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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 5iResearch Team,
I currently hold positions in 3 of Canada's 5 big banks as above and they represent about 9% of my total portfolio. Giving pending interest rate increases in both the States and Canada, I am thinking of increasing my holdings in Canadian banking sector to about 12/13 percentage of total portfolio and would like your thoughts on this.
Cheers,
Read Answer Asked by Harry on February 15, 2018
Q: I realize that BNS is in your portfolio but if you were going to buy shares in a Canadian bank would you still suggest BNS as the top choice. I tend to lean toward Royal or TD as perhaps better choices at this time but would appreciate your opinion and thoughts on how each of the banks is positioned for best growth and how you would rank the three banks for purchase now.
Read Answer Asked by John on February 13, 2018
Q: Hello Peter, Ryan & Co.
The Canadian banks are core holdings in my portfolio, which I intend to hold for a very long time. I am a bit perplexed, however, at the recent selloff. I recognize that the current pullback/correction in the market is very broad, but it seems to have been triggered by a fear of rising interest rates - don't banks & insurance companies actually benefit from rising rates? The banks' shares seem to have fallen as much as the interest-sensitive stocks this week (like REITs & utilities), which makes no sense to me. Can you explain?
Read Answer Asked by Brian on February 09, 2018
Q: i am thinking buying some Canadian bank stock, it is a good timing for long turn investment ? and which bank your team will choose?
i am 48 years now.

thanks!!
Jacky
Read Answer Asked by liang on February 08, 2018
Q: Thinking of changing 4 Can. banks into 1 for tax loss but not missing the upside in the next 30 days. Which one would you pick, or just leave as is ?
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by George on February 08, 2018
Q: Hi 5i:
I have too many finance stocks in my RIF account and would appreciate your advice on how to reduce. I want to maintain some US banking exposure, but otherwise I am open to your suggestions I have: RY; SLF; JPM; BAC; V. Thanks Roland
Read Answer Asked by Roland on January 31, 2018
Q: I have some money in an RRSP and I feel that my diversification is broad enough. My preference is in consistent reliable dividends (nearing retirement) and honestly some potential in a market increase. Which of these would you pick? Also, I would like you to give me a better idea about Centurylink. At what stock price level would you consider to be a purchase point? ( or would you stay away period).
Read Answer Asked by Tim on January 29, 2018
Q: Hello,
I am quite new to the investing world and just looking to get much more involved. I currently have some mutual funds through a balanced portfolio in a TFSA that I have discussed with my financial planner. I have a TFSA open through Manulife and RBC. I am looking and hoping to get into some index funds and passive investing as well. Looking to just get average returns with low fees. Any suggestions on the best way to start this and go about this on my own? Recommendations on which ones I should start with through the TFSA accounts I have? I seen some through RBC, but just find it tough to get answers from financial advisors as I always feel pushed toward active investments (which I am open to down the road as well).

Thanks from a early and trying to learn investor,

Matt
Read Answer Asked by Matthew on January 22, 2018
Q: In financials I own about 2.5% of my overall portfolio in both TD and RY with about 1% in ECN (total of 6%). What would be your recommendation if adding more to the financial sector. Stay with Canadian banks (add to TD or RY or possibly BNS) or add something like SLF OR MFC? Any other suggestions?
Thanks.
Brian
Read Answer Asked by Brian on January 15, 2018
Q: Looking to purchase some individual rate reset preferred shares. Looking for relatively early reset dates. Would you be comfortable with: BCE.PR.Q, MFC.PR.J, RY.PR.H, TRP.PR.G ?
Regards,
Robert
Read Answer Asked by Robert on December 26, 2017
Q: If you were to add 3 positions to a well diversified Portfolio, which of these 10 would you choose.


Thanks Valter
Read Answer Asked by Valter on November 14, 2017
Q: Regarding asset allocation, I need to do some trimming and adding. I need to trim RY and use the proceeds to add to ZWE. In a perfect world, I'd like to nail both dividends, so I wanted to bounce the plan past you.

The ex-div date for RY is Oct 25 and the ex-div date for ZWE is Oct 27. So that means I would get the RY dividend if I sell on or after Oct 25. I would get the ZWE dividend if I buy on or before Oct 26. Did I get this right? Thanks, Steve
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on October 20, 2017
Q: I am a retired, conservative dividend-income investor with a company pension, CPP, annuities, Fisgard Capital and the following equities:
1. 17% Mutual funds (RBC Cdn Equity Income, Sentry Cdn Income, Sentry REIT)
2. 10% ETFs (ZLB, XIT, ZWE)
3. 41% stocks (listed above)
4. 32% fixed income (annuities, Fisgard, but not including my pension nor CPP).

I plan to reduce my Sentry Cdn Income holding from 9% to 5% and purchase ZWC. The benefits would be a) saving $1k in hidden MER fees, b) receiving an extra $1k in dividends and c) a better asset allocation. I like the covered call strategy that ZWC provides, as well as the 30 companies inside the ETF.

Question = is this the right ETF product? Are there other Canadian Covered Call ETF choices that offer this diversified asset mix that I should consider? Are their other ETFs that have slightly less financials, less utilities, and more industrials that would result in a better asset allocation for me?

Thanks for your help...Steve
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on October 05, 2017
Q: 12:32 PM 9/11/2017
Hello 5i
Thank you for your answer to my question this morning about selecting companies with the highest probability of reliable long term income and dividend growth.

Just to follow up, if I am reading between the lines correctly I infer you would clearly choose banks if we didn't already own some. But since we do your suggestion is to buy CSH.UN and NWC.

I am fine with your suggestion but did you make it basically just to provide "diversification" at the cost of buying much much smaller and possibly less stable companies or would it be just as safe to simply overweight on Canadian banks.

Do you really think CSH.UN and NWC are as "safe" as RY and TD? After all if banks go down, so goes everything else. Just how "dangerous" is it to have a 20+% position in the big 5 banks?

Thank you............. Paul K
Read Answer Asked by Paul on September 11, 2017
Q: 9:57 AM 9/10/2017
Hello Peter :
My wife and I are in our 70's and require additional steady dividend income to complement our pensions and bond income. We wish to choose companies that we never need to consider selling and that have reliable dividend growth and little chance of dividend cuts.
We have a 4.5% cash position we want to invest.
We need to decide between two options:
1. Invest the whole 4.5% in RY or TD, [we already own 10% split between BNS and CM], or
2. Add to 2 or more of these existing positions : CSH.UN [3.2%], SIA [3.9%], NWC [2.2%], CSW.A [3.1%], RPI.UN [1.0%], or invest part in new positions in one or more of ET, ZCL, ABT, or ADN.
What choice or choices would you advise us to make for the highest probability of reliable long term income and dividend growth?
Thank you............. Paul K

Read Answer Asked by Paul on September 11, 2017
Q: I have BNS, RY, SLF and FSZ in equal amounts in my "Financial" basket and need to add another name to get my financials weighting to 15%. Can you suggest a new stock and/or a etf (CDN or US stock / etf) to compliment my current holdings OR would you just add to the 4 stocks that I have? Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Sandy on September 08, 2017