5 ways to get started with investing in 2026
Elevate your finances this year with a smart investment plan and a powerful trading platform.
Sponsored by CIBC. CIBC Investor’s Edge is a self-directed trading platform backed by one of the biggest banks in Canada. Right now, you can get 100 free online equity trades when you open an account using promo code EDGE2526 (terms & conditions apply).
Smart investing can help close the gap between where you stand financially and where you want to be. Here’s what to consider when planning your investment moves for the upcoming year.
Get started with CIBC Investor’s Edge
1. Look for a great introductory offer
Account fees and trading commissions can drag down the value of your portfolio and slow your financial growth. That’s why you should keep an eye out for special promotions and discounts.
Right now, you can get 100 free stock and ETF trades when you open a new account with CIBC Investor’s Edge before March 31, 2026 using promo code EDGE2526—that’s a savings of $6.95 per trade (or $4.95 if you’re an active investor).
In addition, both new and existing Investor’s Edge customers can get $150 or more cash back by transferring at least $10,000 into their accounts no later than March 31, 2026.
Don’t worry if you don’t qualify for a cash back reward. You can still open an account and start trading with any amount.
New account offers like this one are only available for a limited time, so don’t sit on the fence for too long if you’re ready to start investing.
2. Choose the right platform for your needs
Investing can be as simple as buying and holding an asset for decades, or it can be as complicated as buying and selling multiple times a day based on second-by-second market movements.
Many investors need an app with an easy-to-use interface and support for the most commonly traded securities like stocks and ETFs. However, experts may need advanced features like customizable charting tools and the ability to borrow funds to invest.
But what if you want a user-friendly platform that will grow with you?
With no minimum deposit requirement, access to plenty of Canadian and US securities and support for automatic contributions, CIBC Investor’s Edge has more than enough to help novices get on their feet.
Your investment choices include stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, GICs, fixed income, precious metals, IPOs and structured notes.
If you’re ready to go deeper, the app also offers real-time quotes, limit and stop orders, margin trading and discounts for active traders (fees are also cut for students and young investors).
📈 Get 100 free online stock and ETF trades when you open a new eligible account, and get up to $15,000 in cashback when you transfer funds from outside CIBC to your new or existing CIBC Investor’s Edge account. Valid until March 31, 2026. T&Cs apply.
With CIBC Investor’s Edge, you’ll also be able to:
👨🏻💻 Access a range of accounts to suit your investing needs
🌱 Invest across a wide range of asset classes
🛠️ Use a trader’s toolkit of powerful investing tools
🏫 Level up your trading skill with key learning resources
To learn more, visit the CIBC Investor’s Edge website today.
3. Create an investment plan
Investing without knowing your goals and risk tolerance can lead to unwise decisions. The right strategy for you depends on whether you’re aiming for short- or long-term growth, income generation, tax efficiency, capital preservation or another objective.
Your investment needs may change over time, which is why you need a platform that lets you manage a diverse portfolio spread across accounts with varying features and tax benefits.
CIBC Investor’s Edge clients can open the following:
- Registered accounts like FHSAs, TFSAs, RESPs, RRSPs, RRIFs, LIRAs, LRSPs, LRIFs and PRIFs. These come with tax benefits to help clients save for home ownership, education, retirement and other important life events.
- Non-registered cash and margin accounts. Cash accounts let you invest with your own money, while margin accounts let you borrow to invest.
- Non-personal accounts for corporations, partnerships, investment clubs, formal trusts and estates.
4. Do your research
You’ve probably heard investors talk about major tech stocks like Nvidia, Alphabet (Google) and Meta. Gold and crypto are also popular assets. But are these right for you?
How do you find undervalued investments and identify which sectors and industries are on the rise?
Research. Some investors rely on professionals who spend enormous amounts of time studying markets and businesses, while other investors enjoy the thrill of independently discovering promising opportunities.
As a self-directed platform, CIBC Investor’s Edge lets you take the reins and manage your own portfolio. But there’s plenty of help on hand if you need it.
View analysis from expert sources like CIBC Capital Markets, Morningstar and Thomson Reuters/LSEG. Check out Investment Themes based on industry and macroeconomic grouping. You can also stay on top of the latest news and use alerts and customizable watchlists to track specific stocks.
Every month, CIBC reports on the 10 most traded stocks and ETFs, making it easy to identify buzz-worthy investments that might be worth your attention.
5. Get educated
Whatever your level of experience, you can never stop learning how to grow your assets, manage risk and trade intelligently.
With a seemingly endless number of resources accessible online and across social media, how do you narrow down the most relevant and informative options?
CIBC Investor’s Edge has built educational materials right into its platform with its Learning Resources hub. Especially helpful is the free Investing 101 course, which consists of eight brief lessons on basic concepts like risk tolerance, diversification, fundamental and technical analysis and more.
Clients can also view article and video tutorials on topics like market, limit and stop orders; short selling; after-hours trading and holding US investments.
Armed with a wide suite of investment tools and ample support, you’ll be in a strong position to take your portfolio to the next level this year.
Learn more about trading with CIBC Investor’s Edge
Finder Score for stock trading platforms
To make comparing even easier we came up with the Finder Score. Trading costs, account fees and features across 10+ stock trading platforms and apps are all weighted and scaled to produce a score out of 10. The higher the score, the better the platform—it's that simple.