John HoodiShares S&P/TSX 60 Index ETFXIU.TOTOP PICKNov 04, 2011

Excellent growth option. Lots of tech, consumer and healthcare stocks. Would recommend buying for the long term. 

Banks have down poorly this which has limited the TSX, though oil has gone up. You need the financials to do well for XIU to do well. But in the long run, this will outperform in coming years.

It holds a basket of large cap Canadian names and he likes it for the energy and banks holdings. The TSX 60 is not as far ahead as its counterparts in the U.S.

Well know ETF with ~3.4% dividend yield.
Canadian banks, utilities and infrastructure included.
Good ETF, but prefers XEI.

XIU has a slightly higher MER. HXT does not distribute the income but is capitalized into the portfolio holdings. It makes it a capital gain than dividend income. The redemption cost is also a factor. Would prefer HXT all things considered.

An ETF to buy? There are so many ETFs, so it depends what you're looking for. XIU offers growth and income for retirees. This is a core holding for any investors. There's also a BMO utilities ETF offering a yield and upside. Also, a Canadian bank ETF from any vendor will give you income and growth, like ZWB-T. An ETF reduces volatility vs. owning individual stocks.

HXT-T vs. XIU-T. They have basically identical holding but one pays a dividend so has different tax treatment. He is indifferent. In a TFSA, there is no reason to not to use the XIU-T.

How to increase dividends. These are all the same thing. You get exposure to Canadian large caps. There is no diversification by being in all three. ZWU-T should replace one of them to get utilities including pipelines and telcos and less reliance on the banks. Still Canada so you need international. ZWE-T is the best international dividend payers yielding 7% with a covered call overlay. ZWS-T is the best in the US. These are the two to add to the three. These should be in a registered portfolios if you are retired because there is no divined tax credit.