7 Investing Mistakes XEQT Helped Me Stop Making (And How It Saved My Portfolio)

Looking back at my investing journey, I can honestly say I made almost every mistake in the book. From trying to time the market to chasing hot stocks, I spent years spinning my wheels and watching my portfolio underperform.

Then I discovered XEQT (iShares Core Equity ETF Portfolio), and everything changed.

🎁 Get $25 of XEQT for free on Wealthsimple

In this personal story, I’ll share the 7 biggest investing mistakes I was making before XEQT, how they were hurting my returns, and how this simple ETF helped me finally build real wealth. If you’re making any of these mistakes, XEQT might be the solution you’ve been looking for.

My Investing Journey: From Chaos to Clarity

Before XEQT: I was a classic “do-it-yourself” investor who thought I could outsmart the market. I spent hours researching individual stocks, trying to time market movements, and constantly tweaking my portfolio. The result? Stress, anxiety, and mediocre returns.

After XEQT: I became a “set it and forget it” investor who focuses on what actually matters - consistent contributions and time in the market. The result? Peace of mind, more free time, and significantly better returns.

Here are the 7 mistakes XEQT helped me stop making:

Mistake #1: Trying to Time the Market

What I Was Doing Wrong:

I was constantly trying to predict market movements:

The Cost:

How XEQT Fixed It:

Dollar-cost averaging with XEQT eliminated my need to time the market:

Result: I now invest consistently every month without worrying about market timing. My returns have been much more stable and predictable.

Mistake #2: Over-Diversifying with Too Many Investments

What I Was Doing Wrong:

I thought more diversification meant better results:

The Cost:

How XEQT Fixed It:

One ETF, complete diversification:

Result: I went from managing 20+ investments to just one, with better diversification and lower costs.

What I Was Doing Wrong:

I was constantly chasing the latest investment fads:

The Cost:

How XEQT Fixed It:

Focus on the boring, consistent approach:

Result: I stopped chasing trends and focused on long-term wealth building. My portfolio is now much more stable and predictable.

Mistake #4: Emotional Investing Decisions

What I Was Doing Wrong:

My emotions were driving my investment decisions:

The Cost:

How XEQT Fixed It:

Automated, emotion-free investing:

Result: I now make investment decisions based on logic, not emotions. My stress levels have dropped dramatically.

Mistake #5: Ignoring Fees and Costs

What I Was Doing Wrong:

I was paying attention to everything except fees:

The Cost:

How XEQT Fixed It:

Ultra-low cost investing:

Result: I now keep almost all of my investment returns instead of giving them away in fees.

Mistake #6: Not Having a Clear Investment Strategy

What I Was Doing Wrong:

I was investing without any clear plan:

The Cost:

How XEQT Fixed It:

Clear, simple strategy:

Result: I now have a clear, simple strategy that I can stick to long-term. My portfolio has a clear direction and purpose.

Mistake #7: Not Starting Early Enough

What I Was Doing Wrong:

I spent years “researching” instead of investing:

The Cost:

How XEQT Fixed It:

Simple enough to start immediately:

Result: I finally started investing consistently and have seen the power of compound growth over time.

The Transformation: Before vs. After XEQT

Before XEQT:

Aspect My Approach Results
Strategy 20+ individual stocks, market timing Inconsistent, stressful
Fees High MER funds, trading commissions 2%+ annually
Emotions Panic selling, FOMO buying Poor timing decisions
Diversification Over-complicated, overlapping False diversification
Time Spent Hours daily researching High stress, low returns
Returns Underperformed market Disappointing

After XEQT:

Aspect My Approach Results
Strategy One ETF, dollar-cost averaging Consistent, simple
Fees 0.20% MER, zero commissions Minimal costs
Emotions Automated, emotion-free Peace of mind
Diversification True global diversification Real diversification
Time Spent Minutes monthly Low stress, high returns
Returns Market-matching performance Satisfying

Common Objections I Had (And Why I Was Wrong)

“XEQT is too boring”

My old thinking: I wanted exciting investments that would make me rich quickly.

Reality: Boring investments that consistently grow are what actually build wealth. XEQT’s “boring” approach has outperformed my “exciting” stock picks by a wide margin.

“I can pick better stocks than the market”

My old thinking: I was smarter than the market and could find undervalued stocks.

Reality: Professional fund managers with teams of analysts and billions in resources struggle to beat the market. My individual stock picks consistently underperformed XEQT.

“I need more control over my investments”

My old thinking: I wanted to control every aspect of my portfolio.

Reality: More control meant more decisions, more stress, and worse results. XEQT’s automated approach gives me better results with less effort.

“One ETF isn’t diversified enough”

My old thinking: I needed multiple ETFs to be properly diversified.

Reality: XEQT holds 9,000+ companies across all major markets. My 20-stock portfolio was actually less diversified than this single ETF.

How to Avoid These Same Mistakes

If You’re Making These Mistakes:

Start with XEQT immediately:

The XEQT Advantage:

✅ Eliminates market timing - invest consistently
✅ Provides true diversification - 9,000+ companies
✅ Removes emotions - automated investing
✅ Minimizes fees - 0.20% MER
✅ Simplifies strategy - one investment
✅ Enables early start - can begin immediately

The Bottom Line: XEQT Changed Everything

What XEQT Taught Me:

  1. Simplicity beats complexity - One good investment is better than many mediocre ones
  2. Consistency beats timing - Regular contributions matter more than market timing
  3. Time beats everything - Compound growth is the most powerful force in investing
  4. Fees matter - Low costs compound over time
  5. Emotions are the enemy - Automated investing removes emotional decisions
  6. Diversification works - Global diversification reduces risk
  7. Start now - The best time to invest was yesterday, the second best is today

My Advice to You:

If you’re making any of these 7 mistakes, XEQT can help you stop:

Ready to Stop Making These Mistakes?

🎁 Get $25 of XEQT for free on Wealthsimple

XEQT didn’t just improve my investment returns - it completely changed my relationship with investing. I went from stressed and confused to confident and consistent.

The best part? Anyone can do this. You don’t need to be a financial expert or have a lot of money to start. You just need to stop making these common mistakes and let XEQT do what it does best - provide simple, low-cost, globally diversified growth.

Don’t let another year go by making these same mistakes. Start your XEQT journey today and watch your wealth grow the right way.

Disclosure: This post contains referral links. I may receive compensation if you sign up through these links, but this doesn’t affect my honest assessment. I genuinely believe XEQT is an excellent choice for Canadian investors seeking to avoid common investing mistakes and build long-term wealth.