Looking for the best retirement planning strategies Canada to ensure a solid financial future? With constant changes in the economy, creating a good retirement plan is becoming increasingly important.
In this scenario, the best retirement planning strategies Canada involve not only asset growth but also well-executed defense against inflation.
Throughout this article, we will examine the best retirement planning strategies Canada, focusing exclusively on the latest data.
We will analyze updates to contribution limits, the impact of the OAS Clawback, and look at the ten main investment platforms on the market, from robo-advisors to brokerages for self-directed investors. Get ready to understand how to achieve great returns on your investments.
Analysis of the Main Investment Platforms
1. Justwealth
Justwealth has positioned itself as the quality benchmark in the robo-advisor sector, operating as a hybrid wealth manager that combines algorithms with active human supervision.
Its main differential lies in consistent performance. Data from a five-year period ending in 2024 shows that its “Global Balanced Portfolio” registered an annualized return of 8.65%.
To illustrate the potential value, a 40-year-old investor who starts with $100,000 and contributes $1,000 monthly until age 65, maintaining this rate, would accumulate approximately $1,850,000.
This performance difference, compared to competitors who yield around 6%, can represent a gap of $800,000 in the final balance.
In terms of costs, Justwealth charges a management fee of 0.50% on the first $500,000, dropping to 0.40% on the excess.
Added to the MER of the underlying ETFs of 0.20%, the total “all-in” cost is around 0.70%.
It is important to note that there is a minimum monthly fee of $4.99 for investment accounts below $12,000.
2. CI Direct Investing (Best retirement planning strategies Canada)
Formerly known as WealthBar, CI Direct Investing stands out for offering access to alternative asset classes, such as Private Equity, Private Real Estate, and Private Credit.
This strategy aims to reduce volatility and partially decouple returns from public markets.
In five-year comparisons, its balanced portfolios presented returns in the range of 7.29%.
Although slightly below Justwealth in absolute growth, the risk-adjusted metric tends to be favorable during crises, smoothing the investor’s journey and preventing panic selling.
CI Direct’s pricing model favors the consolidation of family assets, with tiered fees starting at 0.60% for the first $150,000 and falling to 0.35% for amounts above $500,000.
The total cost is around 0.80% to 0.90% for classic portfolios, and may be higher with private assets.
3. Questwealth Portfolios
Owned by Questrade, Questwealth adopts an active management stance with extremely competitive fees.
Unlike most robo-advisors that only track indices, it tactically allocates to sectors or geographies it considers undervalued.
Over the last five years, balanced portfolios delivered around 7.06%, surpassing major banking options. In the projected 25-year scenario, this would result in a final amount of $1,410,000.
The cost structure is Questwealth’s strong point. The management fee is only 0.25% for accounts up to $99,999 and 0.20% for larger accounts.
4. Wealthsimple (Best retirement planning strategies Canada)
Wealthsimple is the most recognized brand among younger generations but faces challenges in its transition to a “Super App.”
The performance of its managed portfolios has been a point of concern, with five-year returns for balanced portfolios in the 5.30% range.
Controversial active allocation decisions, such as the inclusion of long-term bonds and gold, harmed comparative returns.
Projecting at this rate, the 25-year scenario would result in $1,115,000, an opportunity cost of over $700,000 compared to the market leader.
The standard management fee is 0.50%, with discounts for Premium and Generation clients, resulting in an approximate total cost of 0.70%. A positive point is the absence of inactivity or exit fees.
5. RBC InvestEase
For investors who prefer institutional security, RBC InvestEase offers robo-advisor technology with custody from Canada’s largest bank.
In this case, the approach is passive indexing purist, using iShares ETFs.
Five-year returns are around 6.18%, offering consistency and predictability by following the market index.
The management fee is fixed at 0.50% on the entire balance, with no discounts for large accounts, which may be expensive for millionaires but fair for the middle class.
6. National Bank Direct Brokerage
National Bank revolutionized the market by zeroing commissions, becoming the ideal choice for the self-directed investor (DIY).
The elimination of transaction costs allows purchasing asset allocation ETFs without fees.
Furthermore, an investor contributing $500 bi-weekly would save about $250 per year in commissions compared to other bank brokerages.
In 25 years, at a 7% rate, this invested saving generates an extra $16,000 just in avoided fees. The commission is $0 for stocks and ETFs, with a $100 annual fee waived for young or active investors.
7. Qtrade Direct Investing (Best retirement planning strategies Canada)
Qtrade has historically led customer service rankings, being associated with credit unions.
As a rule, it charges commissions of $8.75 per trade, or $6.95 for active investors, and offers a list of over 100 free ETFs.
8. TD Direct Investing
For the engaged investor who treats retirement as a second job, TD Direct Investing offers the best research tools through WebBroker.
As a rule, the $9.99 per trade commission is high, but access to deep reports, technical screening, and goal planning tools can justify the cost for experienced investors seeking above-average returns.
Therefore, if the tools help prevent a $10,000 investment mistake, the commission becomes irrelevant.
Comparative Table of Brokerages for Retirement Investing
| Platform | Management Type | Historical Return (5 Years) | Estimated Total Cost | Exit Fee |
| Justwealth | Robo (Hybrid) | ~8.65% | 0.60% – 0.70% | $150 |
| Questwealth | Robo (Active) | ~7.06% | 0.35% – 0.48% | $150 |
| CI Direct | Robo (Private) | ~7.29% | 0.80% – 1.00% | $150 |
| RBC InvestEase | Robo (Passive) | ~6.18% | 0.60% – 0.70% | N/A |
| Wealthsimple | Robo (Passive) | ~5.30% | 0.60% – 0.70% | $0 |
| National Bank | DIY | N/A | ~0.22% (MER) | $150 |
| TD Direct | DIY | N/A | Var. + $9.99/trade | $150 |
| Interactive | DIY | N/A | Minimum | N/A |
Conclusion
The best retirement planning strategies Canada inevitably involve an intelligent combination of fiscal efficiency, contribution discipline, and the correct choice of investment platforms.
The analysis shows that high-performance robo-advisors, such as Justwealth and CI Direct, tend to benefit those seeking simplicity with professional management. While DIY platforms like National Bank Direct Brokerage and TD Direct Investing favor experienced investors who want total control and minimal costs.
At the same time, understanding contribution limits, the impact of the OAS Clawback, and the correct use of accounts like RRSP and TFSA is as important as choosing good assets.
In summary, a solid retirement strategy in Canada does not depend on single solutions or fads, but on alignment between risk profile, time horizon, and structural efficiency.
Those who make informed decisions today build not only a larger portfolio but also a more predictable, resilient one, aligned with the desired lifestyle in the future.
If you don’t know where to start your planning, check out the guide on retirement planning for small business owners now.
