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Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

Tony turned a series of 2017 marijuana stock losses into a freelance career advocating for ETF investing. He currently holds a Master’s in Risk Management from Columbia University and is a Certified ETF Advisor (CETF®).

Tony is the founder of ETF Portfolio Blueprint (etfportfolioblueprint.com) and the Lead ETF Analyst for ETF Central, a partnership between Trackinsight and the NYSE. His analysis has also been featured in publications like Kiplinger, 24/7 Wall St., U.S. News & World Report, TheStreet, and Benzinga.

Tony also provides independent content and marketing consulting services to various Canadian and U.S. ETF issuers. His editorial opinions for The Motley Fool remain independent and objective.

Recent Articles

Piggy bank with word TFSA for tax-free savings accounts.
Retirement

This Is the TFSA Balance You’ll Likely Need to Retire Comfortably in Canada

| Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

Here's how much an investor needs to accumulate in a TFSA to retire comfortably off it alone.

Read more »

pig shows concept of sustainable investing
Investing

How Much Canadians Typically Have in a TFSA by Age 55

| Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

Here's how much the average 55-year old has in their TFSA, and one possible ETF for putting it to work.

Read more »

TFSA (Tax free savings account) acronym on wooden cubes on the background of stacks of coins
Investing

How Does Your TFSA Compare to the $109,000 Milestone?

| Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

As of 2026, $109,000 is the theoretical maximum a Canadian investor can contribute to their TFSA.

Read more »

Blocks conceptualizing Canada's Tax Free Savings Account
Retirement

A Simple Way for Canadians to Earn $500 a Month Tax-Free From a TFSA

| Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

This BMO balanced ETF is highly diversified and pays a 6% annualized target yield with monthly distributions.

Read more »

Canadian Dollars bills
Dividend Stocks

How to Build a $50,000 TFSA That Throws Off Nearly Constant Income

| Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

This diversified BMO ETF delivers a high yield without any gimmicks or excessive fees.

Read more »

Hiker with backpack hiking on the top of a mountain
Investing

How to Use a TFSA to Bring in $1,000 a Month Completely Tax-Free

| Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

This TSX fund pays a fixed $0.10 per share monthly distribution, which makes passive income planning easy.

Read more »

ETF stands for Exchange Traded Fund
Dividend Stocks

The Top 3 Canadian ETFs I’m Considering for 2026

| Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

These iShares ETFs target broad, blue-chip, and dividend-focused Canadian stocks at a low fee.

Read more »

ETFs can contain investments such as stocks
Dividend Stocks

2 Canadian ETFs I’d Lock Into a TFSA and Never Touch

| Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

Let the broad diversification and low fees of these two Canadian ETFs work for you!

Read more »

ETF is short for exchange traded fund, a popular investment choice for Canadians
Dividend Stocks

A Canadian ETF I’d Seriously Consider Adding to My Portfolio in 2026

| Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

This low-risk monthly income ETF beats most bank savings accounts.

Read more »

3 colorful arrows racing straight up on a black background.
Dividend Stocks

Canadian Companies With a Track Record of Consistently Raising Their Dividends

| Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

ETFs can be an easy way of targeting Canadian dividend-growth stocks.

Read more »

Happy golf player walks the course
Investing

How to Structure a $50,000 TFSA for Practically Constant Income

| Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

This TSX fund pays a $0.1 per share monthly distribution, which makes passive income planning extremely easy.

Read more »

a person prepares to fight by taping their knuckles
Investing

Canadian Defensive Stocks to Buy Now for Stability

| Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

This ETF specifically targets Canadian stocks that historically have been less volatile than the overall market.

Read more »

ETFs can contain investments such as stocks
Dividend Stocks

The Top 3 Canadian ETFs I’m Considering for 2026

| Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

A Canadian home-country bias can provide tax efficiency and lower currency risk, and these ETFs provide different types of exposure.

Read more »

ETFs can contain investments such as stocks
Investing

A Canadian ETF Alternative: A Complete Stock Portfolio in 3 Picks

| Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

Creating a diversified stock portfolio is easy thanks to these low-cost index ETFs.

Read more »

a person looks out a window into a cityscape
Stocks for Beginners

The Key Things to Understand Before Holding U.S. Stocks in a TFSA

| Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

U.S. dividends are subject to an unavoidable 15% foreign withholding tax inside a TFSA.

Read more »

ETF stands for Exchange Traded Fund
Investing

The 1 Index Fund I’d Hold in My Portfolio Forever – No Hesitation

| Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

I'm a big fan of this gloablly diversified, low-cost Vanguard ETF.

Read more »

GettyImages-1394663007
Investing

Canadian Defensive Stocks to Buy Now for Stability

| Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

Canada has entered a "technical recession" – here's which sectors and stocks may prove more resilient.

Read more »

man in bowtie poses with abacus
Investing

Are You Using Your TFSA the Right Way? Many Canadians Aren’t

| Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

The TFSA is best used for long-term compounding, not short-term savings.

Read more »

dividend stocks are a good way to earn passive income
Dividend Stocks

This Monthly Income ETF Yields 12% — and it Deserves a Closer Look

| Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

MOAT is a unique income ETF that sells puts on wide-moat Canadian and American stocks.

