Investment Q&A

Q: Hedge Funds

Can Hedge Funds be bought through a self directed RRSP?
Is there a way to buy HF in amounts less then 200,000 and if so, how?

Q: Thanks for the Income Portfolio and in pdf format. What does "P & L" stand for in the column heads? I take it these differ from the lower left 'returns as a per cent'. Thanks.

Q: Hi Ryan and Peter: I have a question about the income portfolio. You include FLOT which has a trailing dividend of 0.4%. I presume therefore that the role of FLOT in the portfolio is to preserve capital, and it does seem to have done this well through the recent downs. But it seems to me that HFR (Horizons actively managed floating rate ETF) does this just as well while posting a trailing payout of just over 2%. What am I missing? Roland T.

Q: First thanks for having an excellent service!

In your new Income portfolio your first item is FLOT which is US. Aren't there dangers in holding a US item in a CDN portfolio? Aside from the exchange issue, which I have been burned with in the past, aren't there tax implications with the new IRS rules concerning income and agreements as well as estate filings required to liquidate the holding if the holder passes away?

If someone didn't want to hold a US holding in the portfolio would you recommend just changing the weighting or have an alternative?
Thanks again!

Q: Dear 5i
What's your view on LGT and CF over the next 2-3 years . Are there good earnings growth forecasted for these two company's ? Are they worth hanging on to or should I be adding to existing positions of Linamar or Magna for example .
Thanks
Bill C.

Q: 1) I understand that companies that have increased their dividends recently do so because they're confident of their earnings for the next year or two. Is there an ETF that focuses on these companies?
2)I own PKW (concentrates on companies buying back their stock)and wonder which of these two approaches, companies that are buying back stock or those that increase their dividends, you would endorse?

Q: I have been looking at Lyondellbasil (LYB:NYSE) and Methanex (MX:TSX) as potential plays on the US industrial/chemical resurgence and cheap natural gas prices. I notice that LYB is not mentioned very often despite having had a great run and IMO still trading cheap relative to the rest of the S&P 500 (forward P/E). What are your thoughts on LYB? Is it worth picking up or is Methanex a better investment?

Q: Hello, Regarding CCT, what do you see in the future for this company. I have held it for years, and done very well, but it seems to have stalled. Better prospects elsewhere? Thanks

Q: Taking a real beating on WFI, down 15%. Any insights or advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Q: one last question regarding SUM

You have mentioned you would hold it here and wait it out which makes sense but I do not have a position a this time. Would you buy right now or wait to see what effect the CEO share sale plan has on the stock? It did recover somewhat yesterday.

Thank You Peter & Family

Q: Hi Peter,
I'm looking to deploy new money into one or a few names in the small to mid cap energy space. Could I please have your current thoughts on Crew (CR), RMP energy (RMP), and Raging River (RRX). Which of the three (if any) would you recommend at current levels? Also, do you see any of the three as takeout candidates in the next 12 months or so?
Many thanks, Peter!

Q: Alter NRG Corp

I am down 15% which (with a small position of $1,000) isn't that big a deal. And I know you mentioned in the past this needs to be considered risky. I don't have a problem holding unless there is something you know or can see which should tell me to get out now.

Thank You Peter & Family

Gord

Q: I own Manulife (MFC) at an ACB of $17.86 in a registered account as part of a balanced portfolio. Would you sell it and buy Sunlife (SLF)?

Q: Good Morning Peter and Co.
Can you expand on your response to what you think the economic and market conditions for 2014 will be like? What sectors or industries do you see as outperforming the market if any?
Thank you for your advice and information.

Q: Hello 5I team,

Looking at the ajusted model portfolio am I correct in thinking that you have changed the sector asset allocation? For example my calculation shows 25% in tech, 20% in financial and 0% in healthcare.
Is this correct and if so is there a reason behind this change.

Q: 5i Guys Considering the spike in acq yesterday . Is it a buy yet? TKS

Q: What are your thoughts on SPLK?Are there other companies that do what they do?

Q: Hello Peter! I have 30K in my TFSA and I want to invest them in one or two of Canadian Banks or in bank ETFs.Please provide me with 2 good banks and 2 good ETFs names. In your opinion what is better choice for long time, single bank or bank ETF? Thanks.

Q: Hello,
I guess CF did not make it to your model portfolio, I was wondering if I should hold it or switch it for some other growth stock in your model portfolio. Also are there any US mortgage finance or housing related stocks you would recommend seems like the US housing starts look good this year. Thanks. Regards,

Shyam

Q: Hello Peter
I have brokerage accounts at two large full-service brokerages [Scotia McLeod, and National Bank Financial] and one at TD Waterhouse. I use the TD Waterhouse one with the low commissions for smaller positions and for ones I may expect to trade.

To simplify things I am considering consolidating the two full-service ones into one account, however I worry that then I may have too much riding on the solvency of a single bank, and in view of possible troubles and the possibility of "bail-ins" as happened in Cyprus and in several other European countries, maybe I am better spreading the risk.

I understand that the Government of Canada has already passed into law the regulations for the bail-in of an insolvent bank whereby the depositors are the losers. What do you think?
Thankyou........ Paul