Investment Q&A

Q: Hello Peter and Staff
Should I be concerned re SLF. Since purchase, based mostly on recommendation here, plus some personal research, on Feb. 28 it has been steadily down - almost 5% - in less than 4 wks. Is there something new in the interim. Should I hang on hoping to make up that 5% and perhaps make a little more over the balance of the year. Thanks very much

Q: I am just starting out and have about 4000 to start a portfolio. How many stocks would you recommend and which ones for growth?
Thanks

Q: in my growth portfolio which one should I keep - SLF/TRI/PWF - or another suggestion (3 years)

Q: If you could add one stock to your model portfolio, what would it be?

Q: Hi Peter

Thank you for your great advice . I am slowly weeding out the crap in my portfolio . I need your advice on SLF.PR.B...I am down 5000.00 in a regular account..do I just sell it and look for other opportunities? The other is FFH.PR.E. Down 13000. So what should I do . This one is in my RRSP ..
Your advice is greatly appreciated .

Candi

Q: I would like to buy T and SLF. Both charts look great, but both stocks are at 5 year highs. Are you comfortable with buying at these levels or would you wait for a pull back?

Q: Good morning
With the TSX market being so high after such a good run, what would be your choice for a large cap growth stock with a good yield for a TFSA account for retirees.
Thanks Jean

Q: Hello i'm looking to buy an insurance stock for a long term hold and set up for a drip program in my rsp. In your opinion what is the best insurance company? I'm deciding between slf, pwf, mfc.

Q: i own apple, potash and autocanada in my tfsa; i would like to add another stock; would appreciate your suggestions. with thanks

Q: Hi, all.
I look after the finances for my father, who is 76. He lives simply in a mortgage-free home and his monthly pension more than covers his expenses. He has some cash ($40K) and a GIC ($5K)and I have maxed out his TFSA, which contains CDZ, XEG, SPB, and BNS. That's it for his investments. I would like to add to his TFSA and, based on some of your answers, was thinking Sunlife and/or Boyd.
I would appreciate your thoughts.
Thank you

Q: I'm pushing 81, my wife is 66. We have CM, CPG, TRP in my TFSA and BNS,CPG,and IPL in hers. What can you suggest for this year? We are more interested in safety, dividends and drips but we would like to keep up with future inflation, so reasonable growth would be welcome.

Q: Would Sun Life (SLF-T) be ok for adding to a TFSA as an income/growth stock? Thank you.

Q: In a recent answer you mentioned the concept buying SLF as interest rate protection, Could you please elaborate. I assume you mean the insurers will do well when interest rates go up despite their recent run. Can you clarify why. Do you think the same would be true for the banks? I hold lots of bank stocks and this would please me very much. I hold few insurers an asking should consider holding my nose and buying more.
Thanks, Manfred

Q: Hi there
Wondering if I was to add an insurance company for a bit of a buffer to rising interest rates would either MFC in Canada or MET in the USA be a buy at this time in your opinion and if so which would you favour at this time in a registered account?
Much thanks
Stuart

Q: Good morning Peter :
On Nov 27th you suggested : "We would be comfortable with SLF in the mix, but would prefer it be substituted for something else (bonds or the others financials) to keep your exposure from becoming too big". We recently sold 1/3 of our gold miners and added BTE, BDT, CJR.B, CSW.A, PKI, and FTS to the mix, somewhat diluting our exposure to banks.

I currently have a "Pembina Pipeline Corp Conv Unsec Sub Debenture due 11/30/2020 5.750% MN 31" with a current market price of $123.00 [our ACB is $100] so there is a nice 23% unrealized capital gain.

Would selling this for no taxable gain [as I have current offsetting losses] and buying SLF with a current yield of 3.90% be reasonable at this time? I know the dividend is less but with the dividend tax credit and the hoped for growth of SLF over time [I have a 10+ year horizon] would this switch be the right thing to do? I gather that you prefer SLF [P/E 28] over GWO [P/E 16], or MLF [P/E 13.6]. Do you have any other suggestions?
Thank you, your comments are always immensely appreciated........ Paul

Q: Hello Peter
Do I include "Cash" as part of my equity portfolio since the cash will one day be used to buy equities? I currently have 19.3% in banks [RY,CM,BNS,NA,LB,OLY] counting the cash as part of the equity portfolio but 23.3% considering equities only.
I have no lifecos but am considering buying Sun Life [SLF] which you recently recommend, but if it is considered to be a "financial" then maybe that would be too big an overall position in financials. I also have 40% in fixed income. I would value your opinion.
Many thanks...... Paul

Q: Of the two which would you recommend..POW or SLF? Thanks

Q: Great webcast today Peter! Quick question: I have had Manulife MFC since before they cut their dividend 50%, and the stock price tanked. It has come back some, but I'm wondering if I should continue to hold, or take my year end tax loss, and buy Sunlife instead. I also hold GWL.

Q: I am going to buy SLF through an on-line broker however when I put the SLF ticker symbol in there were several options to purchase like ordinary shares and preferred shares series 1 through 5.
Which should I be putting in my TFSA?

Q: I am not certain that you received my email: I noticed that at least two other members' questions had gone astray last week, and am wondering if the same happened here.

My request was, roughly, as follows:

1. Would you be able to provide a preferred comparison of AIG and MET: wondering if either one of these is a good play for insurance exposure, or would you recommend a Canadian
life-co over either one of those?

2. XEG: I have been simply "breaking even" on this one for the better part of 18 months and would like to switch to something with at least "some" growth in the energy sector. I was thinking of walking away from the ETF and switching to CNQ perhaps. What would be your opinion?

Thanks very much!