Helping Canadians with Personal Finance Since 2006 Learn how to save money, build an investment portfolio, and become financially independent - from a middle-class Canadian who has actually done it! Get Started Index Investing Dividend Investing Banking Robo Advisor Retirement Portfolio Smith Manoeuvre Tax Minimization Reviews Credit Cards All Categories As Featured On Toronto Star Forbes CBC The Globe and Mail Global The Financial Post Most Recent Articles all Articles Best 2025 Broker Promo...| Million Dollar Journey
What is portfolio rebalancing, and should you do it? If so, then how and when? We cover everything you need to know.| Million Dollar Journey
Dividend earning stocks are appealing for a number of reasons. They can help you earn passive income, are generally more stable in a volatile market, and are a great hedge against inflation. If you are thinking about investing in Canadian telecom dividend stocks, now might be the right time. Canadian Telecom companies have historically been a great choice when it comes to dependable dividends. They might not seem as exciting as some of the other options out there, but with all of us increasin...| Million Dollar Journey
Investing in Canadian Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) offers a convenient way to add real estate exposure to your portfolio - without making major lifestyle changes. While buying a rental property and becoming a landlord is one option, it’s not for everyone. If you don’t have the time, energy, or cash/capital to manage physical real estate, Canadian REITs can be an attractive alternative. They allow you to invest in real estate through small, manageable amounts—no tenants or prope...| Million Dollar Journey
There is a reason why so many of Canada’s best utility stocks are also on our overall list of best dividend stocks in Canada: They are natural oligopolies/monopolies, meaning that can pass along increasing costs almost instantly, and have really solid yields for income-seeking investors. This combination makes them a natural fit for Canadian investors looking for inflation hedge stocks. Some people consider Canadian utility stocks “boring” compared to high volatility “get rich/poor qu...| Million Dollar Journey
Investing in Canada’s best energy stocks have been a key part of my investing strategy for some time now. A lot of people don’t remember this, but it wasn’t so long ago (August 2020) that a lot of folks were asking if Canada’s energy dividends were in trouble? Of course, that was before energy prices and energy stocks dominated the headlines for the next couple of years. At the time, Canadian oil prices were about $30 a barrel and energy dividends were under a lot of pressure due to...| Million Dollar Journey
The concept of a safe withdrawal rate (and the 4% rule) is a key planning tool for Canadians of all ages. After all, if you don’t have a general withdrawal plan, how can you know how much you need to save in the first place? If you have been reading MDJ for years, you already have an idea of how to use a Canadian online broker account to DIY-invest your way to a solid nest egg. Now you’re planning for retirement (whether it’s 20+ years away or next year) and you’re wondering how to ...| Million Dollar Journey
Canada’s all-in-one ETFs (also called portfolio ETFs) have been the single most important investment product innovation since I’ve started writing about this stuff nearly two decades ago. The Vanguard, iShares, and BMO all-in-one ETFs are the perfect marriage of index investing strategy, convenience, asset allocation math, and behavioural safeguards. These ETFs - which are actually a collection of smaller ETFs - are so diverse that they actually include several of the Best ETFs in Canada,...| Million Dollar Journey
It is no secret that the Canadian stock market is not very well diversified by sector. Canada is largely financial, energy and materials, with all of that other stuff in between. By investing in Canadian retail stocks, investors can add some much-needed diversification. Canadian retail stocks can also help investors profit during times of economic strength and certain types of retail stocks can offer a nice hedge against periods of slow growth or recessions. A certain segment of Canadian ...| Million Dollar Journey
We review and compare Horizon's Total Return ETFs. Are Swap-Based ETFs a good investment?| Million Dollar Journey
When I first started writing about Canadian personal finance twenty years ago, my list of the best ETFs in Canada could fit on a napkin. There were no Canadian all-in-one ETFs, no catchy tickers, and definitely no slick marketing campaigns. ETFs were basically niche tools used by hardcore index investors and a handful of spreadsheet-loving DIY types. Fast-forward to today, and the landscape has completely changed. While I still hold a solid chunk of Canadian dividend stocks in my portfolio, l...| Million Dollar Journey
When I first launched Million Dollar Journey in 2006 and started writing about Canadian online brokers, the Qtrade vs. Questrade rivalry was already heating up. Fast forward nearly two decades, and not only has the rivalry intensified, but these two platforms have also solidified their positions as the leaders of Canada’s brokerage scene (leaving the big bank brokerages even further behind). As a DIY investor for the last 20 years, I’ve had firsthand experience with over a dozen brokerage...| Million Dollar Journey
Current Qtrade New Customer Promotion Qtrade currently has the best cash-back offer on the market in an effort to get you to try their platform. In brief - they want to pay you $150 to open an account with them. Details: Amount in New Qtrade AccountCash Back$1,000-$9,999$50$10,000-$24,999$100$25,000+$150 In order to get your cash back, the minimum you have to invest is $1,000. The good news though is that your amount of “new net assets” can be spread out amongst multiple accounts. In o...| Million Dollar Journey
As we look ahead to summer and the second half of 2025, it’s time for an updated look at the Best Online Brokerages in Canada. With RRSP season in the rearview mirror – and what might be shaping up to be another round of “tariff season” drama ahead – now’s the time to lock in the easy DIY investing wins. I’ve been writing about Canadian online brokers for nearly 20 years, and the changes in the space have been massive. Fees have plunged, platforms are smoother than ever, and com...| Million Dollar Journey