Investment Q&A

Q: Hi
I know that this question is almost impossible to answer and it is anyone's guess but what is the end game for this mounting debt in the US? 34 trillion? Perhaps 10 trillion of that is domestic? Still a stagering number. GDP is 26.24 Trillion with that volume it sounds manageable but they and other goverments dither about, eventually kicking the can down the road. At what point does this come to a head in your opinion? Perhaps a year or an event that you see as an epoch?
Thank you
J

Q: I have a number of quality companies/stocks in my non registered cash account which are below my initial purchase price. Am I correct that transferring into my TFSA will trigger the capital loss? If so, any down side I should be contemplating? I have sufficient room within the TSFA.

Q: This is a general market question. I hold too many companies in my equity accounts and would like to reduce the number. On the other hand, my overall portfolio is up more than 11% over he past 3 months. I am overweight financials but I see them as benefitting from potential rate drop. Most of my holdings are growth oriented. I do hold approximately 15% fixed income, short and longer term bonds.

What would be your overall approach given potential rate drop and anticipated slow economic growth? 90% of my holdings are for long term. 10% are trades.

Take as many credits as required.

Thanks for all your help.

Mike

Q: Good Morning 5i Team,

1. Is the capital gains tax the same on CDN and US stocks in a cash account?
2. Does one pay more tax selling US stocks with no dividends in an RSP or cash account?
3. Are the dividends from preferred shares eligible for a tax credit? Or does it depend on the offer?

Delete question credits as required.

Thank you and keep up the great work.

Q: Cheers to 5i for the New Year!

Bloomberg December 29, 2023:

"Dollar bears - A weaker dollar is the expectation for 2024 of most analysts surveyed by Bloomberg amid forecasts that the Fed will lead the way among rich peers in cutting interest rates and that a soft landing in the US's economy will encourage investors to seek risk away from its shores. But strategists at JPMorgan Chase and HSBC are among those who reckon the greenback could still strengthen because the rest of the world will end up needing to reduce rates more to aid their economies. "

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-12-14/usd-will-surprise-again-with-strength-as-global-economic-slowdown-looms

Q For 5i: Thoughts on weak $USD thesis relative to $CAD in the short, intermediate, and long term? Do you believe the US FED will cut further or faster than BOC? How does the 5i team see CAD/USD going forward.

i.e. if owning both USD and CDR versions of the same equity, where could one consolidate into, etc.

Q: Today is the last day for tax loss selling they say. Is this only for stocks or also for options' positions? Should one sell one's positions even if the option expiry date is in Jan to take a loss and re-enter in Jan 24? New to the options writing. Sorry for posting this question during this holiday season. Answer it if you deem this as urgent.
Happy Healthy Peaceful and Prosperous New Year!

Q: I am concerned about the US political situation. Should Trump manage to win the upcoming election and the US loses its democracy, I fear that this will not be good for the financial markets. Do you know what the results were in other countries that elected far right political parties? I have a sizable portfolio that is almost 50% weighted to the US. I would like to know how to prepare for this possibility short of selling all our US investments. Thank you

Q: Do you think there will be a dip first week of January when people take some profits and don't have to pay the taxes until 2025? Should one sell some stock if they're in registered accounts next week and take advantage of this?
Thanks

Q: Hi 5i
You recently answered this question from Steve:

Recently a couple of younger friends (mid-60's)have just converted their RRSPs to RRIFs. Except for the possibility of needing the cash flow, I can't understand why they would want to convert to a RRIF.

Am I missing something? Are there advantages to converting early?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Another reason his friends may be doing this is long term tax planning. Quick example, a couple in their mid 60s each has 500k in RSPs. If they were to both die suddenly that $1 million all gets reported as income on one return and most of it is taxed at over 40% (in BC the amount over $241k is 53.50%). To avoid this, the couple would need to live long lives and gradually draw the money out. But because none of us know when our time is up, they could take some out now in the 20% or 28.2% tax brackets (BC rates). The winners will be the kids and grandkids, the loser will be CRA. So by taking money out before 71, they are increasing the years when they can take money out at less than 30%, and reducing the potential giant tax bill at the end. And if they have not fully funded their TFSAs, they can use this money to top them up. Then going forward their interest, divs and cap gains aren't taxed. In the RSP or RIF, they will be taxed on all 3 when they take it out.
Greg

Q: Good morning, Which Stocks do you guys believe should benefit the most with the rising cost of living and many people having to turn to cheaper retail and grocery stores for example. Would stores like Costco and Dollarama be a couple of obvious examples, thanks?

