Starting Your Investment Journey

You do not need thousands of dollars to start investing. You do not need to be a finance expert. What you need is a simple strategy, consistent contributions, and patience. Here is your roadmap to building wealth as a Gen Z investor.

Step 1: The TFSA

If you are in Canada, your Tax-Free Savings Account is the best place to start. Contributions are after-tax, but all growth โ€” dividends, capital gains, interest โ€” is completely tax-free. In 2026, the contribution room is $7,000, and you can carry forward unused room from previous years.

This is your wealth-building foundation. Max it out before investing in taxable accounts.

Step 2: Low-Cost ETFs

Forget picking individual stocks. Exchange-traded funds give you instant diversification across hundreds of companies for minimal fees. Look for broad market ETFs like VEQT (all-equity) or VGRO (balanced growth) from Vanguard.

These funds automatically rebalance and include exposure to US, Canadian, and international markets. Set up automatic monthly purchases and forget about it.

Step 3: Crypto (If You Must)

Cryptocurrency should represent no more than 5-10% of your portfolio. Yes, it can deliver massive returns, but it is also incredibly volatile. If you are going to invest, stick to Bitcoin and Ethereum โ€” the two with actual use cases and institutional adoption.

Avoid meme coins, DeFi projects you do not understand, and anything promising guaranteed returns. Those are scams.

The 50-30-20 Rule

Allocate 50% to broad market ETFs, 30% to more aggressive growth investments, and keep 20% in cash or safe bonds for emergencies and opportunities. Rebalance annually. Stay consistent. Wealth is built over decades, not days.