Canadian Investing Guides

Here is the number most Canadian investors have never actually seen written out. A $100,000 portfolio with $500 monthly contributions held for 25 years in a low-cost ETF at 0.20% MER grows to $548,673. The same portfolio in an average bank mutual fund at 2.00% grows to $362,499. The gap is $186,174, not fees paid, but portfolio value that never existed because it was quietly consumed by fees every single year, before it ever appeared on a statement. This article breaks down exactly how that happens, using real Canadian fund data.

You do not need a complicated portfolio to build serious long-term wealth as a Canadian investor. Three ETFs, one covering Canadian stocks, one covering global stocks, one covering bonds, give you exposure to thousands of companies worldwide at a blended MER of approximately 0.17%. That is roughly one-tenth the cost of a typical bank mutual fund. Total annual maintenance: about 30 minutes. This guide covers the three building blocks, sample allocations for different situations, the actual cost breakdown, without turning it into a second job.

Most Canadians with a TFSA or RRSP are losing money they don’t know about, and it’s not the market. Learn what actually separates these two platforms in 5 minutes.

A TFSA is one of the most powerful investing tools available to Canadians, and yet most people are using it in a way that quietly limits its potential. Opening yours at a low-cost brokerage like Questrade takes about 10 minutes and can save you thousands in fees over a lifetime of investing. This guide walks you through every step.