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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 5i
I am completely new to the world of ETFs but, according to Portfolio Analytics (and I did know it was a good idea before being told, really I did) I need to add US and International exposure to my portfolio. I think the only reasonable way for me to do that given I don't/can't follow non-Canadian equity markets is through ETFs.
I would like to place 55K in US ETFs and 45K in International ETFs and this will, for now, comprise the entire non-Canadian portion of my portfolio.
I am not adverse to some above average risk and while I'd like income I'm more interested in growth.
In researching where to place this money I've concluded that I might not have the candle power necessary to make rational decisions about ETFs because of the distinct possibility of purchasing ETFs that hold the same or similar underlying equities from the same or similar geographies in the same or similar sectors (assuming I'm not just concentrating on discrete sectors). Left to my own devices I feel that I could very possibly purchase a little bundle of different ETFs that are all essentially but unintentionally quite similar.
My question is two-fold:
1. Is my concern about concentration valid or have I misinterpreted the lay of the land, and
2. Could you suggest 4 or 5 US ETFs and a similar # of International ETFs that I can consider and that won't have the type of overlap I'm worried about.
I realize this is a broad and general (and perhaps rambling) question - so please deduct as many credits as you think is warranted.
Thanks a lot!
Peter
Read Answer Asked by Peter on April 25, 2019
Q: Hi 5i,

Portfolio Analytics is telling me to lighten up slightly in CDN exposure and add to International.

I hold First National (up 25%) and Corus (down God knows how much but bouncing back recently). Both in my TFSA. These were literally the first two individual stocks I ever purchased.

Just based on the fact this is a TFSA and my time horizon is decades, the answer is probably a no-brainer but I've got to ask your opinion anyways - should I dump these and roll the $ into an Intl ETF?

I've got lots of exposure (XAW) to developed markets but much less so to emerging. I am considering both VEE and XEC. Thoughts on either, or a better option?

Please deduct credits as appropriate for the multi-part question.

Thanks!

Ryan
Read Answer Asked by Ryan on April 25, 2019
Q: I'm 61. I'm getting to the point in my life where I want to spend less time following stocks and just start to enjoy my life more. I have 5 accounts, 4 are registered. I'm thinking to just sell everything in all of them and buy XGRO in all of them. One fund across all accounts. No more following stocks or rebalancing and the MER is just .18. I realize I'll lose some tax advantages by putting certain investments in registered or non registered accounts, but I'm willing to give that up for the simplicity and hands off approach of a one fund portfolio.
Problem is one of my RRSP accounts is in USD, so I'm looking for a US domiciled equivalent to XGRO. Any ideas? Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Andrew on April 25, 2019
Q: What are you're thoughts on WBA's earnings. Given the recent selloff would you still hold it for the long term or sell. I do not mind volatility. If it is a sell what US stock would you replace it with for growth. Thanks Chris
Read Answer Asked by chris on April 25, 2019
Q: If DRM the top parent company of DIR.UN, DRA.UN, D.UN does DRM get income from dividends from actually holding some shares in those other dream publicly listed companies? If that is the case can you tell me roughly how much the parent company holds of each please? Thanks
Read Answer Asked by MG on April 25, 2019
Q: Hello,

I am currently looking to increase my fixed income exposure by $70,000. I currently hold the above 4 Fixed income ETF's. Each one represents less than 5% of my overall portfolio. I am looking for growth. Your suggestions would be much appreciated.
Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Mauro on April 25, 2019
Q: I have a $12000 GIC maturing in June at our local Credit Union. GIC's are fully taxed on interest every year. As our CU can only sell mutual funds and GIC's, can you suggest a mutual fund or two, or strategy that would minimize our taxes but still provide some funds. I was thinking of Mawer as one possibility.
Regards Gord
Read Answer Asked by gord on April 25, 2019
Q: I ZEM, VEE, and XEC. The yield on ZEM is approximately 1% but the others are approximately 2 - 2.5%. My thought is to migrate from ZEM to XEC, for the improved yield.
1. Are there any significant differences between the 3 (eg tax treatment)?
2. Do you think it is worth migrating for that bit of extra yield?
3. Or there other reasons why ZEM would be good to hold? I will still have some diversification with the VEE.
thanks for your great service.
Read Answer Asked by Leonard on April 25, 2019
Q: Hi,

My wife's group RRSP has Manulife AllianceBernstein Canadian Core Plus Bond as one of the options. How does it compare with CLF. Should I instead invest in MAW102 in the group RRSP and buy CLF in her regular RRSP account as part of bond portfolio allocation.

Thanks
Ninad
Read Answer Asked by Ninad on April 25, 2019
Q: I bought a number of shares in this name last week hoping for a positive move on earnings. It looks like it missed by a few cents and is getting pounded after hours. I'm guess that it will be down a lot tomorrow so the question i have is whether I should sell or hold and hope it recovers. I'm not a long term investor. Appreciate your comments as always on earnings. Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Jason on April 24, 2019
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