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Index investing is the strategy of buying funds that track broad market indices rather than trying to pick individual winners. Decades of evidence show that this simple, low-cost approach outperforms the majority of professionally managed funds over the long run. For most Canadians, index investing is the smartest approach to building long-term wealth.
An index fund or index ETF tracks a market index — a predefined basket of securities representing a market segment. The S&P 500 index, for example, holds 500 of the largest US companies. A fund tracking it simply holds all those companies in the same proportions. No analysis required, no manager making active decisions, no high fees.
For a simple, all-Canadian approach:
For Canadians who want maximum simplicity, a single all-in-one ETF like VGRO or XGRO is ideal. Buy one ETF, contribute monthly, rebalance automatically (built into the fund). The Couch Potato community has validated this approach for 20+ years — you don't need more than one fund.
Always hold index ETFs inside your TFSA first, then RRSP. In a TFSA, all growth and income is tax-free. With $7,000/year in TFSA contributions invested in XGRO from age 25, compounding at 7% annually, you'd have over $1.5 million by age 65 — completely tax-free.
The best time to start index investing was yesterday. The second best time is today. Market timing consistently destroys returns — the stocks you're waiting for a "better entry point" on often keep rising. Start small if needed, invest consistently, and increase contributions over time.
"Should I wait for markets to drop?" No. Studies show lump-sum investing outperforms waiting in the majority of scenarios. If the amount is large and psychologically difficult, dollar-cost average over 6–12 months.
"What if markets crash?" Stay invested. Selling at the bottom locks in losses. Long-term investors who stayed invested through 2008–2009 recovered fully and then grew substantially. Short-term volatility is the price of long-term returns.
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