Investment Basics Course curriculum
The course is organized to match how most beginners build financial stability in Canada: start with cash flow, build an emergency fund, set clear goals, and then learn investing fundamentals like diversification, time horizon, and compound growth. Canadian account examples include TFSA, RRSP, RESP, and taxable accounts, presented at a high level without province-specific tax planning or personalized recommendations.
Educational content only. No personalized financial, tax, or legal advice. No results are guaranteed. Full disclaimer
Modules at a glance
Each module includes short videos and a small practice task. The goal is to help you build habits and understanding. Times are estimates and vary by learner.
Foundations: cash flow and a simple budget
Learn how to build a realistic budget that reflects Toronto and Canadian day-to-day costs. You will set categories, add buffers for irregular expenses, and create a weekly review habit. You will also learn why investing is easier once your cash flow is stable, and how small changes can increase your savings rate without relying on perfection.
Emergency fund and short-term planning
Learn how to estimate a practical cash reserve for your life and how to build it over time. We cover common Canadian considerations like stable employment vs. contract work, shared expenses, and timing for larger bills. You will set a target range and a contribution plan, then use the tools page to see how long a goal may take based on monthly savings.
Goals and time horizon
Investing decisions make more sense when you tie them to a clear purpose and timeline. This module teaches how to label goals (short, medium, long term), pick a time horizon, and decide what level of uncertainty you can tolerate. You will practice turning a vague goal like “retirement someday” into a set of time-based questions.
Risk and return, explained simply
You will learn what return means, how volatility can affect the journey, and why a single-year experience can be very different from a 10-year experience. We use simple, non-technical examples and show how “risk” can include time risk, behaviour risk, and concentration risk. The aim is to help you make calmer decisions.
Diversification, fees, and simple funds
This module introduces how diversified funds can be built, what an index is, and how ETFs and index funds are commonly described. We talk about fees at a high level and how small percentage costs can matter over long time horizons. We do not recommend specific products, providers, or securities, but we give you a checklist of what to look for and what questions to ask.
Canadian accounts: TFSA, RRSP, RESP, taxable (high level)
Learn the basic purpose of common account types and how to think about matching them to goals. We keep tax and legal topics general, highlighting where rules can vary and where to confirm details. You will leave with a decision map that helps you prepare for a conversation with a licensed advisor or accountant.
Course access and support
If you are interested in accessing the course, use the contact form to request help with enrollment, billing questions, or accessibility needs. We respond during business hours in Toronto. If you are looking for personalized investment recommendations, we can point you to questions to ask, but we do not provide individualized advice.
Worksheets and checklists are provided inside the course and referenced by the Tools page.
Open ToolsBudget, emergency fund, goals, then investing basics. Each lesson ends with one actionable next step.
We use real-world contexts like TFSA vs. RRSP questions, but keep it educational and general.
Tools illustrate math under assumptions. Outcomes are uncertain and no results are guaranteed.