DIY Investing vs. Financial Advisor: What’s Really Costing You More?

Apr 3, 2026

They debate whether paying about 1% for investment management is a bargain or a waste. They compare DIY indexing to professional management, focusing on behavior, accountability, and time value. They explore when complexity—businesses, trusts, taxes, or large portfolios—makes hiring help worthwhile. They stress evaluating managers by risk-adjusted returns and what you actually pay for: peace of mind, coaching, or better decisions.

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INSIGHT

No Universal Answer For DIY Versus Advisor

There is no single right answer to DIY investing versus paying ~1% for management.
Kyle and Jon stress the decision depends on personality, goals, and how you handle market swings, not just fee math.

ANECDOTE

Kyle's Shift From Real Estate To Public Markets

Kyle shares his shift from being all-in on real estate to expanding into public markets after realizing real estate gave equity but limited cash flow.
He admits he used to prioritize low fees and DIY but changed after experiencing emotional and diversification limits.

ADVICE

Use DIY For Simple Set And Forget Portfolios

If you only want a simple set-and-forget portfolio, DIY index investing is enough and you don't need a 1% advisor.
But when assets and complexity grow (businesses, trusts, taxes), consider an advisor for management and tax planning.

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Is paying 1% for investment management a waste of money—or the exact support that could protect your wealth?

If you’ve ever wondered whether you should keep investing on your own or hand the reins to an advisor, this episode gets right to the heart of that tension. It speaks to the very real struggle between wanting to minimize fees and wanting more confidence, better decision-making, and less stress when markets get shaky. Whether you’re early in your investing journey or getting closer to financial freedom, this conversation helps you think beyond simple math and make a choice that actually fits how you operate.

You’ll walk away with:

A clearer way to decide whether DIY investing or professional management fits your personality, habits, and goals
A better understanding of what you’re really paying for with a 1% fee, including coaching, accountability, peace of mind, and complexity management
A practical lens for comparing options using time, behavior, and risk-adjusted returns—not just headline performance numbers

Press play now to figure out whether paying for investment management is costing you too much—or saving you from bigger mistakes.

🎧 Press play now to learn how to build a wealth strategy you can stick with through good markets, bad markets, and everything in between.

Discover which phase of wealth creation you are in. Take our quick assessment and you’ll receive a custom wealth-building pathway that matches your phase and learn our CRA compliant tax optimized strategies. Take that assessment here.

Canadian Wealth Secrets Show Notes Page:

Consider reaching out to Kyle if you’ve been…

…taking a salary with a goal of stuffing RRSPs;
…investing inside your corporatio

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If you listen to podcasts like The Rational Reminder with Ben Felix & Cameron Passmore, The Canadian Investor, The Canadian Real Estate Investor, Build Wealth Canada with Kornel Szrejber, ChooseFI with Jonathan Mendonsa & Brad Barrett, Afford Anything with Paula Pant, The Ramsey Show with Dave Ramsey, BiggerPockets Money, The Money Guy Show with Brian Preston & Bo Hanson, Invest Like the Best with Patrick O’Shaughnessy, Masters in Business with Barry Ritholtz, The Wealthy Barber Podcast with David Chilton, Financial Audit with Caleb Hammer, In the Money with Amber Kanwar, The Loonie Hour with Steve Saretsky, or More Money Podcast with Jessica Moorhouse — we’re confident you’ll enjoy Canadian Wealth Secrets too.

Canadian Wealth Secrets is an informative podcast that digs into the intricacies of building a robust portfolio, maximizing dividend returns, the nuances of real estate investment, and the complexities of business finance, while offering expert advice on wealth management, navigating capital gains tax, and understanding the role of financial institutions in personal finance.