Changing your ETF strategy as you get older
You save, you invest.
You keep your investment costs low when you invest.
You diversify your investments across various stocks, bonds and some cash.
You stick with that plan, for years on end. You’re doing a lot of things right. Well done!
So, should you change your investment strategy as you get older? Absolutely.
Does that mean you need to overhaul ETFs in your portfolio? Potentially.
Yet the need to change your ETFs as you get older is largely the thesis I read in a recent Globe and Mail article. In that article, it highlighted the use of Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), as an “…incredibly powerful tool that investors at any age can use to customize their portfolios and fine-tune their strategies,” says Daniel Straus, vice-president of ETFs and financial products research at National Bank Financial Inc. in Toronto. “But it’s important to get the right one.”
So…what does that mean? Is there a “right” ETF to own?
Not in my book.
The “right” ETF depends on your goals, the income sources you desire from various assets in your portfolio, your tax considerations and much more. I totally get that things change.
My investing approach has changed quite a bit in the last 20 years.
That doesn’t mean there are any right ETFs to own – only the ones right for you.
ETFs for investors just starting out
The article suggested young or new investors, with no immediate need for cash, they should be in an all-equity fund like the Vanguard Total World Stock ETF (VT) (which trades in the United States) or in a product like the iShares Core MSCI All Country Ex-Canada ETF (XAW) provides exposure to almost every stock market around the globe.
While I would agree with the premise that young investors should embrace stocks more than bonds when it comes to investing (I’ve learned to live with stocks and so should you), I’m not entirely convinced these funds are ideal. With VT, you’ll have withholding taxes to consider. With XAW, there is no Canadian content.
Instead…
There are TD eFunds to consider. Great products (no affiliation).
Not all mutual funds are evil. These are some great all-in-one mutual funds to help younger investors build wealth.
They might want to consider a robo-advisor like the one I partner with: ModernAdvisor.
Check out my dedicated ETFs for great, low-cost investing options.
ETFs for investors in their 40s
The recent launch of Vanguard’s “asset allocation portfolio” ETFs are a bit of a game-changer.
Unlike the “experts” in the article, I think you could use them at any age – depending upon your goals.
I wrote about these simple all-in-one Vanguard funds here.
There are also these all-in-one funds that require no re-balancing at any age!
At the end of the day, whether you’re younger or older, investing boils down to meeting your goals, while managing your risk, as you progress through time.
Consider your financial plan before any financial product.
ETFs for investors in their 50s and 60s (nearing traditional retirement)
Maybe I’m an old-soul when it comes to investing or just plain biased.
I dunno!
This way, I get income from my portfolio for retirement AND growth.
Volatility is really a short-term headache – don’t let the markets’ short-term price movements scare you.
ETFs for investors in their 70s+ (retirement and beyond)
Despite my knock on some pricey monthly mutual funds, I believe there are some decent monthly income ETFs for seniors to consider if they wanted that focus.
Consider the BMO product ZMI for a moment – the BMO Monthly Income ETF. This ETF is a fund of BMO funds with the rebalancing work done by BMO. With a solid yield, you can rely on steady income with this all-in-one product.
Since I’ve gotten some emails on this subject this fall, from 60- and 70-somethings, here is a short-list of modestly priced income ETFs and/or dividend ETFs to consider. There are certainly others…
Data current at time of this post.
| ETF | Holdings Overview/Index | MER | Yield | 3-Yr | 5-Yr |
| BMO Monthly Income ETF (ZMI) | · ~55% equities + ~45% fixed income
· A BMO fund of funds · 17 holdings · >$100 M assets under management
|
0.61% | >4% | 3.7% | 3.8% |
| BMO Canadian Dividend ETF (ZDV) | Weighted yield of Canadian dividend paying stocks – a rules based methodology that considers the three year dividend growth rate, yield, and payout ratio to invest in Canadian equities | 0.39% | >4.5% | 5.4% | 3.1% |
| iShares Core S&P/TSX Composite High Dividend Index ETF (XEI) | S&P/TSX Composite High Dividend Index | 0.22% | >4.7% | 6.3% | 3.2% |
| iShares Diversified Monthly Income ETF (XTR) | · ~50/50 split equities and fixed income
· An iShares fund of funds · 10 holdings · >$500 M assets under management |
0.62% | >5% | 4.7% | 3.5% |
As an alternative, there is also the Horizons S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF (HXT).
It’s referred to as a “swap-based” fund since it doesn’t hold stocks directly. The management fee is super skinny, 0.07% and I think on their site there might even be a rebate associated with that.
