skip to content
  1. Home
  2. >
  3. Investment Q&A
You can view 3 more answers this month. Sign up for a free trial for unlimited access.

Investment Q&A

Not investment advice or solicitation to buy/sell securities. Do your own due diligence and/or consult an advisor.

Q: Hi team. A few months ago I asked about the best stocks and/or ETFs for my 32 year old son to invest $12K of RRSP $. We didn't get to this yet.... In the past you recommended a few ETFs. What would you recommend today. I'll help him get this invested through a self directed plan next week. Thank you!
Read Answer Asked by Kathryn on July 03, 2025
Q: Hi,

I have a Lump sum and I have close to an equal 25/25/25/25% split for these etfs/company. because i am in my low 40s i want to make sure i get my growth somewhat better in my younger years. Do you think this would be acceptable or should i be leaning more towards a xeqt/vfv split?
Read Answer Asked by Ross on June 17, 2025
Q: I have BNS544 mutual fund, would like to know what 3 ETFs in order would you replace this mutual fund with. For a RRSP account.
Much appreciated
Read Answer Asked by Alto on June 13, 2025
Q: Hi there, often times the 4% rule is used as a foundation for retirement planning. I believe the original study used US equities and US bonds as the funds to develop the 4% withdrawal rule. Obviously no one has a crystal ball, but what would be your opinion on using as international equity ETF with the 4% rule rather than a US fund such as VFV? If you were make an educated guess, do you believe using funds such as XEQT/VEXT and VAB/XBB instead of US funds would yield similar results as the 4% study over the longterm going forward?
Read Answer Asked by Michael on May 14, 2025
Q: Looking of some growth ETF suggestions for my non-registered account, hold for at least 5 years.
Read Answer Asked by Art on May 12, 2025
Q: Do you you prefer one of these over the others? Would VEQT would be more efficient in an RSSP as it holds individual stocks rather than ETF's?
Read Answer Asked by Joe on March 13, 2025
Q: Following up on Harrison's RESP question from February 10th, I'm seeking advice on ETF recommendations for my grandson's RESP. He turns two in March 2025, giving him approximately 16 years until he'll need the funds.
I appreciate your ETF recommendations, particularly the split between Canadian and US markets (VGG, ZSP, ZCN, XCG, VDY). I'm also considering ZUQ (BMO MSCI USA High Quality Index), but I'm wondering if it's too similar to ZSP? Your thoughts?
I do not like CDZs holdings as much.
You also mentioned two balanced ETFs in your response (XBAL and VBAL). The fixed income allocation is approximately 40% for these balanced ETFs. In contrast, XGRO and VGRO have a fixed income allocation of around 20%, and XEQT or VEQT have no fixed income. What I like about these allocation ETFs is they have some international exposure.
Considering the long-term horizon, I'm leaning towards XEQT/VEQT, which have no fixed income. My main question is whether the 20% fixed income component of XGRO/VGRO or even the XBAL/VBAL (40% fixed income) is necessary for a two-year-old’s RESP? Or are XEQT/VEQT too aggressive, considering the other ETFs mentioned?
Finally, wouldn't it be more appropriate to introduce a 100% fixed income ETF closer to the withdrawal age or perhaps three years before we start accessing the funds?
Deduct as many points as you think necessary.
As always thanks for the great advice.
Élaine
Read Answer Asked by Elaine on February 20, 2025
Q: From a tax perspective, which of the above ETFs are best suited for:

1. TFSA
2. RRSP
Read Answer Asked by Paul on February 12, 2025
Q: Hi Peter and 5i Team,

How would you rank these ETFs, XEI, XEQT, VFV, QDTE, for a 10 year hold?
Read Answer Asked by Marvin on January 30, 2025
Q: Hi- I’m looking for a long term, somewhat diversified CG hold for my TFSA. What do you think of FEQT. Do you have others you prefer?
Thanks,
Guy
Read Answer Asked by Guy on December 20, 2024
Q: The existing investments for my other grandson are shown above. Please rank his investments for long term growth. Best wishes for the Holiday Season.
Read Answer Asked by Don on December 16, 2024
Q: Writing in again because I keep hesitating about how to start a high growth all equity portfolio..

For context, I am 39 years of age, with a comfortable income, and planning on working about 25 years. This would be for retirement money.

You previously answered you would be comfortable with an SP500 index fund as VFV of SPY as opposed to an all in one equity fund such as VEQT or XEQT, from what I understood.

Can you please suggest a porfolio of 5 to 7 all equity ETFs that you believe to be superior to the all in one variety. I don’t necessarily care about the truisms about absolutely needing to be geographically diverse. And I certainly prefer to avoid Canadian home bias.

Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Karim on July 29, 2024
Q: Apologies if this has been answered previously. This is a follow up to Ross’ question about these one stop shop ETFs. You mention, in this particular answer, that you consider them to be ‘more than acceptable’.

Assuming one doesn’t mind complicating their lives a little, what would be your optimal all-equity ETF portfolio for an aggressive investor ?

Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Karim on July 17, 2024
Q: Hi there - thanks for your reply. Just a follow up for clarification. You mentioned XEQT has exposure to fixed income which you noted as a reason for a better etf for long term hold, but I think both XEQT and XWD are approximately 100% in equities, with a different approach to geographical weighting. Does this change your recommendation of XEQT over XWD long term? Thank you!
Read Answer Asked by Michael on June 05, 2024
Q: Hi there - between these 2 etfs, which would you consider the better buy hold forever etf? Is there a better buy a hold forever etf other than these 2?

Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Michael on June 05, 2024
Q: I would appreciate your general comments regarding these two ETFs, in particular with regard to these as a long term hold for my nephew at age 30. That person also intends to have other funds invested in more speculative, higher risk equities (play money!)
1) Are these a safe hold that should increase in value with general market appreciation over the years?
2) Would you believe the current dividend is sustainable?
3) Are there other options in the ETF world that you might recommend for a long term hold?
4) Again for a long term hold would you prefer something along the lines of buying equities directly, with something like holding one of your portfolios, knowing that he will not be paying much attention to these investments.
Thanks! Paul
Read Answer Asked by Paul on April 12, 2024