Vix Money

In 2011, Vicky continued her life-long obsession with numbers, math, and money by starting a blog called Vix Money. By documenting her personal journey through the wonderful world of personal finance, she hopes to raise awareness about topics such as the basics of personal finance, the proper usage of credit, and the basics of investing. Aside from writing, she also helps people who are interested in setting up their own spending plans, provides an unbiased second opinion on their current investments, and helps people set up goals to reduce their debt.

XBB vs. XSB

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Written by Vicky at Vix Money. I personally hold both XBB and XSB (I told you my portfolio is messy!), and I am curious to see how they stack up against each other. XSB, iShares DEX Short Term Bond Index Fund, seeks to replicate the performance of the DEX Short Term Bond Index. It was introduced on November 20, 2000, and holds bonds that are issued domestically in Canada by all levels of government (federal, provincial and municipal) as well as corporate bonds. The main difference between XSB and XBB is that the focus of XSB is on acquiring bonds …

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XIC vs. XIU

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Written by Vicky @ Vix Money

Even though I have chosen to hold XIC in my portfolio to represent the Canadian equities portion, I have debated whether or not XIU could be used instead. So which one is better?

XIU, iShares S&P/TSX 60 Index Fund, was introduced on September 28, 1999, and seeks to replicate the 60 largest and most liquid securities listed on the S&P/TSX 60 Index.

Which companies are represented in XIU?

In Canada, the main sectors that are represented are the financial industry, the energy sector, and the materials sector. This is reflective in XIU as almost 78% (as of April 23, 2012) of the fund’s holdings are in these sectors, compared to XIC’s 77% (as of April 23, 2012). If you are checking out the analysis I previously completed for XIC, please note the difference in the dates. Overall, the numbers are NOT THAT different, but please be aware of it.

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XDV – iShares Dow Jones Canada Select Dividend Index Fund

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Written by Vicky @ Vix Money

XDV, iShares Dow Jones Canada Select Dividend Index Fund, was introduced on December 19th, 2005. This ETF seeks to replicate the 30 highest dividend paying companies in the Dow Jones Canada Select Dividend Index. It is part of a group of ETFs owned by iShares, and, as of June 11th, 2009, is now currently being managed by BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited. With the recent rebranding of the Claymore ETF family, whom now all trade under the iShares name, iShares is definitely the market leader in the Canadian ETF market.

Which companies are represented in XDV?

When you purchase an ETF like XDV, it is good to know what kind of companies you are investing in, as well as the sectors they do business in. Although it does not guarantee against loss, diversification in your portfolio helps you reach your long-term financial goals while simultaneously minimizing the risk associated with it.

In XDV, the main sectors that are represented are the financial industry, the telecommunications sector, and the oil & gas sector. As of April 5, 2012, over 80% of the fund’s holdings are in these sectors.

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XIC – iShares S&P TSX Capped Composite Index Fund

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Written by Vicky @ Vix Money XIC – iShares S&P TSX Capped Composite Index Fund – was introduced on February 16, 2001, and seeks to replicate the largest and most liquid securities listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX). It is part of a group of ETFs owned by iShares, and, as of June 11, 2009, is now currently being managed by BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited. The iShares fund family continues to lead the market amongst all the providers, managing approximately 2/3 of all the money currently invested in the Canadian ETF market. When choosing to invest in XIC, …

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