The Best All-in-One ETFs for Canadian Investors in 2025

All-in-one ETFs are the single best invention for everyday Canadian investors. Instead of building and rebalancing a portfolio yourself, you buy one fund and it does everything — global diversification, automatic rebalancing, dividends reinvested — all for a management fee of around 0.20% per year.

Here's how the most popular options stack up.

What Is an All-in-One ETF?

An all-in-one ETF (sometimes called an asset allocation ETF) is a fund that holds other funds inside it. Each one contains thousands of stocks and bonds from around the world, weighted according to a target allocation. When markets move and the allocation drifts, the fund rebalances itself automatically — you don't have to do anything.

XEQT — iShares Core Equity ETF Portfolio

Allocation: 100% equities (stocks), 0% bonds
MER: 0.20%
Best for: Investors with a 10+ year time horizon who can tolerate short-term volatility

XEQT is the most aggressive of the mainstream all-in-one ETFs. It holds stocks from Canada, the US, international developed markets, and emerging markets. With no bond allocation, it will experience sharper drops during downturns — but historically delivers stronger long-term returns. If you're under 45 and investing for retirement, XEQT is a strong choice.

VGRO — Vanguard Growth ETF Portfolio

Allocation: 80% equities, 20% bonds
MER: 0.24%
Best for: Long-term investors who want a small buffer against volatility

VGRO adds a 20% bond allocation compared to XEQT, which smooths out some of the ride during market downturns. It's a popular choice among Canadian investors who want mostly growth but appreciate a bit of stability. The slightly higher MER versus XEQT is negligible over the long term.

XGRO — iShares Core Growth ETF Portfolio

Allocation: 80% equities, 20% bonds
MER: 0.20%
Best for: Same profile as VGRO — personal preference between iShares and Vanguard

XGRO is essentially iShares' answer to VGRO — same 80/20 split, slightly lower MER. The difference in returns between XGRO and VGRO over time is negligible. Choose based on which fund family you prefer or which is more easily available on your platform.

XBAL — iShares Core Balanced ETF Portfolio

Allocation: 60% equities, 40% bonds
MER: 0.20%
Best for: Investors within 10 years of retirement or with lower risk tolerance

XBAL is a more conservative option. The higher bond allocation significantly reduces volatility — during the 2020 COVID crash, for example, XBAL dropped considerably less than XEQT. The tradeoff is lower long-term expected returns. Good for investors who know they'll panic-sell if they see a 35% drop.

Which One Should You Choose?

A simple rule of thumb: subtract your age from 110 to get your equity percentage. A 30-year-old would target roughly 80% equities — making VGRO or XGRO a natural fit. A 50-year-old might prefer XBAL's 60/40 split.

That said, the most important factor is your personal risk tolerance. If a 30% portfolio drop would cause you to sell everything, choose a more conservative option. Staying invested through downturns matters far more than being in the "optimal" allocation.

Our Pick

For most Canadian investors under 50, XEQT or VGRO are the go-to recommendations. Both are available commission-free on Wealthsimple Trade and with free purchases on Questrade. Either one, bought consistently and held long-term, is a genuinely solid investment strategy.