETF for buying GICs for my registered account. GIC are paying 6%, I believe? maybe some other instrument?
Read Answer Asked by James on February 07, 2023
Q: Strategy Question

If I had 200 - 300 000 in savings meant for a home purchase down payment in the next 1-3 years. I would be in the highest tax bracket. Besides GIC's what do you suggest parking this money in, what are safe and tax efficient alternatives.
Read Answer Asked by Ernest on January 03, 2023
Q: Further to your reply to Gord on November 02, 2022, please explain why I should not simply select the ETF with the best historical "total return" if no tax implications (RSP or TFSA). My Koyfin Watchlist tells me that HSAV offered 0.32% more than the next best ETF over the past year (HSAV 2.40%; CASH 2.08%; PSA 2.02%; CSAV 2.01%). Are there liquidity issues with any of these ETFs? Or will their values move in different directions in rising rate or decreasing rate environments? I'm just trying to understand the different offerings, and unlike historical equity returns, can I just select the ETF that is offering the best historical total return - Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by David on December 08, 2022
Q: I hope to retire in about a year. I'll have a comfortable defined benefit, I've used the portfolio analysis to diversify my investments. I have a sizeable cash amount earning nearly nothing at a bank. I have contemplated GIC's but don't like the idea of having my funds locked up in the event I would like to direct it to a project or investment .
Would there be a ETF /bond that would be relatively safe that would mirror the GIC returns?
Read Answer Asked by Gord on November 02, 2022
Q: Hi team,

The Globe recently published an article on high-interest savings account ETFs. It included this sentence: "A recent report by Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) Capital Markets pegs the after-fee yield from these funds at between 1.8 and 1.9 per cent, which is far better than most other cash alternatives available to the typical investor."

Link: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/personal-finance/article-this-cash-parking-spot-for-investors-has-never-looked-better/

Does this look right to you? I'm seeing more like 0.6% as the yield on these products.

Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Chris on June 15, 2022
Q: For you previous question you noted PSA and CSAV, however, neither are available on RBC Direct Investing? Any options for USD?
Read Answer Asked by Shyam on December 02, 2020