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Free 6-Page PDF Guide

Stop Guessing.
Start Investing in Canada.

Most Canadians lose thousands to high fees, wrong account types, and analysis paralysis. This free starter kit gives you the exact steps to invest your first dollar — confidently.

  • Which account to open first (TFSA vs RRSP vs FHSA)
  • Which brokerage has the lowest fees for beginners
  • Exactly which ETFs to buy for your first portfolio
  • A 10-step checklist from "open account" to "first purchase"
Canadian Investing Starter Kit

Free 6-Page PDF Guide

Account types, brokerage comparison, portfolio blueprint — delivered instantly.

No spam. No credit card. Unsubscribe anytime.

Sound Familiar?

Most Canadians who want to start investing get stuck on the same questions:

"Should I use a TFSA or RRSP?"

The wrong choice can cost you $10,000+ over 20 years in unnecessary taxes.

"Which brokerage should I use?"

There are 10+ options in Canada, all with different fees, minimums, and features.

"What should I actually invest in?"

Thousands of ETFs, stocks, and mutual funds. The paradox of choice keeps people in cash.

"Am I going to lose my money?"

Fear of loss keeps $400B+ sitting in Canadian savings accounts earning below inflation.

The starter kit answers all of these — in 6 pages, with Canadian-specific data.

Canadian Investing Starter Kit — free PDF guide

What's Inside the Starter Kit

6 pages of actionable content — no fluff, no filler.

PDF format 10-min read Printable checklist Updated March 2026
1

Account Type Decision Tree

A visual flowchart that tells you exactly whether to open a TFSA, RRSP, or FHSA based on your income, age, and goals. No more guessing.

Includes 2026 contribution limits from CRA.

2

Brokerage Comparison Table

Side-by-side comparison of Wealthsimple, Questrade, TD Direct Investing, Interactive Brokers, and National Bank. Commissions, minimums, and our pick for beginners.

3

First Portfolio Blueprint

3 model portfolios (conservative, balanced, growth) using all-in-one ETFs. We tell you the exact ticker symbols, MER costs, and which one matches your timeline.

Based on Vanguard and iShares all-in-one ETFs available on TSX.

4

10-Step Getting Started Checklist

Printable checklist that walks you from "check TFSA room on CRA My Account" to "place your first buy order" — in the right order, with time estimates for each step.

5-6

Glossary + Canadian Tax Quick Reference

15 key terms explained in plain language, plus a one-page reference showing how each account type (TFSA, RRSP, FHSA, RESP, non-registered) is taxed — contributions, growth, and withdrawals.

Built by Professionals You Can Trust

CFA

Chartered Financial Analyst on our team — the gold standard in investment analysis

MBA

UBC Sauder School of Business — with a decade of financial education experience

100%

Canada-focused — every recommendation accounts for Canadian tax rules and regulations

Daniel Park, CFA

Daniel Park, CFA

Investment Analyst & Educator · Toronto, ON

"I wrote this kit the way I wish someone had explained investing to me when I was starting out — no jargon, no sales pitch, just the steps."

CFA Charterholder · 9 years Bay Street experience · Queen's B.Comm

Sarah Okonkwo, CFP

Sarah Okonkwo, CFP

Financial Planning Educator · Calgary, AB

"Most guides assume you already know the basics. This one doesn't. It meets you where you are and gets you to your first investment."

CFP · M.Sc. Finance, University of Calgary · Prosper Canada Volunteer

"I spent 6 months reading Reddit and still hadn't opened a brokerage account. This kit gave me a clear plan and I was invested within a week."

— Investing Starter Kit reader, Toronto ON

PIPEDA Compliant Fact-Checked Content No Sponsored Content 100% Canadian Focus

Common Questions

Is this actually free? What's the catch?

Genuinely free. No credit card. No "free trial" that auto-charges. We make money through affiliate partnerships with brokerages — we recommend them because they're good, and they compensate us if you sign up. The guide itself is 100% free.

Will you send me a bunch of emails?

You'll get the PDF immediately, then one useful financial education email per week covering investing, tax-advantaged accounts, and other wealth-building topics. Every email has a one-click unsubscribe link. We're CASL & PIPEDA compliant and never share your data.

Is this personalized financial advice?

No — this is educational content to help you understand your options. We don't know your specific situation. For personalized advice, consult a licensed financial advisor. But for most beginners, this kit covers the fundamentals you need to get started.

I know nothing about investing. Is this for me?

That's exactly who it's for. We wrote it assuming zero prior knowledge. If you have a Canadian bank account and want to start investing, this kit will make sense to you.

Why should I trust Northern Investor?

Our content is written by a CFA charterholder (7 years on Bay Street) and an MBA from UBC Sauder. We're an independent Canadian financial education site — not a bank, not a brokerage, no products to sell. We exist to help you learn.

Not sure you're ready?

Take the 2-Minute Investing Readiness Quiz

Answer 8 quick questions and we'll tell you exactly where you stand — plus a personalized next step.

Take the Quiz

Your First Investment Is 6 Pages Away

Join thousands of Canadians who stopped overthinking and started investing. The kit takes 10 minutes to read — and could save you thousands in fees and taxes.

No spam. No credit card. Unsubscribe anytime.