Investing

Sound investment advice can be found in the best investing books for Canadians. These are written by people who have ‘been there, done that’ in the finance and business sectors. Investment books can become your own playbook for the common sense of investing when you learn from the knowledge and experience shared.

With advancements in technology, fintech has become accessible to the average Canadian. One of the platforms that can be used to buy and sell investments is Qtrade Direct Investing. However, there are other options available on the market, all with varying features, benefits, and drawbacks. To learn more about Qtrade’s service and how it compares to others, continue reading the full review below. What is Qtrade Direct Investing? Qtrade Direct Investing is a Canadian, online, discount brokerage firm based in Vancouver, British Columbia. It is a subdivision of Credential Qtrade Securities Inc. The online brokerage is also affiliated with Aviso Wealth which is among Canada’s largest independent wealth management firms. They provide financial management services to over 150 financial institutions and are backed by Desjardins group. Over the years, Qtrade has won many awards and gained a reputation as one of Canada’s best online brokerages. The company offers a web interface and an app for both Android and iOS devices.

Investing in the stock market can be a wild ride with lots of ups and downs even in the best of times. And the coronavirus pandemic has had a huge impact on world markets. The Canadian stock market is no exception.

A dividend ETF is an exchange-traded fund that is designed for investment in a selection of high-dividend paying stocks. These ETFs typically track a specific index that is screened to include blue-chip type companies considered to be lower risk.

In Canada, there are many ways that people can invest their money. One popular choice is real estate. However, not everyone has the funds, time or energy, to invest in their own individual property. For these investors, a REIT (real estate investment trust) can make sense. A REIT investment in Canada can be a great way of diversifying a portfolio and participating in real estate investments, without having to manage or finance a property on your own. Our guide offers a closer look at REIT investing, while also going over our picks for the best Canadian REITs to consider in 2024. What are real estate investment trusts (REITs)? Before we look at some of the best Canadian REITs for 2024, you might be asking ‘what is a REIT?‘ As mentioned above, REIT stands for real estate investment trust. These are companies that own or manage properties that generate income in one way or another. These companies are publicly traded, and

More and more people are becoming interested in green energy in Canada. Many try to use renewable energy and resources when they can, to help the planet. But not only are people using green energy to power their homes and businesses. They are also putting their money into it. There are many ways of supporting this industry. One of the most popular? Investing in companies within the industry. Have you considered adding renewable energy stocks and/or green energy stocks to your portfolio? With many companies focused on providing green and renewable energy throughout the country, what are the best renewable energy stocks and green energy stocks in Canada? Let’s take a look at some of the best options out there, and learn more about renewable and green energy as a whole. What is renewable energy? Before we look at some of the best of these stocks in Canada, it is a good idea to take a closer look at renewable

Can you hire someone to invest for you? You sure can! There is, however, a cost for this kind of service, better known as investment management fees. Before paying for financial advice, it’s helpful to understand how these investment costs work. By the end of this guide, you’ll have an understanding of how to approach investment management fees in Canada. What are investment fees? Investment fees are the costs incurred when using financial products. Sometimes this could be financial advisor fees or it could be costs to use an online platform. In addition, there are many kinds of investment fees, such as broker fees, trading fees, and commission fees. Normally, reasonable investment fees are incurred to turn a profit on the use of financial products. For this reason, considering fee structures is an important step in any investment decision. Otherwise, the fees you pay may cut into your profits significantly. But remember: fees aren’t the only aspect to consider when

The cryptocurrency industry has exploded in popularity recently, and many crypto assets have been growing dramatically. Unfortunately, purchasing cryptocurrency involves a bit of work, and can be complex to buy in some cases. However, there is a way of participating in the crypto space without having to trade any yourself, and that is through a cryptocurrency ETF. These mimic the price of cryptocurrency and are much simpler to buy and trade than the crypto asset itself. There are a number of cryptocurrency ETFs in Canada that make it easy to get involved in the growth of this blossoming industry. But which ones should you consider investing in? Our guide takes you through some of the best cryptocurrency ETF options on the market, and how you can start investing. What are ETFs? Before we go any further, it’s important to understand what an ETF is. ETF stands for exchange-traded fund. It’s a pooled investment that works similar to a mutual fund,

Investing in gold has long been a popular way for people to diversify their portfolios and safely grow their hard-earned money. However, many people may not be aware of exactly how to invest in gold. While there are a few ways, one of the best and simplest is to invest in a gold exchange-traded fund (ETF). Gold ETFs are funds that consist of gold and operate like traditional stocks that can be bought, sold, and traded on various exchanges. This guide is going to look at the best gold ETFs in Canada, and help you learn more about investing in gold. Is gold a good investment in Canada? In general, the answer is yes. There are a few reasons why gold is (and has long been) a good investment in Canada. First of all, it is a long-term store of value. Investors can have peace of mind knowing that the investment will rise over time. It performs very well in

Investing and (some degree of) risk go hand in hand. Any stock or fund can rise or fall, and investing can feel like a world full of uncertainty. However, one way to mitigate some of these risks is to invest in monthly dividend stocks. But what are the best monthly dividend stocks in Canada for your money? Dividend investing is a popular strategy for both new and experienced investors alike. It is one of the few ways of guaranteeing consistent returns/income when investing your hard-earned money. In this guide, we look at some of the monthly dividend stocks in Canada worth your consideration. What are dividend stocks? Before we go over our best monthly dividend stock picks, it is a good idea to review dividend stocks. For starters, dividends are regular payments that a company will make to their stockholders. Essentially, it’s a way for companies to share profits with their investors. Dividend payments occur as either cash or additional

When deciding which investment tool makes the most sense for you, it’s important to understand all of the available options. But, there is a lot to know. Learning the difference between a mutual fund and an ETF, for example, means you can choose the best option for you today, and into the future.

