skip to content
  1. Home
  2. >
  3. Investment Q&A
You can view 3 more answers this month. Sign up for a free trial for unlimited access.

Investment Q&A

Not investment advice or solicitation to buy/sell securities. Do your own due diligence and/or consult an advisor.

Q: I was stunned to see that Sun Life tops a list of Corporate Canada's mountains of cash - a recent Globe and Mail piece - with $6 bb. Could you speculate what they might do with it? Hopefully not purchase a US mutual fund like Great West did with Putnam! On the subject of lifeco's I stumbled across an ad for a class action lawsuit with Manulife, the stock that was touted to be as safe as houses. If you purchased shares between 2004 and 2009 - which I did - you should register here http://www.classaction.ca. It's free to join.
Read Answer Asked by Jeff on June 03, 2014
Q: Greeting Peter & Co.
While I am currently a little nervous about the stock market I don't want to miss buying opportunities for quality stocks. I am considering adding to my very small position in Sun Life Financial, my only financial holding. Also, I am considering increasing my exposure to Canadian financials by initiating a new position in TD Bank.
I would appreciate you thoughts on these two potential purchases.
With appreciation,
Ed
Read Answer Asked by Ed on April 14, 2014
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
Read Answer Asked by Phyllis on March 16, 2014
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

Read Answer Asked by Candi on February 20, 2014
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
Read Answer Asked by Robert on January 09, 2014
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
Read Answer Asked by MANFRED on December 13, 2013
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
Read Answer Asked by Paul on December 08, 2013
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
Read Answer Asked by Paul on November 27, 2013