The Canadian Index Investing Guide
Build a Low-Cost ETF Portfolio You’ll Stick With
This book is for one kind of investor: someone who has decided, or nearly decided, that low-cost index ETFs are the way to go. Part 1 shows why indexing works and what fees really cost. Part 2 helps you choose your mix and your funds. Part 3 puts each fund in the right account and handles the tax quirks Canadians face. Part 4 covers buying, rebalancing and a once-a-year review, and Part 5 is about the hard part: staying put.
Price at launch: $29 CAD. Not on sale yet.
By Andrew
- Pages
- 152
- Chapters
- 19
- Format
- Figures
- Rules and limits for the 2026 tax year
Who it’s for
- Canadians who own, or plan to own, an all-in-one ETF in a TFSA or RRSP
- Investors with RRSP money still in a bank mutual fund who are thinking of moving it
- DIY investors sorting out asset location, US withholding tax and Norbert’s Gambit
- Anyone who wants a plan they can set up once and keep
Who it’s not for
- Complete beginners who need the accounts explained from scratch (there is a two-page refresher; The Canadian Investing Guide covers the basics in full)
- Readers who want to pick individual stocks or time the market
What’s inside
- 19 chapters in five parts, with a one-page Index Plan at the back
- Why indexing wins, using SPIVA scorecard data, and what fees really cost over 30 years
- One fund or several, choosing ETFs and currency hedging
- Asset location, US withholding tax, US-listed ETFs and Norbert’s Gambit, and indexing in a taxable account
- Rebalancing, an annual review, tempting detours and leaving an advisor or robo
- Checklists, tools and quick-reference tables
The examples you’ll follow
One investor is followed from start to finish. They are illustrations, not real people.
Doug
A 36-year-old physiotherapist in Calgary who moves from a bank fund to a simple ETF portfolio
Full contents
19 chapters across 152 pages.
Part 1: Why Index
- 1Why Indexing Wins
- 2What Fees Really Cost
- 3Inside an Index ETF
Part 2: Design the Portfolio
- 4Your Stock and Bond Mix
- 5Canada, the US and the World
- 6One Fund or Several
- 7Choosing Your ETFs
- 8Currency Hedging
Part 3: Put Each Fund in the Right Account
- 9Asset Location
- 10US Withholding Tax
- 11US-Listed ETFs and Norbert’s Gambit
- 12Indexing in a Taxable Account
Part 4: Run It
- 13Buying and Automating
- 14Rebalancing
- 15Your Annual Review
Part 5: Stick With It
- 16Staying the Course
- 17Tempting Detours
- 18Leaving an Advisor or Robo
- 19As Your Life Changes
At the back
- Your Index Plan
- Checklists and tools
- Quick-reference tables
- Glossary
- Sources
- Change log
What’s free on the site, and what the book adds
Free on Canadian Optimizer
Our articles explain one topic at a time and stay free. Start with Passive ETF Investing.
In the book
The whole subject in order, in one 152-page file: the same examples carried from chapter to chapter, end-of-chapter tasks and checklists, and quick-reference pages at the back.
- Instant downloadSecure checkout through Stripe, then straight to your download page.
- 30-day refundNot useful? Email contact@canadianoptimizer.com within 30 days for a full refund.
- Dated figuresEvery rate and limit is tied to a date, so you know what to re-check.
By Andrew
Andrew is a personal finance expert, DIY investor and life optimizer based in Toronto, Canada. With over 19 years of corporate experience at a leading Canadian company, Andrew combines deep industry knowledge with a passion for technology to help others navigate personal finance and streamline their daily lives.
Questions
What format is it?
PDF, 152 pages. It reads on a phone, tablet or computer, and you can print pages for your own use.
How do I get it after I pay?
This book is not on sale yet. When it is, checkout will be handled by Stripe and you will be sent to a download page with your files right after you pay.
Can I get a refund?
Yes. If it is not useful to you, email contact@canadianoptimizer.com within 30 days of purchase for a full refund.
Is this financial advice?
For education only. This book is general information, not financial, tax, legal or insurance advice, and it does not know your situation. Rules and amounts change; check the official source before you act, and consider a qualified professional for decisions that are hard to undo.
Who wrote it?
Andrew, who runs Canadian Optimizer. Andrew is a personal finance expert, DIY investor and life optimizer based in Toronto, Canada. With over 19 years of corporate experience at a leading Canadian company, Andrew combines deep industry knowledge with a passion for technology to help others navigate personal finance and streamline their daily lives.
Does it recommend specific ETFs?
Funds and tickers appear as dated examples of a method, not as recommendations. Check current fees and holdings on the fund provider’s site before you buy.
The Canadian Index Investing Guide
152 pages · 19 chapters · PDF
$29 CAD
Coming soon · $29 CADFor education only. This book is general information, not financial, tax, legal or insurance advice, and it does not know your situation. Rules and amounts change; check the official source before you act, and consider a qualified professional for decisions that are hard to undo.
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