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ETFs

The main equity tool in the strategy — broad diversification in a single instrument.

What They Are

One purchase, hundreds of companies

An exchange-traded fund holds a basket of assets — often an entire index — and trades on an exchange like a single share. Buying one unit gives you a proportional stake in everything the fund holds.

This matters because it removes the need to identify which individual companies will do well. If one company in an index fails, its weight is absorbed by the hundreds of others alongside it.

ETFs are generally the main equity tool in our strategy for exactly this reason: they simplify diversification and reduce dependence on any single business.

Why We Use Them

The role ETFs play

Broad market exposure

A global equity ETF spreads a contribution across many countries, sectors, and companies at once.

Lower complexity

One instrument to hold and monitor, rather than dozens of individual positions requiring constant review.

Lower ongoing cost

Index-tracking ETFs typically carry lower annual charges than actively managed funds, which compounds meaningfully over decades.

Honest Assessment

What ETFs do not do

Not risk-free A broad ETF still falls when the market falls. Diversification spreads risk across companies; it does not remove market risk.
No outperformance An index tracker is designed to match the market, not beat it. That is the intended outcome, not a shortcoming.
Costs still apply Ongoing charges are low but not zero, and they reduce returns over time.
Currency exposure A global ETF held in CAD or EUR carries currency effects that can add or subtract from returns.
Role in the portfolio Typically 30–45% of the allocation, depending on your risk profile.
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