Love costs more than it used to, and that reality shows up everywhere, even in dating. BMO‘s latest Real Financial Progress Index says Canadians spend about $174 per date, yet nearly half of single Canadians do not think dating feels financially worth it, and about half say inflation has pushed them toward fewer or cheaper dates.
More than half have gone on zero dates in the past year. Investing can feel similar after a market wobble. A simple Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) pairing lowers the pressure and helps you get back out there with a little balance, instead of trying to nail the “perfect” pick on day one.
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BAM
Brookfield Asset Management (TSX: BAM) fits that restart mindset as it earns fees for managing money, not for guessing the next commodity swing. It runs alternative strategies across infrastructure, real estate, private equity, and credit. That mix matters right now because pension funds and insurers still need returns, governments still lean on private capital, and huge projects still need patient partners. Brookfield sells access and execution, and demand for both has stayed strong.
The last year kept Brookfield in the headlines for reasons that actually support a long-term TFSA case. It leaned harder into artificial intelligence (AI)-linked infrastructure, including big ambitions around data centres and the power and connectivity that sit behind them. It also pushed to deepen its credit reach through its plan to buy the remaining stake in Oaktree, which can make credit an even bigger driver of fee growth over time.
Recent earnings show why the story keeps working. In its latest quarterly update, Brookfield reported fee-related earnings of about US$867 million, or US$0.53 per share, and distributable earnings of about US$767 million, or US$0.47 per share. It also highlighted record fundraising, with roughly US$35 billion raised in the quarter and about US$112 billion raised in 2025. Meanwhile, it offers a 3.9% dividend yield while trading at a reasonable 34 times earnings.
FNV
Franco-Nevada (TSX: FNV) plays a totally different role in the pair. It doesn’t run mines, but finances miners through royalties and streams, then collects a slice of production or revenue. That structure can feel boring, and that’s the point. It keeps exposure to gold and other metals without the same operating headaches miners face, like cost overruns, labour disputes, or sudden permitting drama. In a TFSA, that steadier profile can act like ballast when growth names get choppy.
The last year brought its own set of catalysts. Gold prices helped, and Franco-Nevada also benefited from deliveries tied to Cobre Panamá concentrate that remained on site after the mine’s suspension, which supported results in a quarter that already enjoyed strong pricing. That boost won’t repeat forever, yet it shows how a diversified royalty portfolio can still find cash flow in unexpected corners of the cycle.
In its latest reported quarter, Franco-Nevada reported revenue of about US$487.7 million, up sharply year over year, and it delivered adjusted net income of about US$275 million. It tends to pay a smaller dividend yield than many Canadian income names at just 0.7%, so you buy it for durability and optionality, not for a big cheque today.
Bottom line
No pair guarantees a happy ending. Brookfield can lag if dealmaking freezes, and Franco-Nevada can disappoint if gold fades or if key counterparties stumble. Yet even these two can be a perfect pair from dividends alone with a $7,000 investment.
| COMPANY | RECENT PRICE | NUMBER OF SHARES | ANNUAL DIVIDEND | ANNUAL TOTAL PAYOUT | FREQUENCY | TOTAL INVESTMENT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FNV | $333.70 | 20 | $2.42 | $48.40 | Quarterly | $6,674.00 |
| BAM | $70.48 | 99 | $2.75 | $272.25 | Quarterly | $6,977.52 |
If the dating survey tells us anything, people want less financial stress and more confidence, and this kind of pairing aims for exactly that, as long as you can stick with it through the awkward first few months.
