[vchynarov]

Generally I agree with you. However I can provide a personal counter-example. I am a student with a modest sum saved away (with great help from my parents) in an index tracking mutual fund. Due to the way my bank offers investment packages, I am far below the minimum portfolio balance required for significantly less fees. However, I can have a mutual fund in a different type of account offering which is essentially the same as an identical ETF.

This is (Canadian) RBC - Direct Investing.

In addition this particular fund also significantly outperformed other ETFs during 2008-09.

[aianus]

Questrade in Canada lets you buy ETFs for free, as little as one share at a time. You only pay when you sell ($0.01 a share, minimum $5 a trade).

Anything sold by the big banks in Canada is almost always a ridiculous rip-off.

Even better might be something like Wealthsimple.

(Not affiliated with either company except as a customer)

[mabbo]

Friend of mine work over at WealthSimple. Glad to hear people like it.

[thepangolino]

Outperforming the market in bear years is the main reason in keep some of my money in managed funds.