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.

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:

• Waiting for crashes before buying
• Selling during dips because I was scared
• Holding cash waiting for “better” opportunities
• Checking my portfolio multiple times per day

The Cost:

• Missed gains while waiting for the “perfect” time
• Sold low during market panics
• Opportunity cost of cash sitting idle
• Constant stress about market timing

How XEQT Fixed It:

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

• Automatic investing regardless of market conditions
• Buys more shares when prices are low
• Buys fewer shares when prices are high
• Averages out my cost basis over time

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:

• Held 20+ individual stocks across different sectors
• Multiple ETFs with overlapping holdings
• International funds in different currencies
• Sector-specific ETFs for every industry

The Cost:

• Analysis paralysis from too many choices
• Overlapping holdings reducing diversification benefits
• Higher fees from multiple ETFs
• Complex rebalancing every quarter
• Currency conversion costs and complexity

How XEQT Fixed It:

One ETF, complete diversification:

• 9,000+ companies in a single investment
• Global exposure across all major markets
• Automatic rebalancing by BlackRock
• No overlap or duplication
• Single currency (CAD) for simplicity

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

Mistake #3: Chasing Hot Stocks and Trends

What I Was Doing Wrong:

I was constantly chasing the latest investment fads:

• Meme stocks like GameStop and AMC
• Cryptocurrency during the 2021 boom
• Tech stocks during the pandemic
• Energy stocks during oil price spikes
• Whatever was trending on social media

The Cost:

• Bought high and sold low repeatedly
• FOMO-driven decisions based on hype
• High volatility and sleepless nights
• Transaction costs from frequent trading
• Missed the boring, consistent performers

How XEQT Fixed It:

Focus on the boring, consistent approach:

• Market-cap weighted holdings (no hot stock bias)
• Long-term perspective over short-term trends
• No individual stock risk or volatility
• Proven companies with solid fundamentals
• Eliminates FOMO by owning everything

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:

• Panic selling during market downturns
• FOMO buying during market rallies
• Reactive trading based on news headlines
• Overconfidence during good times
• Despair during bad times

The Cost:

• Sold at market bottoms and bought at peaks
• Made decisions based on fear and greed
• Underperformed the market consistently
• High stress and anxiety about investments
• Regret over emotional decisions

How XEQT Fixed It:

Automated, emotion-free investing:

• Set up automatic contributions every month
• Dividend reinvestment happens automatically
• No daily decisions to make
• Long-term focus reduces emotional reactions
• Diversification reduces individual stock anxiety

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:

• High MER mutual funds (2%+ annually)
• Trading commissions on every transaction
• Currency conversion fees on US stocks
• Account maintenance fees
• Overdraft fees from poor cash management

The Cost:

• Thousands in fees over the years
• Reduced returns due to high costs
• Complex fee structures I didn’t understand
• Hidden costs I didn’t account for

How XEQT Fixed It:

Ultra-low cost investing:

• 0.20% MER - incredibly low for global diversification
• Zero commission trading on most platforms
• No currency conversion fees (trades in CAD)
• No account fees on most platforms
• Transparent pricing with no hidden costs

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:

• No target allocation or asset mix
• No rebalancing strategy or schedule
• No clear goals or timeline
• No risk management approach
• Constantly changing my strategy

The Cost:

• Inconsistent returns due to random decisions
• No clear direction for my portfolio
• Missed opportunities due to lack of planning
• Stress from not knowing what to do
• Underperformed my potential

How XEQT Fixed It:

Clear, simple strategy:

• 100% equity allocation for long-term growth
• Global diversification across all markets
• Automatic rebalancing by the fund manager
• Set and forget approach
• Consistent monthly contributions

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:

• Analysis paralysis - always researching, never investing
• Waiting for the perfect investment or timing
• Overthinking every decision
• Starting small and not increasing contributions
• Not taking advantage of compound growth

The Cost:

• Lost years of compound growth
• Missed opportunities to build wealth
• Delayed financial independence
• Regret over not starting sooner

How XEQT Fixed It:

Simple enough to start immediately:

• No complex research required
• Can start with any amount (even $1)
• Fractional shares available
• Easy to understand and explain
• Proven track record gives confidence

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

The Transformation: Before vs. After XEQT

Before XEQT:

After XEQT:

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:

• Stop trying to time the market
• Simplify your portfolio to one ETF
• Set up automatic contributions
• Focus on consistency over complexity
• Let time and compound growth work for you

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:

• Stop trying to time the market - Use dollar-cost averaging
• Stop over-diversifying - One ETF is enough
• Stop chasing trends - Focus on long-term growth
• Stop emotional investing - Automate your contributions
• Stop ignoring fees - Choose low-cost options
• Stop overthinking - Keep it simple
• Stop waiting - Start investing today

Ready to Stop Making These Mistakes?

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.

Related Reading

• XEQT for Beginners
• When is a Good Time to Buy XEQT?
• Should I Sell My Stocks for XEQT?
• XEQT Automatic Rebalancing Explained
• Get started with Wealthsimple and earn a $25 bonus

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.