Dan Bortolotti: Index Investing, ETFs and Financial Planning | TWB Podcast #9

This episode we’re joined by Dan Bortolotti—Portfolio Manager at PWL Capital, creator of the hugely popular “Canadian Couch Potato” blog, author of “Reboot Your Portfolio: 9 Steps to Successful Investing with ETFs”, and co-host of the ‪@rationalreminder‬ podcast.

In the podcast, Dan and Dave dive deep into index investing, covering everything from active vs. passive investing styles to tips for DIY investors, asset allocation strategies, the pros and cons of all-in-one ETFs in Canada and much more. There’s a lot to unpack, but Dan and Dave make it all easy to understand.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone serious about DIY investing—tune in now!

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The Wealthy Barber Podcast is Canada’s go-to source for approachable, entertaining, and free financial education. Hosted by none other than David Chilton—former Dragon on CBC’s ”Dragons’ Den” and the best-selling author of ”The Wealthy Barber” and ”The Wealthy Barber Returns”—this podcast is here to help Canadians manage their money better. Much better.

Find all episodes and more Canadian personal finance content at https://thewealthybarber.com.

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Show Notes

00:00:00 – Intro & Disclaimer
00:00:55 – Intro to Dan Bortolotti
00:02:04 – The Origins of the “Canadian Couch Potato”
00:06:56 – What is an Index Fund
00:08:52 – Why Don't Most Active Managers Outperform the Market?
00:15:12 –  How Dave's Dad Can Beat Professional Money Managers
00:16:57 –  Group Retirement Plans
00:19:25 –  Mutual Fund Underperformance
00:22:42 – Should People Speculate with 5-10% of Their Portfolio?
00:26:31 – The Financial-Planning-First Model
00:33:42 –  How to Construct An Index-Fund Portfolio
00:35:52 – Risk Tolerance and Asset Allocation
00:42:50 –  When Stocks & Bonds Both Went Down
00:44:56 –  What Goes Into a Financial Plan?
00:46:34 – Get Life Insurance!
00:47:59 –  There is No "Optimal" Financial Plan
00:49:52 – When to Take CPP
00:51:21 –  The Risks of Helping Kids/Grandkids with Down Payments
00:53:52 – All-in-One ETFs
00:58:16 – Withholding Taxes on US Stocks
01:02:27 –  Online Investment Platform Recommendations
01:04:26 – Conclusion