Wealthsimple Managed Investing
Expert-built portfolios that are automatically rebalanced and diversified for you, from a 0.4–0.5% fee, plus a $25 welcome bonus when you open with code _Y024Q.
Managed investing is Wealthsimple's original product, the robo-advisor that put it on the map. You answer a few questions about your goals and risk tolerance, and Wealthsimple builds a diversified portfolio of low-cost ETFs, then keeps it on track with automatic rebalancing and dividend reinvestment. It's investing for people who'd rather not pick stocks themselves.
What managed investing is
A managed account (also called a robo-advisor) means Wealthsimple does the investing for you. Based on your timeline and how much risk you're comfortable with, it builds a portfolio of diversified, low-cost ETFs and then handles the maintenance, rebalancing when markets drift your mix off target and reinvesting dividends automatically. You just set up deposits and let it run.
This was Wealthsimple's original product, and it's still the simplest on-ramp to investing in Canada: you can start with as little as $1, there's no account minimum, and you never have to choose or trade a single security yourself.
Fees & pricing
Managed investing charges a management fee that drops as your balance grows, plus the small management expense ratios (MERs) built into the underlying ETFs:
| Tier | Balance | Management fee |
|---|---|---|
| Core | $0–$99,999 | 0.50% / yr |
| Premium | $100,000+ | 0.40% / yr |
| Generation | $500,000+ | 0.20%–0.40% / yr |
On top of the management fee, the ETFs themselves cost roughly 0.12%–0.15% for the Classic portfolio and around 0.21%–0.23% for the SRI portfolio. There's no account minimum and no trading commission inside a managed account. For a full breakdown of the tiers and what they unlock, see our Wealthsimple review.
A rough rule of thumb: on a $10,000 Core managed portfolio, the management fee is about $50/year, plus roughly $12–$15 in ETF costs, a fraction of what a traditional mutual fund (often 2%+) would charge.
Portfolio types
Wealthsimple offers three portfolio themes, each available across the risk levels below:
- Classic, a diversified global mix of stock and bond ETFs, the lowest-cost, default option.
- Socially Responsible (SRI), ETFs tilted toward companies with stronger environmental, social and governance (ESG) records. Slightly higher ETF costs.
- Halal, screened by Shariah scholars to exclude interest-based and restricted industries. The current Halal portfolio blends the Wealthsimple Shariah World Equity Index ETF (WSHR) with gold and non-interest-bearing cash depending on your risk level.
Risk levels explained
When you sign up you complete a short suitability questionnaire, and Wealthsimple matches you to a risk profile that sets your stock-to-bond mix. The Classic theme maps to four broad profiles:
| Profile | Tilt | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Conservative | More bonds, less stock | Short horizons, capital preservation |
| Balanced | Roughly even mix | Medium-term goals |
| Growth | Mostly stocks | Long horizons, higher growth |
| Aggressive | Almost all stocks | Long horizons, high risk tolerance |
You can adjust your risk level or switch themes later as your goals change.
Key features
- Automatic rebalancing, your mix is kept on target without you lifting a finger.
- Dividend reinvestment, payouts are put back to work automatically.
- Automatic deposits, set a recurring contribution and invest on autopilot.
- Diversification, broad exposure across regions and asset classes through ETFs.
- Held in any account, run a managed portfolio inside a TFSA, RRSP, FHSA, RESP or non-registered account.
- Start at $1, no minimum to open and begin investing.
Managed vs. self-directed
If you want it done for you, choose managed investing. If you'd rather pick your own stocks and ETFs commission-free, that's self-directed trading. Here's the quick comparison:
| Feature | Managed | Self-directed |
|---|---|---|
| Who picks investments | Wealthsimple (auto) | You |
| Rebalancing | Automatic | Manual |
| Cost | 0.2–0.5% + ETF MER | $0 commission |
| Effort | Minimal | Moderate |
| Best for | Hands-off investors | DIY investors |
Plenty of people run both: a managed portfolio for the hands-off core of their savings, and a self-directed account for individual ideas.
Who it's for
Managed investing is ideal for beginners, busy people, and anyone who wants a sensible, diversified portfolio without researching markets. If you value simplicity and automation over control, this is the easiest way to invest with Wealthsimple.
Tips & common mistakes
- Picking a risk level that's too cautious for the timeframe, for a 20-year goal, an overly conservative mix can leave a lot of growth on the table.
- Checking the balance daily, managed portfolios are built for the long run, frequent checking tempts you into bad timing decisions.
- Stopping deposits when markets fall, automatic contributions buy more units when prices are low, which is exactly when it helps most.
- Paying for a theme you don't need, the SRI and Halal themes carry slightly higher ETF costs than Classic, choose based on your values, not by default.
- Holding it in a taxable account first, fill tax-sheltered room (TFSA, RRSP) before a non-registered managed account where possible.
Managed accounts & the $25 bonus
Opening a managed account counts toward the welcome bonus. As a new client, sign up with code _Y024Q, deposit at least $100 within 30 days, and $25 lands in your Cash account, ready to add to your portfolio.
Start a managed portfolio and claim your free $25.
Get $25 with code _Y024QHow to get started
- Sign up for Wealthsimple with code _Y024Q.
- Answer a few questions about your goals and risk tolerance.
- Choose a portfolio type, standard, SRI or Halal, and an account (TFSA, RRSP, FHSA, RESP or Personal).
- Deposit at least $100 within 30 days to claim the bonus.
- Set up automatic deposits and let the portfolio rebalance itself.
Want the full walkthrough? See our step-by-step claim guide with code _Y024Q.
Managed investing questions
Common questions about Wealthsimple's robo-advisor and the $25 bonus.
