Got $7,000 for 2026? Here’s How to Turn it Into More

When thinking about a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) in 2026 and beyond, investors should focus less on short-term market levels and more on how powerful tax-free compounding becomes over time. The TFSA isn’t just a savings account; it’s one of the few places where growth, dividends, and capital gains can compound without ever being taxed, even decades later.

That means choices made in your 30s or 40s can quietly turn into meaningful income or financial freedom later on. So, how can the everyday investor turn even $7,000 into far more in 2026?

Getting started

Turning $7,000 into high returns in 2026 starts with setting realistic expectations. You’re not trying to double your money overnight. You’re trying to plant a seed that can grow steadily. That means accepting some volatility in exchange for higher long-term returns, especially if the money won’t be touched for many years. A TFSA is ideal for this because you can take growth-oriented risks without worrying about taxes eating away at your gains. The biggest mistake investors make is playing defence too early, holding cash or low-growth assets that feel safe but quietly lose purchasing power to inflation.

The second consideration is diversification. With only $7,000, it’s risky to bet everything on one stock or one sector. One bad earnings report or industry slowdown can set you back years. Instead, spreading that money across hundreds or even thousands of companies gives you exposure to global growth while reducing the impact of any single failure. This approach also removes the pressure of needing to “be right” about one specific company. You’re letting the global economy work for you, rather than trying to outsmart it.

Finally, the real accelerator is time and behaviour. Reinvesting gains, adding new TFSA contributions every year, and not panicking during market downturns are what turn $7,000 into something much larger. If you invest $7,000 each year and earn an average return of 7% to 8%, you’re no longer talking about thousands of dollars after a decade, but well into six figures over a longer horizon.

An ETF to get you there

iShares Core MSCI All Country World ex Canada Index ETF (TSX:XAW), is designed for exactly this kind of long-term TFSA strategy. It gives investors exposure to thousands of companies across the U.S., developed international markets, and emerging markets, all in a single ETF. Instead of trying to guess which country or sector will outperform next, XAW owns them all, excluding Canada. That makes it a strong complement to Canadian-heavy portfolios, especially since many Canadians already have plenty of exposure to domestic banks, energy, and real estate.

In terms of performance, XAW has delivered solid long-term results, closely tracking global equity markets. Over the past decade, it has benefited heavily from U.S. technology growth, while also providing diversification through Europe, Asia, and emerging markets. Returns have not been smooth year to year, but over longer periods, XAW has rewarded investors who stayed invested. That volatility is actually a feature, not a flaw, for someone using a TFSA to build wealth over decades.

What makes XAW particularly attractive for a $7,000 TFSA contribution in 2026 is how simple and scalable it is. It automatically rebalances, keeps costs low, and ensures your money stays invested in the global economy as it evolves. You don’t need to monitor earnings calls or rebalance manually. You just invest, reinvest, and let time do the work. For investors who want their TFSA to quietly grow into something meaningful without constant decision-making, XAW is a practical, disciplined way to turn that $7,000 into much more over the years ahead.

Bottom line

In short, investors looking for income of $7,000 should certainly consider XAW. In fact, here’s what $7,000 could bring in from dividends alone.

COMPANYRECENT PRICENUMBER OF SHARESDIVIDENDANNUAL TOTAL PAYOUTFREQUENCYTOTAL INVESTMENTXAW$51.29136$0.75$102.00Quarterly$6,976.44

The TFSA rewards patience, not perfection. The investors who do best are usually the ones who make a plan, stick to it, and largely ignore the noise. That’s why XAW should be on every TFSA investor’s watchlist.

The post Got $7,000 for 2026? Here’s How to Turn it Into More appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.

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Fool contributor Amy Legate-Wolfe has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.