More Canadians are embracing DIY investing, and reliable education and resources can give them an edge.Getty Images
Canadians are joining the do-it-yourself (DIY) revolution, and there has never been a better time to be a DIY investor, with wide access to discount brokerages and an expanding universe of educational resources.
Of the 45 per cent of investors in Canada with self-directed accounts, 30 per cent opened them in the past two years, according to a 2024 report from the Canadian Securities Administrators. The report also reveals that only 16 per cent of those investors have confidence in their market know-how.
DIYers often seek insight online, as well as from friends and family. While plenty of resources are available, they can create information overload. It can be a challenge to glean what’s most credible, notes Caitlin Cormier, a senior client education instructor at TD Direct Investing.
She says that getting the right information for your DIY experience is critical to investing. That’s what will help you achieve your objectives, whether buying a first home, saving for a child’s education, or retirement.
“The risk is making investment decisions based on an unreliable source, which doesn’t take into account your own objectives and may neglect the risks of the strategy,” says Ms. Cormier.
TD Direct Investing offers robust education and resources to empower DIYers to help reach their financial goals. That includes hands-on workshops, live shows, on-demand videos and market reports.
These education resources cover a wide range of topics, such as getting started as a DIYer, researching investments, creating and managing a portfolio, and navigating trading platforms.
“We offer everything from the basics – like the differences between stocks, bonds, mutual funds or ETFs [exchange-traded funds] – to content for sophisticated investors seeking advanced margin trading strategies,” says Ms. Cormier.
Every investor, no matter their investment knowledge, needs dependable sources. Just because a post is popular, or an investment opportunity is trending, doesn’t mean the information is always trustworthy, Ms. Cormier adds.
“All of our education content is created by experienced investing educators, it goes through a rigorous review process, and is presented in accessible ways for investors of all backgrounds.”
To help make information available to all Canadians, TD Direct Investing has a presence on Instagram and YouTube. Clients also have exclusive access to live content such as TD Master Classes. These live workshops run daily, with topics ranging from portfolio diversification to options strategies. Investment Representatives are also available to provide phone and live-chat customer support.
TD Direct Investing has over 40 years of storied history in the industry, leading the way in client education. It continues to look for ways to better serve clients of diverse levels of experience and learning styles.
Investors will invariably face negative experiences, adds Ms. Cormier. An educational foundation can help keep the “bumps and bruises” to your money and your psyche from derailing your plans, or turning you off investing entirely.
Knowledge from reliable sources is a key to building confidence. The right educational tools from legitimate and regulated providers help investors to advance along their learning curves, to make informed decisions and maximize opportunities.
“TD Direct Investing has been rated as Canada’s top digital broker three years in a row¹. We know that providing best-in-class education is essential to offering the best experience for investors,” says Ms. Cormier.
Advertising feature produced by Globe Content Studio with TD. The Globe’s editorial department was not involved.
1 Rated top digital broker by The Globe and Mail, as of February 13, 2025.