The benefit of this swap-product: price increases will be taxable as capital gains (which can be taxed at a lower rate than dividends depending upon your taxable income – so it may be beneficial to hold this product, sell assets when you need income, in a non-registered account).
Should you change your ETF strategy as you get older?
That depends on you!
I can say that over time, I expect to see many more all-in-one fund products offered by various financial institutions AND lower fees for these products, as the investment industry grapples with higher investing expectations: including the need for income for aging investors.
At the end of the day, while your financial plan should definitely change over time I’m not convinced you have to always overhaul your ETF portfolio nearly as much.
What are your thoughts? What’s your approach to sufficient income in retirement?
Mark
My name is Mark Seed - the founder, editor and owner of My Own Advisor. As my own DIY financial advisor, I've surpassed my goal and now investing beyond the 7-figure portfolio to start semi-retirement with. Find out how, what I did, and what you can learn to tailor your own financial independence path. Join the newsletter read by thousands each day, always FREE.
I have a question or am I worried about nothing? Every year at tax time I analyze my tax receipts for the type of income I am receiving. I do not own any REITs, income funds or US holdings in my taxable accounts. I’ve noticed the majority of my ETFs provide Return of Capital. 75% of my holdings are in dividend paying Canadian stocks that I have held for years. I’ve been aggressively collapsing our registered accounts and transferring in kind to our margin account staying within a moderate tax bracket, with the goal of having them empty so we can maximize CPP payments at the max age. We are basically living off of dividends from our TFSAs and Margin account. I reinvest all withdrawals from our TFSAs every January. I guess my question is, will ROC catch up with me down the road when I need to sell or are there alternate paying devices for tax efficiency?
I don’t think so, Denis. ROC could be an issue in a taxable account but not registered accounts. Ideally, assets that do not pay any interest or distributions or dividends or any ROC, in a taxable account, are likely the best but again, don’t let any tax tail wag the investing dog per se 🙂
Here are some interesting products to consider, for taxable investing when it comes to focus on capital gains only:
https://www.myownadvisor.ca/tax-efficient-investing-horizons-etfs/
Back to ROC, for taxable investing, you might want read up on this:
https://www.td.com/ca/en/asset-management/documents/investor/pdf/news-insight/return_of_capital_salestool_en.pdf
Finally, when in doubt, always email the company’s investor relations department if you have any concerns, generally speaking, about the taxation impacts of any investment decision. They cannot and will not offer personal advice but they should be able to speak to the tax implications of their shareholders’ assets.
Not tax advice of course!
Hope that helps a bit 🙂
Mark
I hold XAW – for the sole reason it has 0 canadian content.
My work plan is invested heavily in the Canadian market – so when I was choosing an ETF via my direct investing, I wanted something completely Canadian Free.
I also own a decent chunk of the RBC Canadian Equity fund too. That said, I get what you are saying…had I not already had a high exposure to Canada, an all in one ETF would be ideal. Sometimes, a niche ETF (EX Canada, for example) can have its benefits for some ppl though 🙂
Nothing wrong with XAW whatsoever… just by itself I’m not convinced that’s enough. I love my CDN and US stocks 🙂
as i watch the snow come down here in wasaga beach i read your post with particular interest in the 70+ comments. we own a bit of xtr and the monthly income is nice but we are getting back some of own capital in the distribution and paying the mer! etf’s are a safer way to go but we’ll stick to our blue chip dividend paying stocks for now. the worst that can happen mark is we’ll come and live with you in ottawa! lol.
I figured you might like that post. Yes, XTR does pay a bit of capital back…so buyer beware and definitely less growth over time because of that.
Ha, I don’t think you’ll need to do that but when in Ottawa it would be nice to meet up eventually! Going South again soon?
yes, myrtle beach for jan. and feb.
Enjoy!
Hi Mark! what is your thoughts on EIT.UN-TO ?
I agree. It is unnecessary, and just adds complexity and extra cost (especially in taxable accounts) to be changing ETFs as you age. I’d go with VCN, XAW and ZAG (or ZDB if in a taxable account) from day 1 and leave it at that until it’s game over, increasing the bond fund allocation at retirement day approaches. Another good option is to go with VGRO or VBAL and add in a bond ETF as you approach retirement.
Great to hear from you Grant. Buying and selling adds costs that are not necessary. When in doubt, go with “a few good funds” and march on. Sounds like a movie I watched. I hope fall is treating you well.
Mark