Exchange-Traded Funds For Canadians For Dummies

Chapter 3

Getting to Know the Players

In This Chapter

Setting up an account for your ETFs

Meeting the brokerage houses

Finding out who supplies ETFs to the brokers

Introducing the indexers

Distinguishing between the exchanges

Looking out for the middlemen

Even the most novice of investors have heard of mutual funds. Countless commercials talk about mutual funds, advisors are always pushing funds, and it’s likely you or your parents have owned mutual funds in the past. Mutual funds have been around for decades, so it’s no surprise that often when you mention the letters E, T, and F to someone they look at you with a blank stare. Some may even shudder at the thought of giving up their beloved mutual funds.

Part of the problem is that people simply don’t know where or how to purchase an ETF. Advisors often shy away from them because often they can’t make as much money selling them as ...