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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: If we had $75K in an unregistered account, would it be accurate to say that purchasing an ETF like HSAV would be better than putting this money in a GIC or high interest savings account, due to the fact that there are no distributions and thus, only 50% of any income are taxable?

In other words, if I am deciding between a 6% GIC, or HSAV (which I believe has a similar yield), I would pick HSAV correct?

Are there similar ETFs like HSAV that have similar characteristics (ie do not pay out dividends) that you would prefer over HSAV?
Read Answer Asked by Eric on October 11, 2023
Q: The four referenced cash accounts pay roughly the same rate of return. Which of these are best in terms of risk and liquidity. What would you recommend for cash portions of the portfolio and which etf if any would you avoid. Thanks
Read Answer Asked by mitchell on September 20, 2023
Q: Now that I discovered that RBC has opened its direct investing accounts to high interest saving ETFs, I am interested in moving the cash portion of my portfolio. HSAV is interesting because of the capital gains tax advantage. However I noticed that it has been fairly volatile in the last few weeks - swinging by almost 1% in a single day. That is more volatility than I would’ve expected from an investment that primarily holds bank savings accounts that reprice daily. Is there something else going on here?
Read Answer Asked by Andre on September 08, 2023
Q: Hi there,

With so many low risk, high yielding ETFs now that are producing better rates than savings accounts, which would be the best to hold in a non registered account, and why?

Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Michael on September 06, 2023
Q: I'm looking to park some cash and let it earn some interest. My bank doesn't offer any meaningful savings interest rate and I'm not interested in a GIC. Can you please recommend a couple of money market funds or ETFs I could buy through my non-registered iTrade account.
Read Answer Asked by David on August 25, 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: For tax reasons, I want to buy some ETFs or stocks in my unregistered account, that pay little or no dividends. Which of the Horizon's total return ETFs would you recommend at this time? HSAV seems to be really unstable and I am concerned it could be a money loser in the short term. I read in the G & M that the manager of Langsford Wealth Counsel in Oakville has been buying HXDM with better valuation than the US. Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Grant on July 13, 2023
Q: Hello! For large sums of money that need to be held in cash which is the best and safest option and what is the difference in yield one receives in these different investments? Is money held in these kinds of investments CDIC insured up to $100,000 or is that only if one holds in a GIC? Thank you!
Read Answer Asked by Neil on July 11, 2023
Q: I wish to find a place for some cash. I am not entirely clear on some details for HSAV: the current trading price is around $106,60.

Of course, there are no distributions; What do you calculate the effective yield to currently be?

My trading platform suggests NAV is $106.30, so there is a premium being paid at the current price. What effect will that have on the yield? And what effect when I come to liquidate the holdings?

Last, if you see HSAV a not that good a place to deposit, what other place(s) would be good to hold some cash? BMO HISA is currently offering 4.6%

Many thanks
Read Answer Asked by Leonard on July 06, 2023
Q: Hello Team,

What are your favourite etfs for high interest savings account for both CAD and USD?

Thank you!
Read Answer Asked by James on July 04, 2023
Q: I was considering investing 300k into 2 or 3 of these picks below for almost guaranteed savings. This would be in a non registered holding company.

1. Horizons Cash Maximizer- HSAV (which you have pointed out is more tax efficient since they don't pay distributions and yield gains are building into escalating price, etc)

2. Horizons High Interest Savings-CASH which is straight up high taxation interest gains

3. Purpose High Interest Savings- PSA which is straight up high taxation interest gains.

Please advise if you have a preference for perhaps two picks at 150K, or all three at 100k for example.

Alternatively, if there is another TSX traded option that you suggest, i would look at that too. To be purchased via CIBC Investors Edge.

Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by william on June 16, 2023
Q: I own TDB8150...I use it to park cash within my TD Webbroker accounts...currently pays 4.05%...that rate didnt move higher with latest interest rate hike...believe it didnt move higher on last rate hike either...I go onto TD's website to see mgmt fee but am unable to find details on it...are you able to tell me what the current mgmt fee TD is charging for this investment...please and thank you...and also any suggestions as an alternative place to park cash...take as many credits as you need...and thanks for your insight...Cheers
Read Answer Asked by Cam on June 16, 2023
Q: I have some cash in a non-registered account that I will need access to sometime in the next 6-18 months. Given the indeterminate timeline I'm reluctant to lock the funds up in a GIC or term deposit and am looking to put them into a HISA ETF. Aside from slight differences in yield, MER or AUM are there any significant differences between the various HISA ETF's available and which one would you see as preferable? Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Bruce on June 07, 2023
Q: I have some cash (in a non-registered account) that I will need to have access to sometime over the next six to eighteen months and am looking for somewhere to park it until needed. Because of the indeterminate timeframe I want to stay away from locking the funds in to a GIC or term deposit. Aside from slight differences in yield, MER and/or AUM are there any significant differences between the different high interest savings account ETF offerings and which would you suggest? Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Bruce on June 06, 2023