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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: Big banks TD and RY trim and add to GSY and PRL. Is it time to begin ---- wait ----or not at all?
Read Answer Asked by joe on October 06, 2025
Q: I have some money to deploy in my partner's TFSA and RRSP, and they currently have the following holdings. As we move towards retirement, the objective is to hold more income and defensive stocks. What three might you add today, and what three would sell from this list? Thank you for your insights.
Read Answer Asked by kevin on October 03, 2025
Q: If you were an income investor and wanted to invest in each of the 5 big banks, given current valuations and yield, what percentage of the money you have marked for investing in banks would you allocate to each?
Read Answer Asked by Mark on October 02, 2025
Q: Hi, I own RY shares in both Cdn and USD, and see that the USD tends to lag the Cdn by a little. Is that due to conversion, or just the RY stock doesn't have as much momentum in the US? Not a big thing, just curious - and I figured you'd have the answer - as you always do! Thanks!
D
Read Answer Asked by Dawn on October 01, 2025
Q: I have noticed that a number of the large banks have had a big rise recently. I am wondering about the reason for this. Specifically, is this a flight to safety going on in the background? Or is it the interest rate reduction or something else?
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Gordon on September 29, 2025
Q: In your opinion, are Cdn. bank stocks overvalued and is it time to trim. Along with two Cdn insurance companies they currently represent approximately 26% of our portfolio
Read Answer Asked by Donald on September 11, 2025
Q: Your thoughts please on this TFSA used by a retired banker that is very simple but has vastly outpermormed the TSX. I realize only 3 sectors are covered but looks to be all quality companies?

Thx
Read Answer Asked by blake on September 04, 2025
Q: I am overweight in financials. Can you order the noted stocks in terms top to bottom ranking?
Read Answer Asked by Judith on September 04, 2025
Q: What would your top ~5 recommendations be to build an RESP with an 10-15 year horizon.
Had to sell all positions to live the account and have a good pile of free cash currently to redeploy. Not dissatisfied with prior holdings but creates a moment to consider best options currently
Read Answer Asked by Ryan on August 29, 2025
Q: Would you throw some light on “ provision for credit losses “ ( PCL ) that the banks use in their financial statements. It seems to have a significant impact on earnings. How is it determined ? Analysts take it as a poor contributor to earnings. If a bank lowers its PCL how does this actually increase its profitability ? Is there a formula to determine its PCL and how trustworthy is this ? Seems to me that a bank could alter the PCL number to better their numbers. Thanks. Derek.
Read Answer Asked by Derek on August 29, 2025
Q: This relates to response made on Royal Bank on Aug. 8th, person had 25% on there holding, advise was to not keep a single bank stock over 8% in a portfolio. I own it as well, makes up just over 13% if my portfolio, ive owned it long enough my dividend is almost 7.5%, I know you don't give personal advise, I see no reason to sell any, but might I be better selling some and looking at another bank maybe TD, I do own BNS in another account, it's just over 8% of.that portfolio.
Read Answer Asked by Don on August 28, 2025
Q: RBC makes up 25% of my equity holdings. I have a profit of 42%. Based on my purchase price I am receiving a 5% yield. Several months ago I reduced RY holdings by 20% due to gains. If it were you, at what % would you be comfortable?

Thanks for all your help,

Mike
Read Answer Asked by Michael on August 08, 2025
Q: Could we have your opinion on the Canadian Banks please? What would be your top 3 picks?

Thanks
Read Answer Asked by kim on July 25, 2025
Q: I have a portfolio of 25 individual stocks (diversified among most sectors) with no ETFs. Within this portfolio I own companies that trade in CAD and the US but have operations and/or varying degrees of revenue in other countries such as CLBT, AXON, TOI, VHI, UBER, BKNG, WSP, TRI, BN and some of the MAG 7 with their worldwide reach such as GOOG. I often wonder if this is adequate international exposure for a healthy portfolio or should I have a specific international ETF?
I have not been a fan of ETFs due to the often wide exposure that can include "the best along with less than the best" (and they are boring, :), haha). But for long term growth and healthy diversification I often consider opening a position in an international ETF such as VIU.
But then I face my conundrum. In the past 5 years the return on VIU has been 41.4% (Yahoo Finance). Perhaps my expectations are out of line, but I would not be happy (and I would be bored, :), ) with the same return from VIU in the next 5 years. Even a conservative Canadian bank with some international operations such as RY has done 90% in the past 5 years (Yahoo Finance). It seems to me that I must give up too much possible growth in order to achieve a healthy level of international diversification through the instrument of an international ETF.
Perhaps this is a conundrum that need not be solved, but do you have any thoughts that may lead to a wiser investment perspective or a needed tempering of my expectations?
As always, thank you for your excellent service.
Cal
Read Answer Asked by Calvin on July 17, 2025
Q: Hi 5i,

I am Canadian and holding the above stocks. I am so upset that brk.b not do well these days, because I am holding 2/3. 1/3 are holding the rest including RY, TRI, CNR, CP, ENB, DOL. would you please comment above stocks. I am not an aggressive person but look for re-balance to get better sleep.

Many thanks.
Read Answer Asked by kwokwai on July 15, 2025
Q: I hold these equities in my grandson's RESP. He will need to access funds in 2 years. He will enter grade 11 this September. I just sold half of the CLS holdings at 120% gain. Above % represents post sale. I am thinking of putting cash into BEP.UN or BIP.UN. what additional adjustments would you make at this time?

Thanks for all your help.

Mike
Read Answer Asked by Michael on July 04, 2025