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Are you near 50 years previous and questioning how your Tax-Free Financial savings Account (TFSA) stacks up in comparison with others?

It’s solely pure to be interested by such issues. Whereas evaluating your account balances to your pals’ balances might not be the healthiest technique to outline “sufficient,” it actually beats not interested by your private funds in any respect.

With that in thoughts, right here’s what the common 50-year-old Canadian’s TFSA appears to be like like in 2026.

Common stability

The typical Canadian TFSA holder has a stability simply barely beneath $30,000 on the age of fifty. This may be deduced from official StatCan information displaying that the vary for the 50-54 age bracket is $26,500 to $30,200. Age 50 is the youngest age on this bracket, and TFSA balances have a tendency to extend yearly till an individual reaches their seventies. So, the common 50-year-old Canadian doubtless has rather less than $30,000 of their TFSA.

Sorts of shares

Having appeared on the common Canadian TFSA stability at age 50, we are able to now transfer on to the common account allocation. This contains issues like asset lessons and particular person securities.

Normally, Canadians have a tendency to carry shares, assured funding certificates (GICs), bonds, and funds constructed on the three earlier classes of their TFSAs. That is partially as a result of direct actual property holdings and personal corporations aren’t allowed in TFSAs. There are some exceptions to those guidelines — actual property funding trusts (REITs) are wonderful, for instance — however they maintain as generalities. So, assuming that the common Canadian’s allocation is instructive, then you definately would possibly need to maintain shares, bonds, GICs and funds in your TFSA.

As for particular securities, Canadian and U.S. exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are typically fashionable. Some particular person U.S. shares, akin to Apple Inc, are additionally extensively held in Canadian traders’ portfolios. Most likely the largest single asset class amongst Canadians, although, is blue-chip TSX-listed dividend shares. Canadians love their dividends, and TSX blue chips present loads of yield.

Toronto-Dominion Financial institution (TSX:TD) is a basic instance of a well-liked blue-chip dividend inventory held by many Canadian traders. It was at one level the preferred inventory amongst Canadian retail traders. I used to be not capable of finding information for 2026, however going by TD’s weighting in TSX index funds, it’s in all probability nonetheless a high holding amongst Canadian TFSA traders.

Why is TD Financial institution so fashionable amongst Canadian traders?

First, the underlying firm is acquainted, well-known and trusted (nicely, moderately trusted).

Second, the inventory has traditionally had a excessive yield, normally 5% or extra.

Lastly, the corporate has been performing nicely over time, with constant progress and a large revenue margin (about 30% within the trailing 12-month interval).

Sadly, TD inventory not has the excessive yield it as soon as did. Due to a serious rally during the last 15 months, the inventory now solely pays out about 3.3%. Maybe now could be somewhat late to purchase TD inventory, however it’ll at all times be no less than one to remember.

Do you have to copy the common or chart your individual path?

Having explored how a lot and what Canadians have of their TFSAs, it’s time to ask the all-important query: Do you have to do the identical?

Definitely, you may do a lot worse than proudly owning a diversified portfolio of ETFs, U.S. shares and Canadian dividend shares. Canadian TFSA holders appear to know what they’re doing relating to safety choice. Nonetheless, their common account stability (once more, about $30,000) is somewhat low if they’re hoping to retire off of TFSA earnings. Maybe you need to goal to avoid wasting greater than the common Canadian TFSA holder does. That however, proudly owning typical TFSA securities appears wonderful.