Greetings, you charming and astute Canadian. We’re always excited to meet a Canadian who is interested in ETFs as a kind of passive investing. You’re in excellent company, as Justin Trudeau’s presence in this video attests.
Newbie investors should look at ETFs designed to track the growth of two of our favorite economies: our own homegrown Canadian economy and that of our sometimes rambunctious southern neighbor, the United States. To invest in US firms, you don’t have to drive many hours or endure US customs; you can buy US equity ETFs from the comfort of your own home. So when we say Canadian ETFs, we’re referring to a selection of ETFs that allow you to invest in either the US or Canadian economy.
We’ve compiled a list of the most popular exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that invest in the Canadian or US stock markets—nothing fancy here, like ETFs that short the market or focus on specific sectors. What exactly do we mean when we say ‘prominent’? These are the ETFs with the most assets under management. So, why should one choose one over the other? That is an excellent question. The Canadian and US stock markets share some similarities; both, for example, have a slew of massive financial services firms; however, due to Canada’s vast natural resources, the Toronto Stock Exchange tends to have a higher concentration of energy, mining, and mineral stocks, whereas the New York Stock Exchange has a higher concentration of technology and healthcare firms. ETFs frequently have very low, or no, investment minimums. And, given that diversity, as discussed in this article, is one of the best tactics for maximizing gains while limiting losses, it might be worthwhile to purchase some exposure to both the US and Canadian markets. Before you invest, keep in mind that any stock investment is speculative, and previous performance isn’t necessarily indicative of future outcomes.
What are some of the top Canadian ETFs
The iShares Core S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETF, the BMO S&P TSX Capped Composite IDX ETF, the Horizons S&P/TSX 60TM INDEX ETF, and the Vanguard FTSE Canada All Cap ETF are some of the best Canadian ETFs that invest in Canadian firms.
Consider checking out the ETFs listed below. The most major difference between them is the index they are attempting to replicate through their stock holdings. The ETFs with the biggest assets under management (AUMs) will be at the top of the list.
In Canada, how do I choose an ETF?
Choose the ETF with the lowest cost, as measured by the MER, if all other factors are equal. ETFs that replicate an index passively have the lowest management costs since they require the fund manager to make fewer choices.
Actively managed ETFs (along with some specialized and theme ETFs) have higher fees since their mandates require the fund manager to make more choices and provide more supervision.
When choosing between ETFs that track the same benchmark in the same way, as well as actively managed or specialized funds with almost identical mandates and holdings, it’s usually best to go with the lowest fee option. Paying a greater fee won’t offer you a better return; instead, it will lower your earnings.
What is the most secure ETF to buy?
“Start with index ETFs,” suggests Alissa Krasner Maizes, a financial adviser and founder of the financial education website Amplify My Wealth. “They have modest expenses and provide rapid diversity.” Some of the ETFs she recommends could be a suitable fit for a wide range of investors:
Taveras also favors ETFs that track the S&P 500, which represents the largest corporations in the United States, such as:
If you’re interested in areas like technology or healthcare, you can also seek for ETFs that follow a specific sector, according to Taveras. She recommends looking into sector index ETFs like:
ETFs that monitor specific sectors, on average, have higher fees and are more volatile than ETFs that track entire markets.
Can I invest in an ETF using a TFSA?
Tax-free savings accounts (TFSAs) have been increasingly popular in recent years. They’re tax-advantaged investment schemes that have been registered with the IRS. Growth on TFSA assets, whether in the form of capital gains, interest, or dividends, is tax-free, and amounts can be withdrawn without being counted as part of your taxable income. You cannot deduct your TFSA contributions from your taxable income, unlike a Registered Retirement Savings Plan. Amounts taken from your TFSA will be added to the following year’s contribution room. Residents of Canada who have reached the age of majority in their jurisdiction, either 18 or 191, are eligible to open TFSAs.
How does a TFSA work?
TFSAs aren’t the same as regular savings accounts. When you think of them as investment vehicles, you may unlock significant wealth. You must also evaluate your risk appetite and if your goals are long-term or short-term while managing your TFSA. Only qualifying investments, such as mutual funds, publicly traded equities, government bonds, some corporate bonds, ETFs, GICs, cash, and even certain options, are allowed in your TFSA, according to the Income Tax Act.
The types of investments you can buy are also determined by your TFSA account type.
Investing with a TFSA
You just open a TFSA registered plan with your bank with a regular TFSA account. The types of investments you can make in this TFSA will, of course, be limited to those given by your bank. GICs, savings accounts, and mutual funds offered by your bank are typical examples.
You are not limited to the money given by your financial institution if you have a self-directed TFSA. Almost any financial institution offers mutual funds, GICs, stocks, bonds, ETFs, and other investment options. You have complete control over your account as the account holder. You also gain control over how your investments are managed. With a TFSA from TD Direct Investing, you may put yourself in a position to profit from opportunities in both the Canadian and US markets. Remember to examine your risk profile before making any investing decisions.
How many ETFs should I invest in?
Experts agree that, in terms of diversification, a portfolio of 5 to 10 ETFs is ideal for most individual investors. However, the quantity of ETFs isn’t the most important factor to consider. Instead, think about how many various sources of risk you’re acquiring with those ETFs.
Risk can arise from a variety of places, but a common breakdown includes the type of security (equity, bonds, or commodities) and the geographic location first (US, Europe, World, Emerging Markets, etc.). Diversifying investments based on these qualities is already a solid start.
What is in the equity bucket?
ETFs that invest in business stocks are known as equity ETFs (also known as equities or shares). They are the most common ETFs, allowing you to own a piece of hundreds or even thousands of firms in a single transaction.
You can use regions to diversify your equity portfolio. You can buy a domestic equity ETF (which invests in the stock market of your native country) and an international equity ETF, for example (that invests globally outside of your home country).
In the pursuit of higher profits, you can also gamble on the size of companies by investing in Small-Cap ETFs. For a variety of reasons, academic studies have demonstrated that small-cap equities outperform larger corporations over time. Here’s where you can learn more about factor investing.
Are dividends paid on ETFs?
Dividends on exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Qualified and non-qualified dividends are the two types of dividends paid to ETF participants. If you own shares of an exchange-traded fund (ETF), you may get dividends as a payout. Depending on the ETF, these may be paid monthly or at a different interval.
Is it wise to invest in Vanguard ETF?
Vanguard S&amp (VOO) This fund follows the S&P 500 index, which means it holds the same companies as the index and attempts to replicate its performance over time. This ETF is ideal for investors who wish to minimise their risk while boosting their long-term gains potential.
How can I tell whether my ETF is performing well?
Given the overwhelming amount of ETF options presently available to investors, it’s critical to evaluate the following factors:
- A minimum level of assets is required for an ETF to be deemed a legitimate investment option, with an usual barrier of at least $10 million. An ETF with assets below this level is likely to attract just a small number of investors. Limited investor interest, similar to that of a stock, translates to weak liquidity and huge spreads.
- Trading Volume: An investor should check to see if the ETF they are considering trades in enough volume on a daily basis. The most popular ETFs have daily trading volumes in the millions of shares. Some exchange-traded funds (ETFs) scarcely trade at all. Regardless of the asset type, trading volume is a great measure of liquidity. In general, the larger an ETF’s trading volume, the more liquid it is and the tighter the bid-ask spread will be. When it comes to exiting the ETF, these are extremely critical concerns.
- Consider the underlying index or asset class that the ETF is based on. Investing in an ETF based on a broad, widely followed index rather than an obscure index with a particular industry or regional concentration may be advantageous in terms of diversity.