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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, I was thinking of adding to Sun Life with its current low valuation and high dividend. This sounds morbid but a friend of mine suggested if there is a high death rate from COVID-19, then SLF might have to make out higher than normal payouts affecting its profitability. I realize this is not its only business. What say you sage folks?

Thank you, Michael
Read Answer Asked by Michael on March 16, 2020
Q: I hear you when you say that we shouldn't be too involved in playing the exchange rate between the Canadian and American dollar. But would this not be a reasonable way: buy sunlife in American dollars, since i have them. If the Canadian dollar goes up i sell in canadian dollars. If it goes down, i still have my American dollars in Sunlife that i had before
Looks good but am i missing anything?
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by joseph on March 16, 2020
Q: After the "blood in the streets" kind of day we have had today, March 12, was I "crazy" to add to my holdings of the aforementioned? Are their dividends as reliable as I perceive them to be? FYI, I am a year away from retirement at age 60 and value dividend income for a portion of my portfolio.
Read Answer Asked by David on March 16, 2020
Q: HI Guys
I have never used any margin to do any investing but thinking of when I was around in 2009 and some CDN banks were yielding over 10% and wondering afterwards why I did not but more of these, suddenly, high yield "safe" investments. Afterwards it stuck myself how nice it would be to have that yield for life! So this time around I have no debt, a house paid off, and considerable assets, so was thinking of borrowing a bit to see if we could take advantage of this unfortunate downturn. So wondering if you could suggest 5 CDN companies to invest in, in 5 different sectors, and whose stock value has dropped considerably. Companies that have great risk management, have rock solid balance sheets, that are now yielding above 5%, and whose stock you could see substantially higher when the market swings up again, or at least will maintain their dividend. Thinking in terms of time - at least a year or two here.
Much thanks for all your guidance through these tough times.

Stuart
Read Answer Asked by Stuart on March 13, 2020
Q: I currently own BNS, BAM and GSY in my Canadian equity portfolio for a total weight in the financial space of about 12%. I am wondering if you would currently favour a switch to SLF from BNS, especially if I could crystallize a taxable loss?

Also a comment about the questions on market timing that you have recently received. If you are reacting to volatile markets it may simply be that you are not as risk tolerant as you believe!
Read Answer Asked by Paul on March 06, 2020
Q: Top 5 picks for a Smith Maneuver portfolio of dividend paying stocks for someone in their late 30's?
Read Answer Asked by Jamie on March 06, 2020
Q: I know you really like BNS but with TD at a 52 weeks low, would you pick it over BNS for a long term holding. (Building a position for dividend income)

Also, can you explain me if there is an advantage to own 2 full positions of banks vs 1 of bank and 1 of SLF (knowing that its your top insurance company pick)
Read Answer Asked by Olivier on March 06, 2020
Q: Hello 5i team,
I've held a good number of stocks you hold in your BE portfolio and I've managed to obtain a 14% compound annual total return in the last 11 years.
100% of my portfolio is in equities; I'll be shortly 77 years old and plan to reduce my equity exposure to 30%, with the above stocks in mind.
Your opinion is most valuable
Antoine
Read Answer Asked by Antoine on March 02, 2020
Q: Have owned these for a very long time.Haven't done too bad just looking to maybe change things up.What's your opinion on these ones?Also can you offer a couple of ideas to replace these two.
Read Answer Asked by adam on February 03, 2020
Q: Between SLF, MFC and GWO, which one of these three has the best potential to provide the best combined return (growth plus yield) in a five year time span?

Past 10 year history has SLF way ahead of the other two at practically all annual intervals, but can this past history trend be continued? Thanks for your insight.
Read Answer Asked by Victor on December 10, 2019
Q: I bought SLF a few years ago expecting to benefit from increasing interest rates. SLF has been a stellar performer despite the trend of lower interest rates this past year, especially at the longer end of the curve.
I’m certainly not complaining but am a little confused by the strong performance in a weakened rate environment.
Could you shed some light on the reason for their outperformance and prospects going forward. (I’m thinking of taking some profits)
Read Answer Asked by Bruce on November 28, 2019
Q: Hey guys,

The grandbabies are 5 yrs, 3 yrs and 6 months, a long time before university. We have SIS, GUD & SLF in their resp, like to add another name or two, please advised.
Thanks,
Jim
(CSU, SHOP, OTEX, BAM.A, BYD.UN, ATD.B, PKI, COST, NVDA are already at 5% levels)
Read Answer Asked by jim on November 28, 2019
Q: Much like KL's acquisition of Detour Gold, it doesn't seem that investors like Sun Life's arrangement with its subsidiary, Sun Life Vietnam Insurance and Tien Phong Commercial Bank (TPBank) which have formed a 15-year bancassurance partnership in Vietnam .
The agreement combines TPBank's distribution network with Sun Life Vietnam's market-leading life insurance products, giving 2.5 million TPBank customers access to a comprehensive range of innovative insurance solutions.

May I have your thoughts on the share price drop? Short term? Perhaps a switch to MFC is in order.

Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Martin on November 27, 2019
Q: Hello interesting article concerning Value stock investing , i'm 75 and basically follow 5i income portfolio with the addition of some U.S. stocks in area not properly covered by the TSX due to the size.There is any stocks in your 3 portfolios (growth?)that can be define as Value wich i could consider adding to my TSFA .
As always Thank You
Daniel
Read Answer Asked by DANIEL on November 18, 2019
Q: Hi
I hold all these stocks in a non registered account, to take advantage of their dripping and tax advantages. I have the $ to buy another holding. What top 3 companies do you suggest to add to this mix for a long term hold, my goal is the highest dividend possible, with as little risk as possible. Also, do you have any issues with the compaies already held? I also have other growthier holdings in my tfsa as well as etfs for US and International exposure in my RRSP.
thank you
Michele
Read Answer Asked by Michele on November 05, 2019
Q: Hello,

The family RESP is composed of 15% VGG and 15% XQQ with the balance spread roughly evenly over the remaining stocks listed above. I would appreciate your suggestion for an additional position. The oldest child is 8 years away from post secondary.

Thank-you.
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on October 22, 2019