Read more »

ETF stands for Exchange Traded Fund
Dividend Stocks

The 1 Strategic Canadian ETF I’d Make Sure Every TFSA Includes

| Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

Is your TFSA heavy in Canadian stocks? This low-cost highly diversified ETF can help balance that out.

Read more »

ETFs can contain investments such as stocks
Dividend Stocks

Why Canadian Dividend ETFs Could Be the Simplest Way to Defend Your Portfolio

| Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

This Canadian dividend ETF pays monthly and targets stocks that have grown payouts for at least five consecutive years.

Read more »

middle-aged couple work together on laptop
Dividend Stocks

A 7% Yielding Monthly Income ETF Every Canadian Should Review

| Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

This ETF combines low-volatility Canadian stocks with a options-based yield overlay.

Read more »

ETF stands for Exchange Traded Fund
Investing

3 Canadian ETFs to Buy and Hold Forever in Your TFSA

| Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

Growth, income, and defensive investors can find utility with these Canadian ETF picks.

Read more »

ETFs can contain investments such as stocks
Dividend Stocks

2 Canadian ETFs to Buy and Hold in a TFSA Forever

| Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

Long-term investors may find either of these low-cost Canadian ETFs appealing as a core TFSA holding.

Read more »

RRSP (Registered Retirement Savings Plan) on wooden blocks and Canadian one hundred dollar bills.
Investing

TFSA Investors: Here’s the Only Time Using a Taxable Account Is a Better Choice

| Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

If you're going to speculate with risky stock picks, consider using a non-registered account instead of a TFSA.

Read more »

ETFs can contain investments such as stocks
Investing

A 4% Yielding Monthly Income ETF Every Canadian Should Review

| Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

Forget buying a rental property – this REIT ETF pays monthly income and can be held tax-free in a TFSA.

Read more »

woman looks ahead of her over water
Investing

This Is the Average TFSA Balance for Canadians at Age 60

| Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

Here's what investments I think a 60-year-old investor should own in a TFSA.

Read more »

TFSA (Tax free savings account) acronym on wooden cubes on the background of stacks of coins
Dividend Stocks

How to Use a TFSA to Bring In $500 a Month Completely Tax-Free

| Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

If you have a sizable TFSA balance, this TSX monthly income fund could put it to work.

Read more »

Blocks conceptualizing Canada's Tax Free Savings Account
Investing

How to Structure a $50,000 TFSA for Practically Constant Income

| Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

Both of these ETFs use covered calls and leverage to deliver double-digit yields.

Read more »

middle-aged couple work together on laptop
Investing

Don’t Overthink It: The Best $21,000 TFSA Approach to Start 2026

| Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

Seriously, just buy XEQT. It really is that simple!

Read more »

Hiker with backpack hiking on the top of a mountain
Investing

Use a TFSA to Earn $1,000 a Month With No Tax

| Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

Owning EIT.UN in a large TFSA can unlock a decent tax-free monthly income stream.

Read more »

Blocks conceptualizing Canada's Tax Free Savings Account
Investing

If the Exchange Rate Swings, This TFSA Strategy Still Works

| Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

A CAD-hedged S&P 500 ETF can help investors participate in stock market gains while remaining insulated from foreign exchange rate…

Read more »

ETFs can contain investments such as stocks
Investing

3 Canadian ETFs to Buy and Hold Now in Your TFSA

| Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

These ETFs can help TFSA investors optimize for growth, income, or a balance of both.

Read more »

ETF is short for exchange traded fund, a popular investment choice for Canadians
Investing

3 Canadian ETFs Worth Tucking Into a TFSA and Holding for the Long Haul

| Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

All three of these Canadian ETFs boast low fees and decent diversification.

Read more »

oil pumps at sunset
Energy Stocks

Why I’d Choose This Dividend Stock Over Telus or BCE Any Day

| Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

Telecoms are expected to face headwinds from falling immigration, while oil & gas stocks may benefit from the ongoing conflict.

Read more »

ETFs can contain investments such as stocks
Investing

Don’t Overthink It: The Best TFSA Approach to Start 2026

| Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

Just buy XEQT!

Read more »

Retirees sip their morning coffee outside.
Retirement

Retirement Planning: How to Generate $2,000 in Monthly Income

| Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

This TSX monthly income fund could be a great core holding for retirement accounts.

Read more »

Investor reading the newspaper
Investing

What the TFSA Fine Print Says About Holding U.S. Stocks

| Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

U.S. investments lose 15% of their dividends when held inside a TFSA.

Read more »

TFSA (Tax-Free Savings Account) on wooden blocks and Canadian one hundred dollar bills.
Investing

Your TFSA Should Be Your Income Engine, Not Your RRSP

| Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

Here's why passive income investors should prioritize their TFSA over a RRSP.

Read more »

four people hold happy emoji masks
Dividend Stocks

For Monthly Income: A 6.25% Dividend Stock to Consider

| Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

Owning this TSX royalty stock is better than starting your own pizza restaurant.

Read more »