Research and choose an asset-allocation ETF that matches your asset mix.
Use our research tables.
You're a do-it-yourself investor - you'll have to choose your own asset mix.
Are you a conservative or an aggressive investor?
What's an asset mix?
Don't stop saving. Follow your budget - when you've saved some money, transfer it to your online broker account and buy additional shares of your ETF.
Check your account once a year.
- Is your ETF performing well?
- What fees are you paying?
- Is this approach still right for you?
Own your investments, step-by-step.
What is it?
ETFs (exchange-traded funds) are baskets filled with equity and / or fixed income securities. ETFs can also be filled with other ETFs.
Asset-allocation ETFs are filled with index ETFs. 'Index' means the ETF represents the entire market for a particular fixed income / equity security (like all Canadian bonds or US equities).
- You can't buy an index - it's just a list of securities.
Buying individual securities is risky. Buying a basket of them through ETFs reduces investment risk. Index ETFs reduce risk even more because they hold every security in their market. This is diversification.
An asset-allocation ETF holds 6-10 individual index ETFs, in proportions that reflect your asset mix.
You'll buy just one asset-allocation ETF to fill your portfolio.
Are you cashing out / changing providers? Learn to close investment accounts.
asset-allocation ETF
What's it like to invest
Once you have a plan, open an online broker account.
- While you're opening an account, your provider may ask you to complete a questionnaire to determine your level of investing expertise - it's part of getting to know you as a client.
Once the account is open, you'll buy shares of your asset-allocation ETF.
Research and choose an online broker - you'll use it to buy your ETF.
Use our research tables to choose a broker.