One household portfolio across TFSA, RRSP, FHSA, RESP, and taxable accounts
Canadian investors often hold the same household goal across TFSA, RRSP, FHSA, RESP, and taxable accounts. The cleaner way to review it is to map each account to one household allocation before looking at account-specific rules.
A household portfolio is one plan spread across several account containers, not five separate strategies competing for attention.
Why one household map matters
A household can have multiple registered and non-registered accounts, but the investor still needs one clear view of total exposure. A TFSA may hold growth assets, an RRSP may hold retirement core holdings, an FHSA may be tied to a shorter home timeline, and a taxable account may carry flexible cash or overflow investments. Looking at every account separately can make the same ETF or stock look smaller than it really is.
Sample account map
Start with the account purpose first, then assign the role each account plays in the household portfolio. The goal is not to force identical holdings into every account. The goal is to prevent five account pages from becoming five unrelated strategies.
Allocation table
A simple review table can show target weight, current weight, and whether new deposits should be reviewed for under-target areas. This keeps the plan readable without turning the platform into advice or trade execution.
Common mistakes
The most common mistakes are ignoring cash, counting a holding twice because it appears in multiple accounts, treating contribution room as the same thing as an allocation target, and letting each account drift into its own separate strategy.
Sample table
Review checklist
- Treat cash as a real allocation, not an invisible leftover.
- Avoid double-counting the same ETF when it appears in more than one account.
- Compare household-level allocation before judging any one account in isolation.
- Keep contribution room, withdrawal rules, and tax treatment separate from the investment target itself.