Account Type Optimizer

Answer 6 quick questions and find out if you're making any costly account mistakes — like paying a hidden IRS tax inside your TFSA.

Which investment accounts do you currently have?

Select all that apply — even if they have a small balance.

Your answers never leave your browser. Nothing is stored.

Why account type matters as much as what you invest in

Most Canadian investors focus on which stocks or ETFs to buy — but where you hold those investments is equally important. The same investment held in a TFSA vs RRSP vs non-registered account can produce dramatically different after-tax results.

The most common mistake: holding US-listed investments (VFV, SPY, Apple) inside a TFSA. The CRA treats TFSAs as tax-free — but the IRS doesn't recognize them as tax-exempt, meaning US dividends are silently taxed at 15% before reaching your account.