The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has set the 2026 Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) contribution limit at $7,000. It is not impossible to convert $7,000 into $150,000, but you need to invest in high-growth stocks for the long term. There are multiple ways to achieve this kind of return.
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Investing your TFSA contribution in high-growth stocks
High-growth stocks can help you achieve such 20 time returns faster. Take the case studies of Bombardier and Celestica.
If you had invested the 2021 TFSA contribution limit of $6,000 in the turnaround stock Bombardier, your investment would be worth $72,541 today. That is halfway to the $150,000 target in just five years. Even Celestica stock converted a $7,000 TFSA contribution in January 2024 to $92,364 in a little over two years.
Identifying such stocks early and staying invested in them can help you make the most of a TFSA’s tax-free investment growth. It means you pay no capital gain tax on all the growth these stocks bring. It is too late to invest in Bombardier and Celestica for such 10 times growth. While they are a good investment, they can give you normalized growth.
Ballard Power Systems (TSX:BLDP) could be the next big growth stock as it commercializes its hydrogen fuel cell technology. The global energy crisis is a big motivation for countries to look for alternative energy sources for transportation. Hydrogen fuel cell technology can not only provide energy security but also reduce carbon emissions. Ballard stock has already surged 121% year to date, and there is more growth as the company targets to become profitable in the next few years.
Unlike past stock price rallies that were driven by government policies, this rally is driven by fundamentals. This makes the rally sustainable.
Regular rebalancing of the portfolio
Another effective way is to invest in seasonal and cyclical stocks with a predictable rally. For instance, seasonal stocks like Air Canada and Shopify have peak seasonal rallies in June and November, respectively. Consumers’ spending patterns of travelling in the summer and holiday shopping drive the stock price.
Air Canada stock is also range-bound, making it a buy at a price below $15 and sell at $20. Shopify, on the other hand, is a buy between March and May and a sell between November and February. This seasonal buying and selling can help you book a 30–50% profit. You can hold this profit to buy these stocks at the dip.
Maxing out on TFSA contributions
If rebalancing and high-growth stocks do not fit your risk-averse, passive investing strategy, consider maxing out your TFSA contributions. If you turned 18 in 2009, your TFSA has a cumulative contribution room of $109,000. If you maxed out on your annual TFSA contribution room every year, your invested amount would be $109,000, and even a mid-to-high single-digit portfolio return would have made a $150,000 TFSA balance a reality.
Most investors delay investing as they don’t know where to invest. At such times, a technology ETF like the iShares NASDAQ 100 Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) (TSX:XQQ) is worth considering. It is an evergreen investment; you need not think twice before investing. It replicates the Nasdaq 100 Index and rebalances quarterly, increasing exposure to well-performing stocks.
The XQQ ETF can give you exposure to all future tech trends from artificial intelligence to autonomous cars. It has investments throughout the supply chain from semiconductor companies to software solutions. You could consider investing $100–$200 every month in this ETF. Once returns start coming, it could fuel your interest in the stock market. By the time you learn about stocks, your money will keep working in the background, replicating the sector performance.
Final thoughts
The TFSA is one of the most lucrative instruments, combining tax planning, investment, and financial flexibility. Prioritize investing through a TFSA, as the time spent in the market can earn you better returns in a tax-efficient manner.
