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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: Good morning,
I own a small house in Ottawa that is free and clear with a current market value of approximately $350,000.
A recent discussion with my trusted mortgage broker confirmed that a 5 year term (Closed & Fixed) term mortgage can be obtained at a rate of 2.29%. This mortgage is said to be:
a. insured through CMHC,
b. portable, and
c. transferable.
At that rate of 2.29% and given that the interest paid would be tax deductible if I use the funds for investment purposes, I'm seriously considering borrowing around $200,000 and investing this amount for an initial 5 year period with an expected net rate of return on investment of 4.5% .
Q1. With $200,000, what are your thoughts of splitting this amount in 5 different chunks of $40K in the following instruments:
a. Mawer Tax Effective Balanced Fund,
b. Mawer Global Balanced ETF Fund,
c. Vanguard Balanced ETF Portfolio,
d. IShares Core Balanced ETF Portfolio, and
e. BMO Balanced ETF

Q2. As an alternative to the above and given the 5 year time frame, would your preference be to invest the $200,000 in a selection of best in class individual stocks split between different sectors and if so, would you be so kind as to provide me with ya listing of your best ideas at this time.

I thank you and look forward to hearing your thoughts on both of these investment strategies.
Francesco
Read Answer Asked by Francesco on June 15, 2020
Q: Hi Peter, Ryan, and Team,

Today (rightly or wrongly), I used the large uptick in the share price of CAE to sell my position that's held in my TFSA. (I sold with a gain of 4%, not counting the previous dividends.) I feel that the "airline" sector will still be under pressure after the present euphoria settles down, but who knows?

Having said that, please suggest two or three stocks or ETFs from each of the following sectors that could be considered somewhat defensive as well as being suitable for a TFSA. Portfolio Analytics indicates that I'm underweight in:
Basic Materials
Communication Services
Consumer Defensive
Energy
Financial Services
Healthcare
Industrials

Please deduct as many credits as you deem necessary. Thanks for the continuing superb service especially during this unusual time.
Read Answer Asked by Jerry on June 11, 2020
Q: SOME Stocks fluctuate lot daily such as BYD,CSU,SHOP,PKI makes me feel better to trade in this market,what is your opinion.
For safer long term low risk hold which stocks you would recommend in US &CAD,
low growth is OK.
Read Answer Asked by Nizar on June 05, 2020
Q: I recently asked a question regarding switching strategy from etf to individual stocks and i appreciate your answer very much. My question was generated by the response that you gave to James regarding investing in a diversified portfolio. At that time you gave him the follwoing names: TEAM, MSFT, GOOG, ROP, PG, BIIB, VZ, SBUX, COST, JPM.

Just a followup clarification on that suggestion. I wonder, because of the tax advantage for Canadian dividends and the predominance in the TSX of Banks and Telecoms, whether one might be better to replace VZ and JPM by Canadian names? I know that the question asked, I think, specifically for US names. But, just wondering if one held both Canadian and US, whether this might be better? Also, do you think that say, ten like this, is enough diversification on the US side?
thanks
Read Answer Asked by joseph on June 04, 2020
Q: Hello Peter,
If you were starting a new account with 100k and wanted to build a somewhat balanced portfolio of 10 US equities, with a 10 year timeframe, which 10 would you currently choose, including considering current price?
Read Answer Asked by James on June 01, 2020
Q: Your top 5 consumer stocks for long-term hold? US would be ok.
Read Answer Asked by Greg on May 19, 2020
Q: At this juncture and going forward a year or two, which would you prefer Loblaws, Weston Metro Sobeys
Is there any reason to split a purchase or just go with whichever one you think is strongest overall.
In the U.S. same questions which vendor is strongest.
Thank you....
Read Answer Asked by Maureen on May 08, 2020
Q: Good morning 5i,
It is often mentionned that we should buy US stocks to offset the heavy concentration on financial and energy in the Canadian market. What sectors should one concentrate on in the US for this reason? And, in the current environment, is it possible to suggest one or two preferential stocks in each of these sectors?
thanks
Read Answer Asked by joseph on May 08, 2020
Q: I am short on Consumer Stocks in my overall portfolio - can you give me some names to look at, both in the US and Canada - I'm interested in those that pay a dividend and are growing.
Appreciate you comments.
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by JOHN on April 21, 2020
Q: I just tried Portfolio Analytics and have concluded my portfolio needs some work. I need to increase US and international exposure and I need more weighting in Communication Services, Consumer Defense, Healthcare and Technology. Please recommend US/International stocks for me to consider in these categories for a five year hold. Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by MATHEW on April 21, 2020
Q: Hi, do you have an updated opinion on KR? I'm trying to round out a top 5 list (US or CAN, doesn't matter) for Consumer Staples. The other 4 are above.
Anything obvious missing? that you would pick over the above 5?
Read Answer Asked by Kel on April 20, 2020
Q: What are some of your favorite US growth names right now? I am a younger investor with some money to deploy. I have a 20+ year time horizon. I am not too worried about sector allocation due to having a defined benefits pension when I eventually retire (20+ years).

I am also wondering what US stocks 5i staff are currently buying and why.

Thanks for all your advice. I read the questions daily. Your support through these tough times (my first as an investor) has been beyond insightful and finding I am getting my financial education through your words of wisdom and advice. I keep speaking highly of you to my friends looking to get into investing and am encouraging they subscribe to your service as it is beyond exceptional.

Thanks for all that you all do! Hope you and yours are safe and healthy during these tough times.

Read Answer Asked by Justin on April 15, 2020
Q: Hello,
I am currently waiting out this deep downturn in the market. At some point the market will start recovering. I have followed your recommendations in the Portfolio Tracking and Analysis tool.

If you had $500,000 sitting in cash which you want to deploy once the market turns around, which sectors would you look towards investing in for the eventual upward trend? Would you be able to provide your favourite stocks /ETFS which you would use to cover the sectors you think will be first to recover?

Thanks for all your help.
Read Answer Asked by Mauro on April 01, 2020
Q: hi, dear team
i just got some money for longterm investment. how about this list ?
can you tell me at which price i can buy?appreciate!
best regard
Jacky
Read Answer Asked by liang on March 30, 2020
Q: I get most of my income from dividends. Please name 4 sectors where dividends might be relatively Less likely to be suspended and 5 companies that will do best with the criteria mentioned. I understand that at this time it is hard to project but I ask for relative possibilities with the current situation that may change. 
thanks 
Yossi
Read Answer Asked by JOSEPH on March 26, 2020