New to Investing? 2 Easy ETFs Any Canadian Can Start With

If you’re new to investing, the hardest part is often just getting started. There are thousands of stocks on the market to consider, and a constant flow of news and economic data to keep up with, which can make even taking that first step feel daunting. The good news is that investing doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, one of the easiest ways to begin is by starting with high-quality Canadian ETFs.

Instead of trying to analyze individual companies right away, ETFs allow you to gain exposure to dozens of businesses at once with a single purchase.

That instantly reduces single-stock risk and helps to smooth out any volatility, which makes it much easier to stay disciplined for the long haul.

It also allows you to dip your toes in the market and start to learn about investing, while owning a reliable fund that offers broad exposure to specific sectors or even the entire economy.

So, if you’re new to investing and just getting started or just want something straightforward, here are two simple Canadian ETFs that any Canadian can buy today.

One of the best Canadian ETFs to buy for instant diversification

If you’re new to investing and want a simple way to put your hard-earned money to work in the stock market stock, the BMO S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETF (TSX:ZCN) is an investment that’s about as straightforward as it gets.

The ZCN ETF tracks the S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index, which includes many of the largest and most established publicly traded companies in Canada.

That means when you buy the ZCN, you’re getting exposure to major companies across Canada like energy producers, railways, utilities, telecoms, and more, all in one fund.

This is much simpler for new investors because instead of having to assess individual companies, and how the economic environment is impacting them, you’re essentially buying into the entire market.

This is ideal for new investors for several reasons. First of all, you get instant diversification. If one company or even an entire sector struggles, it doesn’t derail your entire portfolio.

Second of all, it’s low cost. Index ETFs like the ZCN typically have very low management expense ratios (MERs), which means more of your returns stay in your pocket.

So why does gaining exposure to the entire market make sense? Because over time, the Canadian market has rewarded patient investors who simply stayed invested. The economy is always growing, and when you own a fund of the largest and most well-established stocks across the economy, you participate in that long-term growth.

So, if you’re looking for Canadian ETFs to help make investing simple, the ZCN is a top choice.

One of the best funds to buy for exposure to Canadian banks

In addition to the ZCN ETF another top-notch Canadian ETF for new investors to consider now is the BMO Equal Weight Banks Index ETF (TSX:ZEB).

While the ZCN gives you exposure to the entire Canadian market, the ZEB ETF focuses only on bank stocks, one of the strongest and most dominant sectors in the country.

Canadian banks are widely considered some of the most stable financial institutions in the world. They operate in a highly regulated environment, generate significant recurring revenue through lending and wealth management, and have long track records of paying dividends.

However, while Canadian bank stocks are excellent long-term investments, new investors may struggle to assess which are positioned the best over the coming years. Banks can have complicated financials and are impacted differently by changing economic environments.

That’s why the ZEB ETF makes sense for new Canadian investors. It invests in Canada’s major banks, but instead of weighting them by size, it gives each bank an equal allocation. That means no single bank dominates the portfolio.

So, you get exposure to a sector that has historically generated strong long-term returns and reliable dividend income. Furthermore, banks tend to perform well over long periods because they’re deeply tied to the Canadian economy. As businesses grow, mortgages are issued, and consumers borrow and invest, banks benefit.

So, if you’re new to investing and looking for a simple and reliable Canadian ETF to buy now, the ZEB is one you’ll want to consider.

The post New to Investing? 2 Easy ETFs Any Canadian Can Start With appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.

Should you invest $1,000 in BMO S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETF right now?

Before you buy stock in BMO S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETF, consider this:

The Motley Fool Canada team has identified what they believe are the top 10 TSX stocks for 2026… and BMO S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETF wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could potentially produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider MercadoLibre, which we first recommended on January 8, 2014 … if you invested $1,000 in the “eBay of Latin America” at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $20,155.76!*

Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor Canada’s total average return is 90%* – a market-crushing outperformance compared to 81%* for the S&P/TSX Composite Index. Don’t miss out on our top 10 stocks, available when you join our mailing list!

Get the 10 stocks instantly #start_btn6 { background: #0e6d04 none repeat scroll 0 0; color: #fff; font-size: 1.2em; font-family: 'Montserrat', sans-serif; font-weight: 600; height: auto; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 30px 0; max-width: 350px; text-align: center; width: auto; box-shadow: 0 1px 0 rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5), 0 1px 0 #fff inset, 0 0 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2); border-radius: 5px; } #start_btn6 a { color: #fff; display: block; padding: 20px; padding-right:1em; padding-left:1em; } #start_btn6 a:hover { background: #FFE300 none repeat scroll 0 0; color: #000; } @media (max-width: 480px) { div#start_btn6 { font-size:1.1em; max-width: 320px;} } margin_bottom_5 { margin-bottom:5px; } margin_top_10 { margin-top:10px; }

* Returns as of February 17th, 2026

More reading

• A Canadian Bank ETF I’d Buy With $1,000 and Hold Forever
• The ETFs That Canadians Are Sleeping On (But Shouldn’t Be) Right Now
• 3 Canadian ETFs to Buy and Hold Forever in Your TFSA
• 3 Canadian ETFs to Buy and Hold Now in Your TFSA
• RRSP Season: Here’s the 1 Move I’d Make This Week

Fool contributor Daniel Da Costa 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.