Pass on all three of these ‘balanced’ ETFs

In January 2018 Vanguard Canada introduced three new balanced ETFs with a mix of stocks and bonds. All three have low 0.22% MERs.
The Vanguard Conservative ETF Portfolio, $24.78, symbol VCNS on Toronto, holds roughly 40% of its assets in Vanguard stock ETFs and 60% in bond… Read More

Q: Hello, Pat. I always look forward to your reports. Thanks. What is your take on the new Vanguard Asset Allocation ETFs—VCNS, VBAL, VGRO? Each is a collection of several different ETFs, some of those ETFs holding stocks and some holding bonds. Are the fees more? Thank you.

A: The Vanguard Conservative ETF Portfolio, $24.70, symbol VCNS on Toronto, holds roughly 40% of its assets in Vanguard stock ETFs and 60% in bond ETFs. This $27 million ETF started up on January 25, 2018, and has a 0.22% MER.

The Vanguard Balanced ETF Portfolio,… Read More

How to Pick a Top ETF Investment

How to Pick a Top ETF Investment

A top ETF will practice “passive” management, and have a much lower MER than a comparable mutual fund.

You might say we specialize in “plain vanilla” stocks—the ordinary kind, in other words, without any special features. We always almost stay out of new issues. For the most… Read More

Why investors should be wary of many new ETFs

Why investors should be wary of many new ETFs

While new investment products can be enticing, a lot of new ETFs mean higher prices and more risk.

The best ETFs represent a low-cost, tax-efficient way for investors to make money in the long term.

However, as often happens after the successful launch of any new investment… Read More