Learn › ETF Investing

ETF Investing

Name: ETF Investing: Build a Portfolio That Runs Itself
Author: Elizabeta Dimoska

Most people do not need to pick stocks. They need one to three low-cost funds, the right mix for their timeline, and a plan they will actually follow. This free course by Elizabeta Dimoska takes you from “what is an ETF?” to a finished portfolio and a one-page plan, in eight short modules.

A good ETF portfolio is boring on purpose: a few broad funds, low fees, regular contributions and a rule for rebalancing.

Start Module 1 →

You’ve completed 0 of 8 modules — 0%.

What you'll be able to do

Explain what an ETF is and what you own when you buy one.
Read a fact sheet: the index, the top holdings, the concentration and the fee.
Work out what a fund really costs, and how fees compound over decades.
Choose a stock and bond mix that fits your timeline and that you can hold through a crash.
Build a complete portfolio with one all-in-one fund, or with three.
Place an order properly, invest on a schedule, and pick the right account.
Rebalance in a few minutes a year, and stay invested when markets fall.
Recognise leveraged, covered-call and thematic ETFs, and write your own one-page plan.

How this course worksEach module is a 9 to 11 minute read with worked examples, a short practical task using RiskStock’s free tools, and a quiz. Pass the 30-question final exam to unlock a certificate. Everything is saved in your browser; no account is needed.

The syllabus

Eight modules, about 80 minutes of reading plus the practical tasks. Foundation → Core → Advanced → Mastery.

What an ETF Really Is Foundation

What you actually own when you buy an ETF, how it differs from a stock and a mutual fund, and why the price stays close to the value of what is inside.

~9 min read

○

What’s Inside: Indexes and Weighting Foundation

How an index decides what goes in and how much of each, why the biggest companies dominate most funds, and how to read an ETF fact sheet in two minutes.

~10 min read

○

The True Cost of an ETF Core

The fee you can see, the costs you cannot, and the arithmetic that shows why a difference of one or two percent a year decides how much you end up with.

~11 min read

○

Asset Allocation: Stocks, Bonds and Your Mix Core

The decision that drives most of your results: how much to hold in stocks versus bonds. How to match the mix to your timeline, and how bond ETFs really behave.

~11 min read

○

Building the Portfolio: One Fund or Three Core

The two simplest complete portfolios: a single all-in-one ETF, or three broad funds. How each works, what they cost, and how to avoid owning the same thing twice.

~10 min read

○

Buying and Holding: Orders, Accounts and Taxes Advanced

How to place an ETF order properly, why regular investing beats waiting, which account to use, and what distributions and withholding tax mean for you.

~11 min read

○

Rebalancing and Staying the Course Advanced

How to bring a drifting portfolio back to its target, when to do it, how to rebalance without selling, and the behaviour that decides whether any of this works.

~10 min read

○

ETFs to Be Careful With, and Your One-Page Plan Mastery

Leveraged, inverse, covered-call, thematic and single-stock ETFs: how each works, where the hidden risks are, and a checklist for judging any new fund. Then you write your plan.

~10 min read

○

Compare two fundsOpen Compare → When you're readyFinal exam & certificate →

Your notes

Every note you take in a module collects here, including your one-page plan from Module 8. They're stored only in this browser, so export them to keep them.

Common questions

Is this ETF course really free?

Yes. All eight modules, the quizzes, the final exam and the certificate are free and need no sign-up. Your progress, quiz scores and notes are saved privately in your own browser.

Do I need any experience to take it?

No. Module 1 starts from what an ETF is. If you already know the basics, the modules on costs, asset allocation, taxes and the riskier types of ETF will still be useful.

Is the course for Canadian or US investors?

Both. The ideas apply anywhere. Where accounts and tax rules differ, the course names the Canadian and US versions side by side, such as TFSA and RRSP alongside Roth IRA and 401(k).

Will this course tell me which ETF to buy?

No. It teaches you how to choose for yourself: what to look for inside a fund, what it really costs, and how to match a mix of funds to your own timeline. Any tickers mentioned are examples, not recommendations.

How many ETFs do I need?

Most investors need between one and three. A single all-in-one ETF can be a complete portfolio. Module 5 shows both the one-fund and three-fund approaches.

Who wrote this course?

It was written by Elizabeta Dimoska, founder and writer of RiskStock. RiskStock is educational and is not a registered dealer or adviser.

Keep learning

Related guides by Elizabeta Dimoska: What is an ETF? · ETF expense ratios · The three-fund portfolio · How to buy the S&P 500 in Canada · How to set up a DRIP

Educational purposes only — not investment advice. Any funds, tickers, portfolios and figures in this course are illustrative examples, not recommendations to buy or sell any security. Fees, tax rules and contribution limits change; confirm current details with the fund provider and your tax authority. Worked examples use constant returns and are not forecasts. RiskStock is not a registered dealer or adviser. Course written by Elizabeta Dimoska. Always do your own research and consult a licensed advisor.