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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: Like many 5i customers my bond ETF's have been whacked over the last 6 months or so. I bailed on a couple of them in January (good move as it turns out) but am still exposed in my RRSP. Bonds still seem to be dropping but yields in general are up to the 3.5% range. My question is "with inflation running at around 6% at what point will the numbers (yield/market value bottom) make sense to start buying bonds again"?
Read Answer Asked by DAVE on April 28, 2022
Q: I've been looking at the regional and sector allocations of my investments at the total portfolio level (TFSA + RRSP + non-reg), generally buying growth stocks in the TFSA and safer stocks in the RRSP. Does it make sense to continue to look at the allocations and diversify at a portfolio level? Or should I also be looking at it for the 3 individual types of accounts separately?
Read Answer Asked by Alexander on April 27, 2022
Q: I noticed the question about "phantom" distributions. I was very surprised to see that the capital gains distributions at the end of the year which are rolled back into NAV show up as taxable but without the Return of Capital adjustment that is needed. So a RoC distribution that requires the ACB to be decreased is shown on T3s but when a phantom RoC distribution that requires the ACB to be increased to the benefit of unit holders is not shown on the T3. How many people are going to pay twice the amount of tax as they should on these distributions?
Read Answer Asked by Earl on April 25, 2022
Q: Hello, I saw your answer to Stanley: “Bonds may look better next year, and may look better if the market weakens further.” We are expecting rates to climb, which will affect the bonds value. Normally, rates would already be higher at this stage of the economic cycle, and I would understand. I just don’t see the benefits of keeping bonds in ETFs with the current situation. We might as well hold cash or at least ST bond (held to maturity) for market protection. Could you help me understand? I am thinking about changing a portion of my portfolio (VBAL, XBAL MAW104) for a stock ETF / individual bond strategy.
Read Answer Asked by Patrick on April 25, 2022
Q: Thoughts on how to stomach all the volatility. Since I know you are not a fan of stop losses does one just grin and bear it. It's nice when some sectors are working but what does one do when all sectors potentially stop working? It seems there are so many unknowns which the market doesn't like. In your experience, what is it like to go through a bear market and what advice you you have for nervous retail investors. Your wisdom appreciated!
Read Answer Asked by Neil on April 22, 2022
Q: Just following up on your perspective relative to market sentiment. I find that the Indices are misleading, in a very LARGE way. In fact the divergence between them and the overall breadth and performance of mid/small caps is incredibly large. What references should/could be used outside of the indices in order to gain a true reflection of overall stock performance.
Read Answer Asked by Chris on April 22, 2022
Q: Further to your earlier answer on commodity prices dropping because of a rising US dollar...

Doesn't a rising US dollar actually HELP Canadian producers as they receive more for their products? And would that rise not be counteracted in any case by an anticipated further rise in Canadian rates - which would likely raise the CAN$? Is Mr. Market just reacting in a knee-jerk fashion here?
Read Answer Asked by John on April 21, 2022
Q: Hi Team,
Looking backwards with 20/20 hindsight vision…buying oil stocks at bottom basement levels a couple years ago is looking like it was the opportunity of generation with some names nearing 10x bagger levels off bottom and still climbing. I missed this opportunity . My question is today …are there any specific names or sectors that you see as if we bought today , that we might be looking back in 5yrs with the same type of view thankful that we bought in today? Please list your best ideas. Thanks!
Shane
Read Answer Asked by Shane on April 20, 2022
Q: Hi 5i Team - Could you provide an estimate on when Shopify, Google and Amazon might do their stock splits. Also do you know of any other quality companies planning a share split. Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Rob on April 13, 2022
Q: My son is 16 and has $2800 RRSP room. He makes under $10,000 (PT jobs) so won't have any tax rebate if he contributes to an RRSP. He is academic and likely will be in school for another 10 years and then hopefully in the highest tax bracket.
Would you open an RRSP now or wait until he can get a tax refund? If starting, what would you buy for such a small amount? ETF or stock? He will have $1000-$2000/yr room for the next 10 years as well.
Read Answer Asked by Chris on April 08, 2022
Q: Hi,
This is totally a random question based on the "rumours" ? "Fake news" on the Twitter space!! Nevertheless as a semi-retiree this causes a great deal of concern. Hence this question.

I believe the Federal Govt is considering eliminating Dividend tax credit and consider this dividend earnings as earned interest! Have you heard anything about this? This will take down the Banks/Utilities and Telcos,Pipelines, no?
Another blow to the retirees IF IT IS TRUE! Work till you die and pay the taxes!!
Read Answer Asked by Savalai on April 01, 2022
Q: Hi 5i
There are some tenured investors behind the answers at 5i so I wonder how the question of taxation is view.

I have always considered taxation something to avoid where possible (buy and hold) and have worked to find strategies to delay taxation (Registered accounts).

How should taxation fit in the thinking of a long term investor trying to grow wealth and cash flow to enjoy life?

It obviously matters. But in the long run except to keep activity low, there seems to be little an investor can do about it.

Dave
Read Answer Asked by David on March 29, 2022
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