Start Investing Like a Pro
Stop paying 2% fees to advisors. Learn to build and manage your own investment portfolio with confidence.
Why DIY Investing Beats Financial Advisors
Financial advisors charge 1-2% of your portfolio annually. Over 30 years, that's hundreds of thousands of dollars lost to fees. You can do this yourself.
With a Financial Advisor
- • Pay 1-2% annual management fees
- • Lose $250,000+ over 30 years in fees
- • Limited control over your investments
- • Often underperform index funds
DIY Investing
- • Pay 0.05-0.25% in ETF fees only
- • Keep that $250,000+ working for YOU
- • Full control over your portfolio
- • Match or beat market returns
💰 The Real Cost of Advisor Fees
Let's say you invest $500/month for 30 years at 7% returns:
DIY (0.2% fees): $566,000 portfolio
With Advisor (2% fees): $408,000 portfolio
You just lost $158,000 to fees. That's not okay.
TFSA vs. RRSP vs. FHSA: Which Account Should You Use?
Canadians have three powerful tax-advantaged accounts for investing. Choosing the right one(s) can save you tens of thousands in taxes.
TFSA
Tax-Free Savings Account
Contributions are made with after-tax dollars, but all growth and withdrawals are 100% tax-free.
Best for: Flexible savings, FIRE, accessing funds anytime, lower income earners.
RRSP
Registered Retirement Savings Plan
Contributions are tax-deductible (you get a refund now), but withdrawals are taxed as income.
Best for: High income earners, retirement at 65+, employer matching.
FHSA
First Home Savings Account
Tax-deductible contributions AND tax-free withdrawals for your first home purchase. The best of both worlds!
Best for: First-time home buyers saving for a down payment.
Contribution limit: $8,000/year, $40,000 lifetime.
Pro tip: Max this out before TFSA/RRSP if you're planning to buy a home!
Want to know the exact strategy for YOUR situation?
There's a lot more to this decision: contribution limits, income thresholds, withdrawal strategies, Home Buyers' Plan, spousal RRSPs, and more.
This is exactly what we cover in-depth in the full investing course.
Your Portfolio Should Be Diversified
"Don't put all your eggs in one basket" is investing 101. But what does a properly diversified portfolio actually look like?
Geographic Diversification
Don't just invest in Canada. Spread across Canadian, U.S., and international markets to reduce country-specific risk.
Sector Diversification
Own stocks across tech, healthcare, finance, energy, consumer goods, and more. If one sector crashes, you're protected.
Asset Class Diversification
Balance stocks (growth) with bonds (stability). The right mix depends on your age, risk tolerance, and timeline.
The Easy Solution: All-in-One ETFs
All-in-one ETFs give you instant diversification across thousands of companies worldwide with a single purchase.
What Are All-in-One ETFs?
All-in-one ETFs are single funds that hold a diversified mix of stocks and bonds from around the world. With one purchase, you get instant exposure to thousands of companies across multiple countries and sectors. They automatically rebalance to maintain your target asset allocation, making them perfect for hands-off investors.
We break down how to choose the right all-in-one ETF for your goals in the full course.
Asset Allocation Changes as You Age
Your investment strategy at 25 should be completely different from your strategy at 55. Here's why.
Aggressive Growth
Strategy: 90-100% stocks, 0-10% bonds
You have 30-40 years to ride out market volatility. Go heavy on stocks for maximum growth potential.
Balanced Growth
Strategy: 70-80% stocks, 20-30% bonds
Start adding bonds for stability while still maintaining strong growth potential. Protect what you've built.
Capital Preservation
Strategy: 40-60% stocks, 40-60% bonds
Reduce volatility as retirement approaches. You can't afford a 40% market crash right before you need the money.
What's YOUR perfect allocation?
Risk tolerance, timeline to retirement, income needs, and financial goals all factor into your ideal asset allocation. There's no one-size-fits-all answer.
The course walks you through finding YOUR perfect allocation—tailored to your life.
Choosing the Right Brokerage
Not all brokerages are created equal. Fees, platform usability, account types, and customer service all matter when you're managing your own investments.
Questrade
- Pros: Free ETF purchases, low fees, full TFSA/RRSP support
- Cons: Steeper learning curve, dated interface
- Best for: Active investors, advanced features
Wealthsimple Trade
- Pros: Beautiful UI, commission-free trades, beginner-friendly
- Cons: FX fees on U.S. stocks, limited research tools
- Best for: Beginners, Canadian stocks/ETFs only
Which brokerage is right for you?
There are more platforms to consider: Interactive Brokers, TD Direct Investing, CIBC Investor's Edge, and more. Each has unique pros, cons, and fee structures.
We compare every major Canadian brokerage in the course—with step-by-step setup guides.
Ready to Take Control of Your Investments?
This intro barely scratches the surface. The Wealth Building Blueprint covers everything you need to confidently manage your own portfolio and build serious wealth.
What's Included in the Wealth Building Blueprint:
Join thousands of Canadians who've fired their advisors and taken control of their financial future.