What do I need to read about investing in Canada?

[Jschange]

Hi everyone!

I'm finally moving past saving in an emergency fund or saving for a medium term goal.... so.I need to understand what I want to invest in, and how to make that happen.

I have a broad sense of what type of funds and risk I'm looking at, and I've recently learned that I can make investments through a tfsa or rrsp.  Now I need to do it, and need to figure out the actual steps to make it happen. Does it happen online? My bank is tangerine, and the investment page recently changed. I know I can also work with other banks, financial advisors, or mlm type agencies.

So what do I read in the next 3 months to answer my questions? Any links, book suggestions, search phrases etc are all welcome.

[nobodyspecial]

Canadian couch potato (http://canadiancouchpotato.com) recommend some portfolios.
Tangerine's mutual funds aren't bad for a beginner (1% fee compared to 0.2% at Vanguard but 2.5% at other banks)

Then you buy the recommended ETFs from Vanguard (http://vanguardcanada.ca/individual/etfs/etfs.htm)
although in Canada you have to do this through a broker. Questrade will let you buy ETFs for free (http://questrade.com) - there are other discount online brokerages

[Heckler]

+1 to understanding every article on CCP.

You might start here first though.

http://www.finiki.org/wiki/Main_Page

Finicky is the Canadian version of bogleheads, also a great read


https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Getting_started

[Jschange]

Thank you! I'm working through finiki first, it looks very very easy. Which I need. Then I will work through Canadian couch potato. 

[Kaspian]

Then I will work through Canadian couch potato.

Highly recommend you start at the beginning of CCP and read forward, otherwise much of the stuff he talks about will be lost to you.  The blog gets more (overly in many aspects) complicated as it goes on.  http://canadiancouchpotato.com/2010/01/10/couch-potato-basics-part-1-low-costs2/

[Heckler]

Highly recommend you start at the beginning of CCP and read forward, otherwise much of the stuff he talks about will be lost to you.  The blog gets more (overly in many aspects) complicated as it goes on.  http://canadiancouchpotato.com/2010/01/10/couch-potato-basics-part-1-low-costs2/

Agreed!  But keep in mind the date of each article.  In 2010 Dan was making recommendations to portfolios that are far outdated, overly complicated and expensive.  The basics are still valid though

[Kaspian]

Highly recommend you start at the beginning of CCP and read forward, otherwise much of the stuff he talks about will be lost to you.  The blog gets more (overly in many aspects) complicated as it goes on.  http://canadiancouchpotato.com/2010/01/10/couch-potato-basics-part-1-low-costs2/

Agreed!  But keep in mind the date of each article.  In 2010 Dan was making recommendations to portfolios that are far outdated, overly complicated and expensive.  The basics are still valid though

Agreed with you too!  He really does need a "start here" section or something.  I'm afraid people who hit the landing page get overwhelmed with irrelevant (to them) minutiae--fine details about tax shelters, currency hedging, new funds, etc., when one of the basic premises behind CCP is its total simplicity.  I know when I've sent friends/family there they backed out pretty quick telling me that it "blew their minds" and they "didn't understand it".  :(

(I have to admit--some of it, I don't even know what exactly the fuck he's talking about and I've had a CCP for 4 years now.  He's a smart one, Dan!)

[Mmm_Donuts]

I first learned about the concept of index investing when I read Millionnaire Teacher by Andrew Hallam. Similar principle to couch potato, but I found it very easy to read. Might be a good place to start.

[scrubbyfish]

Yeah, I simply implemented the Canadian Couch Potato model portfolio (Vanguard ETF option in my case, via TD Direct Investing and RBC Direct Investing)—a short, one page reference. And I too recommend Hallam's book.

That's still all I'd do at the start:
1. Implement one CCP model portfolio right away.
2. Then read Hallam's book.
3. Then explore the CCP site at leisure.

[Kaspian]

1. Implement one CCP model portfolio right away.
2. Then read Hallam's book.
3. Then explore the CCP site at leisure.

^^THIS!  While I implemented CCP in early 2012, it took about 1½ years to get all my investments converted, transferred, and aligned properly to the model.  (Damn GICs!)

I'll have to track down a copy of that book, just for kicks!

[Heckler]

Also a great book that starts with the basics.

http://www.rogerspublishingestore.com/product/magazines/moneysense/cat60110/moneysense-guide-to-the-perfect-portfolio/si6436723

If you can find it.  Try the library.