No matter where you are in your investing journey, you’ve likely common across the stock market. Perhaps a friend, coworker, or family member mentioned it to you in passing. If you’re new to the stock market, making your first purchase might be a bit terrifying. We believe it doesn’t have to be, which is why we created this beginner’s guide. Below, we tackle the basics —including the stock market in Canada — and how to open your own account. What is a stock market? A stock market is a platform that facilitates the purchase and sale of stocks between interested parties. This could include individuals, institutions, or other companies. In any given market, the transaction regularly takes place between an investor and an investor. In other words, the company is not selling you the stock directly. When was the stock market created? Many events led to the birth of the first stock market. In the 1300s, Venetian lenders began to

If you’ve been paying attention to finance or technology news lately, you’ve likely heard about cryptocurrencies of one kind or another. You might also be asking yourself what exactly are cryptocurrencies, and what sort of benefits and features do they have. In an effort to help you understand a little more about the space, this article serves as a beginner’s guide. Learn how they work, pros and cons, and the basic steps of investing or buying cryptocurrency. What is cryptocurrency? The answer to “what is cryptocurrency?” can be a difficult one. In simple terms, cryptocurrency is a decentralized type of digital currency. Cryptocurrency doesn’t require a centralized authority (like a bank or government) to circulate. It is sent, traded, bought, sold, and used securely. Cryptocurrency is secured by cryptography. This ensures these cryptocurrencies cannot be double-spent by accident or counterfeit. You can use cryptocurrency to buy and sell things, but many people use them today as vehicles for investments, instead.

When it comes to investing in Canada, you have options on top of options (including, well, actual options). And if you want one of the safest investments, look to Guaranteed Investment Certificates, or GICs. GICs are a low-risk way of keeping your money — especially if you’re saving toward a specific goal like a down payment — secure. As a result, it’s been a popular choice for Canadians for years. Think GICs might be a solid option for you and your money? Keep reading to learn how they might be a valuable piece of your financial puzzle. What is a Guaranteed Investment Certificate? It’s right there in the name! A GIC is basically a loan to a financial institution —in most cases, a bank. In return, the bank gives you a guaranteed interest rate. The longer your money stays in a GIC —typically anywhere from 30 days to six months to 10 years — the higher your interest rate. The only requirement is

With every day that passes, people can more easily access products and services online. In this futuristic world of technology, online investing is becoming increasingly popular among Canadians. In fact, 500,000 new online trading accounts were opened during the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020! Clearly, many Canadians are interested in self-directed investing which can be done from the comfort of your couch. With the shift to remote work and the rise in online shopping over the last two years, this trend makes complete sense.  If you want to get on the bandwagon, you might consider comparing Questrade vs Wealthsimple in Canada. In this guide, we’ll compare fees, services, and features for both Questrade and Wealthsimple. Using this information, you can choose which platform is most ideal for you and your finances. What is a robo-advisor? A robo-advisor is an online wealth management and investment advisor service. It is powered by specialized software which replicates a human

ETFs tend to get a lot of attention these days. Mutual funds, however, have been a Canadian portfolio cornerstone for decades. In fact, according to the Investment Funds Institute of Canada (IFIC), the amount of money Canadians invested in mutual funds skyrocketed from $100 billion to $1.71 trillion between 1990 and the end of 2019. Now, there are over 5,000 mutual funds in Canada. And it’s no wonder Canadians are still so keen on mutual funds. Right off the bat, they offer diversification by design and professional management —two things many investors look for. And while ETFs are gaining in popularity for their benefits, as Jonathan Hartman, vice president and head of Advisor Channel Sales atRBC Global Asset Management explains, “mutual funds remain the most commonly used vehicle in Canada, especially among investors with $25,000 to $50,000 to invest.” This guide answers some of the biggest questions investors have about mutual funds in Canada, and why they are such a

They’re a top recommendation of investing legend Warren Buffet. They’re also great for new investors and/or those looking to follow a passive investing style. ‘Index fund’ sounds like a fairly technical term, doesn’t it? In reality, they’re pretty straightforward — and can be a great way of diversifying your portfolio at a low cost. This guide will outline how index funds work, explain the pros and cons, and list some of the top funds in Canada. What are index funds? Simply put, an index fund is a type of mutual fund or exchange-traded fund (ETF) with a portfolio designed to match or track a specific market index. This might be theStandard & Poor’s 500 Index, or S&P 500, which is 500 of the top companies on the US stock market, or Canada’s benchmark S&P/TSX Composite Index. For example, the iShares S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF (XIU) tracks the 60 biggest stocks on the TSX. As of November 5, these include Shopify, RBC, TD,

A balanced portfolio is typically a mix of stocks and bonds within your investment holdings. The strategy is to take advantage of stock market growth with a cushion in bonds to mitigate downturns. Stocks tend to be the engine driving portfolio growth.

Decisions you make early in life can have a big impact down the road. So it’s important to invest in Finance 101 to ensure a secure future.

Today, you don’t need to hire a broker to manage your investment portfolio. If you’d rather go it alone, you can sign up to use a discount brokerage and run your investments how and when you see fit.