Whether you’re a first-time investor seeking information for beginners or an experienced trader looking to take the next step, enrolling in a course is a great way to increase your financial knowledge.
Rather than relying on banks and financial advisors, learning how to self-invest can help you save on management fees, increase returns, and build financial literacy.
The Best Free and Paid Investment Courses in Canada
Below is a list of some of the best free and paid investing courses in Canada.
The Investing Course for Beginners in Canada
The DIY Investing Course for Beginners in Canada tops our list of the best practical investing courses you can take. This course is designed to help beginners learn index investing and become confident with managing their own portfolios.
It includes multiple in-depth video lessons showing real-life scenarios, tools and techniques for building diversified portfolios, how to cut your fees by up to 91%, and practical advice on what works long-term.
As a student, you get access to:
- 17 live walkthrough video lessons (almost 8 hours of content) where you learn how to buy and sell stocks and ETFs from start to finish.
- How to open, set up, fund, and use a brokerage platform, with complete video training sessions for various platforms, including Wealthsimple Trade, Questrade, and Direct Investing.
- How to open, set up, fund, and use a robo-advisor account with complete video demonstrations for two popular robo-advisor platforms.
- How to transfer assets from other financial institutions to your low-cost brokerage or robo-advisor account.
- How to determine their risk tolerance and choose appropriate ETF investments.
- Easy-to-follow detailed guides and reference material (20,000+ words).
- Quizzes and downloadable infographics to reinforce learning.
- 15 summary presentation slides of the lesson modules with voiceover.
- 15+ budgeting templates, savings planners, and other financial planning worksheets.
- Access to a private community where you can ask questions and participate in discussions.
- Live webinars and Q&A sessions.
- Free email support
- Lifetime access to the course
- Free retirement planning eBook
Cost: The regular price for the DIY Investing Course for Canadians is $597; however, for a limited time, you can get lifetime access and a $200 discount and pay only $397.
Canadian Securities Course for Investors
With investment courses online available in both free and paid formats, learning has never been easier. If you are looking for another paid course, the Canadian Securities Course (CSC®) for Investors is an excellent option. Starting at just $550, the CSC for Investors course is a foundational step perfect for those interested in learning how to trade.
The course is similar to the training offered to financial professionals, meaning that those who sign up can expect to learn about the industry from an insider’s perspective.
A more in-depth Canadian Securities Course is also offered for those interested in pursuing a career in financial services.
University of Calgary Investing for Success Level 1&2
Another option for those looking for courses with academic backing is the Investing for Success Level 1 and Level 2 courses offered by the University of Calgary.
The courses are part of the university’s continued education program and are run as a 10-week-long program with classes taking place once a week.
Both the level 1 and level 2 courses cost $329. The former focuses on basic investing principles, such as understanding market conditions and developing a personal investment strategy, while the latter looks at more advanced trading techniques that can be applied to fixed income, equity, and derivatives.
McGill Personal Finance Essentials
The McGill Personal Finance Essentials course, created in collaboration with RBC Future Launch and The Globe and Mail, is an 8-module course designed to teach investing for beginners.
With no background knowledge necessary, the modules cover investing and other financial topics such as budgeting and retirement.
Unlike the CSC for Investors course, McGill’s course is offered at no cost. The modules are delivered by highly knowledgeable professors at McGill University, making it one of the best free investing courses in Canada.
Seneca College Stock and Investing Course
Those interested in a more formal education on investment may want to consider Seneca College’s Stock and Investing program.
A total of 5 classes on the topic are offered, all of which are designed to build an understanding of how the stock market works and how to evaluate stocks. Courses are offered online, hybrid, and in-person, based on availability.
This is one of the most expensive stock market investing courses on the list, with each class being offered for $434.90.
Wealthsimple Investing Masterclass
A good option for investment courses online that do not require a significant time commitment is the Wealthsimple Investing Masterclass series. The popular investing company has created a short video series on YouTube that introduces beginners to the concept of self-directed investing.
If you want more in-depth information, these videos can be supplemented by blog posts on Wealthsimple’s website that cover a broad range of topics. The video lessons and the blog are targeted toward those interested in learning how to trade and are a good starting point for learning the fundamentals.
Udemy Investing Courses
Udemy, a popular online learning and teaching platform with over 200,000 courses, has several options for investment courses. One worth highlighting is Investing in Canada: A complete guide to making investments.
The course costs $119.99 and offers several hours of content, starting with beginner topics such as investment account types and moving on to more complex topics such as technical analysis.
Depending on your budget, more expensive and cheaper options are also available.
The 6-Figure Stock Portfolio Course
With a price tag of $1,977, the 6-Figure Stock Portfolio Course developed by Canadian entrepreneur Bridget Casey offers a detailed guide for creating an investment portfolio.
Aside from learning modules, the cost of this course also covers a monthly Q&A session and a private forum to discuss your investments with other members of the community.
The course offers a step-by-step guide on investing your money, providing advice on balancing your portfolio and leveraging dividends to reach your investing goals.
Practical Index Investing for Canadians
Another personal finance course that follows a step-by-step format for teaching investing basics is the Practical Index Investing for Canadians course offered by John Robertson.
The course includes several lessons and focuses on the benefits of investing in indexes rather than individual stocks. The course costs $249 and is targeted towards beginner investors.
IFSE Institute Canadian Investment Funds Course
The IFSE Institute Canadian Investment Funds Course is used as a proficiency requirement by the provincial securities commissions for financial advisors who sell mutual fund products.
As the material is more catered toward the financial industry, the course may be a good idea for beginners interested in getting into the financial field. Pricing for this course is $385 for those not a part of financial institutions.
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