Q: A family member of mine is looking at investing some money that will serve as a retirement fund/as a hedge against inflation. She is also investing some money in GICs as the rates are presently good, while simulatously serving as an insurance policy should markets take a dive at some point. She is approaching 60 years of age and will be retiring within the next 12 months. She has no interest in investments and we believe that ETFs are the answer. This individual is conservative and wants to minimize risk, while definitely wanting to beat the guaranteed interest rate we get of approximately 5%.

One family member suggested the following ETFs (mostly due to the low cost of fees I believe)

VOO, VEQT, QQQ and S&P500 (which I don't know, supposedly has .05% fee)
(and suggested that 20% goes into QQQ)

Looking at your recommendations for ETF's from the questions asked, I have seen XIC, SPY, CDZ, XIC, CDZ, XGRO, QQQ, VGRO, VIG, ZSP, (to name a few).

I think there are more ETF's than there individual stocks. It would be great to have some coverage across Canada and the US.

We have a few questions:
1. Do you think the list provided by the family member is acceptable?
2. Could you provide your recommendation of ETF's (with a short description of the ETF) that fits the risk level of the mentioned individual (while simultanously providing a little risk). What % of each ETF would you recommend (i.e. buy equal amounts of each of the recommended ETFs or ...).
3. Do you believe that it is the right time to buy ETFs. With the recent run up, is it preferable to wait for a pullback and buy on dips or acquire all today or .....

Please deduct as many questions as deemed necessary.

Thanks.

Q: I realize you are not tax experts but I am confused from info obtained from bank and CRA web sites. I am 69 and wife is 59. I would like to split income from RRSP (not RRIF) with her when I withdraw some funds this year to pay for house repairs. Some sites indicate that RRSP withdrawals do not count as pension income. Does this mean that I can’t split it with her? CRA seems to say that RRSP (T4RSP) is eligible. Confusing!

Thoughts from you and members would be helpful.

Q: Hi 5i Team - Could you tell me where I can locate your 2023 tax loss screener. Thanks.

Q: Just revisited U Tax Loss Selling Screener & reportedly bulk selling done by 3rd week of Nov.Please provide some beaten up stocks with good growth(ex those in U above Screener) for Buy the next l & 2 weeks..Are the following stocks in my portfolio buyable: EIF ,GGD,AW.un, TVE,WCP. Txs for U usual great services & views

Q: I am not a TAX expert but I thought that any option premium collected today should be claimed in 2023 not 2024. Since income is coming this year not next year.


Q: Good morning 5i
Looked on Google for an answer for this question but couldn’t find anything. If i sell a covered call option today with an expiration date in January, in which the stock is called away, in what year would I pay the capital gains tax, 23 or 24?
Thanks
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Asked by joseph on December 08, 2023
5I RESEARCH ANSWER:
The stock will be sold in 2024, so is taxable in 2024. The options will be closed out in 2024, so the premium is also taxable in 2024 (as a capital gain).

Q: What are the best stocks in the data memory storage space?

Q: I heard lot of money has been invested in MONEY MARKET or GIC. is there a way for regular investors to check when money is coming out of money market or GIC and investing in EQUITIES.

Thanks for the great service.

Q: Hello, with respect to David's suggestion for 5i initiating a US growth portfolio - If I remember correctly, Peter started a Long/Short USD Equity fund 1-2 years ago. With disclosure " Not a solicitation ", may be you could direct us to a place/contact, where more information could be obtained about this USD Fund offer - Eligibility, minimum, mandate, performance and fees etc.

Thank You

Q: peter,have you ever given any thought to starting a u.s. dollar growth portfolio or u.s dollar tech portfolio.,or a combination of both. you and your staff seem to own many u.s. equities and many questions are about u.s. stocks. furthermore a dollar made in u.s. equities is worth about 1.40 to your members who i think are 99% cdn, of course the reverse is true re losses.personally i only buy u.s. equities, i gave up on cdn equities, other than oil and the banks most are illiquid.

Q: Hi there, I'm thinking of moving some of my investments over to Wealthsimple Trade (WS), which I believe is their self managed online brokerage. In your opinion, would my money be safe with their platform? Do you see any red flags, relative to the Big 6 brokerages? Thanks!