In mid 2011 i used a highly recommended advisor from friends, and invested a small amount and started contributions monthly. I didn't understand as much then. I see my mistakes now. I was off work in 2012 and needed the money and pulled it. This was only after burning through my emergency fund already. I was off work for 5 months and i'm on my own so no other partner to help with bills. The stock he had put me in back then has never recovered well even to this day since about 2011/2012. Kind of glad i got out when i did. Only slightly scotched. Never lost any big amount, but never gained any either. I know some who lost lots afterwards.
I would love to try vanguard but i have no big stash of money to start with. I will only be doing small monthly contributions, and from my limited understanding, vanguard has some yearly fees and/or trading fees, so although i'm paying 1.07% at tangerine there is no other fees. Good for me starting with $0 and putting in lots of little amounts. Im not contributing as much as i see others on here doing. I need to buff up my emergency fund so only will be doing $200/month towards these investments till my Emerg fund gets a bit higher, then later $400/month. Hopefully more in the future.
I have to work for about another 22 years yet to get my work pension without penalties, but hope to in the future cut to part time early. I need to do 10 years of fairly heavy savings before i can for sure know what i'll be doing full/part time work related, and at age 30 and single, a lot can change too. I would like to use my RRSP savings to delay having to take my pension right away, but its so far down the road who knows where i will be.
So my goal is to enjoy life a little, cut the unnecessary shit, but start saving a lot more. My house will be paid off in august so that's part of why i have not started yet. I wanted to snow ball attack that mortgage first. Its taken about 3 years but i am finally at the end of it. It was a big stress for me when i was off work. Unfortunately its time for a new vehicle otherwise i'd have a higher long term savings rate. My 18 year old car is starting to get tired.