How to Maximize Your Investment Returns (On-Demand - CPABC)
Overview
Fully updated for 2026, this practical course gives participants a Canadian-focused, real-world understanding of investment platforms, products, and portfolio strategies, including how they may differ in cost, structure, and historical performance.Using 10 of the instructor’s own investment accounts, the course compares a full-service broker, a robo-advisor, five discount brokerages, a deposit broker, a bank branch mutual fund account, and a cryptocurrency account. Participants will see how each platform works, how portfolios are constructed, what fees apply, and how returns have compared over time.
Note: this is an update and combination of two previous courses: a 2 hour course of the same name and a 3.5 hour course called The Complete Guide to All Your Investing Options created in 2022.
Watch a short promotional video of the course here:
Access expires 180 days from purchase date |
Applicable for
Learning Objectives
- Identify the main differences among mutual funds, ETFs, GICs, stocks, and bonds
- Compare how 10 different Canadian investment platforms and account types operate
- Assess how asset allocation affects portfolio risk and return
- Evaluate the effect of fees on long-term investment performance
- Compare laddered GICs, bond ETFs, all-in-one ETFs, bank ETFs, mutual funds, and robo-advisor portfolios
- Interpret 5-year annualized return comparisons across multiple portfolio strategies to December 31, 2025
- Use practical research tools and a cost analyzer spreadsheet to better evaluate investment options
Content
A key feature of the course is a side-by-side comparison of the 10 portfolios’ 5-year annualized returns, after fees, to December 31, 2025. Participants will also be introduced to practical research tools and receive a free spreadsheet, the Investment Option Cost Analyzer, to help evaluate fees and ending values using their own assumptions.
This course is designed to help participants better understand the trade-offs among convenience, cost, risk, and return so they can make more informed investment decisions.
Course Content Created: October 2019
Course Content Updated: March 2026
The information is current as of the creation or last updated date. While we strive to keep our inventory updated and periodically remove outdated titles, changes in accounting, tax, legislation and technology may occur. Purchasers should note the date and verify for themselves if the course is still relevant to their needs.Presenter
David Trahair, CPA, CAAbout This Product
On-Demand Courses by CPABC are recordings from live seminars, made available with any corresponding handout material, where available.
These titles are eligible for Verifiable CPD Hours – in order to claim these hours as verifiable, you will be required to successfully complete a short quiz. You will be able to print or save your electronic certificate of completion.
How to get started
Upon completion of purchase, go to mylms.bccpa.ca and log in using your CPABC Online Services credentials. Click “Go to your Courses and Materials” to go to your Learning Center, then find and click on your course title.
Course Dates & Registration
- 4
- CPD Hours
- 0
- Ethics Hours
- 0
- AML Hours
- 5
- Credits
Starting April 1, 2026, a 2.1% fee will be applied to all credit card transactions. Learn more about this fee and how it relates to PD registrations.
How to Maximize Your Investment Returns (On-Demand - CPABC)
- 4
- CPD Hours
- 0
- Ethics Hours
- 0
- AML Hours
- 5
- Credits
Overview
Fully updated for 2026, this practical course gives participants a Canadian-focused, real-world understanding of investment platforms, products, and portfolio strategies, including how they may differ in cost, structure, and historical performance.Using 10 of the instructor’s own investment accounts, the course compares a full-service broker, a robo-advisor, five discount brokerages, a deposit broker, a bank branch mutual fund account, and a cryptocurrency account. Participants will see how each platform works, how portfolios are constructed, what fees apply, and how returns have compared over time.
Note: this is an update and combination of two previous courses: a 2 hour course of the same name and a 3.5 hour course called The Complete Guide to All Your Investing Options created in 2022.
Watch a short promotional video of the course here:
Access expires 180 days from purchase date |
Applicable for
Learning Objectives
- Identify the main differences among mutual funds, ETFs, GICs, stocks, and bonds
- Compare how 10 different Canadian investment platforms and account types operate
- Assess how asset allocation affects portfolio risk and return
- Evaluate the effect of fees on long-term investment performance
- Compare laddered GICs, bond ETFs, all-in-one ETFs, bank ETFs, mutual funds, and robo-advisor portfolios
- Interpret 5-year annualized return comparisons across multiple portfolio strategies to December 31, 2025
- Use practical research tools and a cost analyzer spreadsheet to better evaluate investment options
Content
A key feature of the course is a side-by-side comparison of the 10 portfolios’ 5-year annualized returns, after fees, to December 31, 2025. Participants will also be introduced to practical research tools and receive a free spreadsheet, the Investment Option Cost Analyzer, to help evaluate fees and ending values using their own assumptions.
This course is designed to help participants better understand the trade-offs among convenience, cost, risk, and return so they can make more informed investment decisions.
Course Content Created: October 2019
Course Content Updated: March 2026
The information is current as of the creation or last updated date. While we strive to keep our inventory updated and periodically remove outdated titles, changes in accounting, tax, legislation and technology may occur. Purchasers should note the date and verify for themselves if the course is still relevant to their needs.Presenter
David Trahair, CPA, CAAbout This Product
On-Demand Courses by CPABC are recordings from live seminars, made available with any corresponding handout material, where available.
These titles are eligible for Verifiable CPD Hours – in order to claim these hours as verifiable, you will be required to successfully complete a short quiz. You will be able to print or save your electronic certificate of completion.
How to get started
Upon completion of purchase, go to mylms.bccpa.ca and log in using your CPABC Online Services credentials. Click “Go to your Courses and Materials” to go to your Learning Center, then find and click on your course title.
Course Dates & Registration
Starting April 1, 2026, a 2.1% fee will be applied to all credit card transactions. Learn more about this fee and how it relates to PD registrations.