The average Canadian investor earns 1.7% less per year than their fund β entirely due to fees and behavioural mistakes. On a $200,000 portfolio over 25 years, that gap exceeds $420,000. We close it with a low-cost ETF portfolio, automated contributions, and annual rebalancing. Illustrative projection β individual results vary.
Bank mutual funds, advisor-sold products, and wrap accounts commonly carry MERs of 1.5β2.5%. These fees are charged whether the market goes up or down β silently compounding against you every year. Most investors don't know their MER and have never seen the dollar impact over time.
Research consistently shows the average investor earns less annually than the funds they own. The cause is largely behavioural: panic selling in downturns, chasing performance in bull markets, and market timing that rarely works. Dalbar's Quantitative Analysis of Investor Behaviour has documented this pattern for decades.
Interest-bearing investments in non-registered accounts are taxed at your full Canadian marginal rate. Foreign equity held in a TFSA loses its foreign tax-credit advantage. Placing the right investment in the wrong account can cost thousands per year β a completely avoidable structural problem.
Individual stock selection and active fund management have historically underperformed index investing in a large majority of rolling 15-year periods according to the SPIVA Canada Scorecard published by S&P Dow Jones Indices. This pattern has held across multiple market cycles. The math of fees and market efficiency works against active management over long time horizons.
The biggest predictor of investment success isn't stock selection or market timing β it's consistency of contribution. The system we help you build removes every decision point that could derail a 25-year plan.
Once configured, your investment system runs itself. The only human task remaining is a 15-minute annual rebalancing review.
A fixed amount moves from chequing to your investment account on payday β before spending decisions occur
Your self-directed account reinvests cash into your target allocation β zero manual decision required once configured
All dividends automatically reinvest into additional units β compounding accelerates without any action on your part
Once per year, check allocation drift and direct new contributions to the underweight ETF. No selling required for minor drift, no tax event, 15 minutes.
We review everything you currently hold β MERs, allocation, account structure, hidden fees β and calculate the illustrative cost of your current approach in dollar terms.
A written portfolio plan: illustrative ETF allocation, account sequencing (TFSA, RRSP, non-registered), rebalancing rules, and projected long-term outcomes vs. your current path.
We walk you through opening your self-directed account, transferring in-kind (to minimize unnecessary tax events), and establishing your automated contribution system.
Each year: check allocation drift, update for income changes, adjust for new TFSA room, and ensure your investment plan still matches your life plan and Canadian tax situation.
Book a free portfolio audit. We'll calculate your illustrative fee drag, show the long-term dollar impact, and build a transition plan β with no obligation to proceed.