I’m in my mid-30s with 13+ years of marketing experience, and I’ve always been curious about investing in stocks, ETFs, bonds, and more. But I felt insecure even talking about it. Everything sounded impossible to learn — until last year, when Wealthsimple (with the help of AI) made the whole thing easier and (dare I say?) fun.
I leaned heavily on ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude to build my overall investing strategy and to make sense of factual events, economic reports, and business news. These tools were instrumental in helping me understand everything as if I were a fifth grader learning trading, politics, and economic policy for the first time.
What I love most: AI helped me build a strategy based on my own understanding, not the social media videos that just yell stock symbols at you with zero context. I used ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude to compare analytics, spot trends, and fact-check news about the holdings I was most interested in.
But first — how do you actually get into the stock market?
Understanding Canadian Investment Accounts & platforms like Wealthsimple
I’m thankful that Canada makes investing pretty accessible. You can either get help from a bank or financial institution to open your investment accounts, or go the DIY route through trading platforms like Wealthsimple, Questrade, or Moomoo. I personally recommend Wealthsimple based on my own experience.
Before you dive in, though, you need to know about the registered investment accounts the Canadian government supports — RRSP, FHSA, and TFSA. To simplify:
- RRSP is a long-term, tax-deferred savings account designed for retirement.
- FHSA is a registered investment account for first-time home buyers — you can contribute up to $8,000 per year and $40,000 lifetime, contributions are tax-deductible (like an RRSP), and qualifying withdrawals for a first home are tax-free (like a TFSA). It can hold ETFs, stocks, mutual funds, and GICs.
- TFSA is a flexible short-to-long-term account that lets your investments grow tax-free.
I decided to open my first TFSA & FHSA with Scotiabank through their managed investment option, leaning toward a moderately aggressive risk profile. I chose this route because it was my first taste of investing — at my age, with a sizable amount, as a newcomer in Canada — and I wanted to play it conservatively while I learned the ropes.
Why I Chose Both Scotiabank and Wealthsimple
Then I realized something: how am I actually going to learn if a portfolio manager is doing all the work? I wanted real, hands-on experience.
So I opened my first-ever Wealthsimple account.
The registration process was a breeze — government ID, personal details, the usual. The bank account integration took about five days to fully activate, which felt acceptable given that we’re talking about access to finances. It felt secure and reliable.
One thing I love about Wealthsimple: it’s basically a one-stop shop. You can use it for banking, investing (TFSA, FHSA, RRSP), and as a cash spending account.
My Personal Investing Strategy
Here’s how I split things up:
- 80% of my funds sit with Scotiabank’s managed portfolio (TFSA and FHSA) — they know better than I do, and the FHSA gives me tax-deductible contributions while I save toward a first home.
- 20% sits in my Wealthsimple self-directed account, where I trade for short-term and long-term educational purposes.
In both portfolios, I auto-invest a set amount biweekly to maximize compounding interest and to actually see my savings grow — instead of letting them sit in a checking account.
My Scotiabank portfolio leans toward US and Canadian markets with a sliver of global growth exposure. My Wealthsimple portfolio is a heavy Canadian-market play, built around the federal government’s budget priorities. Yes — I track Canada’s economic strategy, because if I can ride it, why not?
Last week marked my first year of investing in both accounts, and I’ll admit: I check both portfolios daily-to-weekly. Most people will tell you not to look at your investments every day because they’re meant to be appreciated long-term. I do the opposite. The more I look, the more I understand the nature of the beast — and that’s how I’m learning.
After one year:
- Scotiabank (managed): ~11.4% net YoY growth (after factoring out management fees).
- Wealthsimple (self-directed): ~29.34% YoY growth.
My 5-Stock Canadian Portfolio (and Why I Picked Each)
In my Wealthsimple account, I’ve only invested in five symbols — all of them aligned with what I see as Canada’s economic priorities. Before buying any of them, I had long back-and-forth conversations with ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude to pressure-test the thesis.
Part 2 is coming soon — I’ll walk you through the actual AI prompts I used to make sense of the stock market and shape my investing strategy.
The five holdings:
- ARE (Aecon Group) — Canadian infrastructure and construction. Plays directly into the federal infrastructure agenda, including transit, nuclear, and utility projects.
- ENB (Enbridge) — Energy infrastructure. A reliable dividend-paying anchor for any Canadian portfolio.
- RY (Royal Bank of Canada) — Canada’s largest bank by market cap. Stable, dividend-rich exposure to the financial sector.
- TEC (TD Global Technology Leaders Index ETF) — Technology diversification, since the Canadian market is light on tech.
- VFV (Vanguard S&P 500 Index ETF) — Broad US market exposure, hedged against being too Canada-heavy.
My standout performer is ARE, which directly aligns with the federal government’s strategic focus on Canada’s infrastructure—spanning transit, nuclear, and utilities. Since I started my journey, I’ve seen the share price skyrocket from $18.23 to over $54.00, representing a massive 200% increase in market value. Because I utilized a disciplined biweekly auto-investing strategy, I was able to ‘average into’ my position throughout the year. This approach allowed me to capture a stellar 60% YoY total return on the position.
My overall thesis is simple: I’m vetting and betting on Canada. I believe Canada is in a place where it can still grow exponentially — the market isn’t at its peak, but Canada is at peak recognition that it can be a global leader in trade and infrastructure.
A Quick Note on AI
AI is here to stay, and it’s here to make life easier—much like Google was years ago. I remember when using Google was considered a “mortal sin” in academia; now, even doctors use it to cross-reference phenomena in the exam room.
Always take AI information with a grain of salt. Use it to probe and understand, then validate it with your own knowledge and other people’s feedback. When I ask AI for help, I ask for references, I read through them, and I write ultra-clear prompts to ensure high accuracy. Watch out for more tips and stories about investing with AI. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, and subscribe to our weekly newsletter at www.notablelife.com. Stay tuned for Part 2 of this article.
What I’ve Learned After One Year
If I had to boil it down:
- Start with what you understand. I bet on Canada because I live here, work here, and follow the news here.
- Do both managed and self-directed. Managed gives you a safety net; self-directed gives you the lessons.
- Auto-invest, always. Compounding is the cheat code.
- Use AI as a study partner, not an oracle. It’s the best tutor I’ve ever had — but I do my own homework.
Watch out for more tips and stories about investing with AI. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, and subscribe to our weekly newsletter at www.notablelife.com.
Disclaimer: This article reflects my personal experience and is for educational purposes only. It is not financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
