Why every account starts with one master pie
A master pie keeps account planning simple: one top-level view, optional child pies, and direct stock or ETF slices.
One master pie per account means one clear entry point for every allocation decision you make in that account.
The master pie as an account anchor
Every account in WealthPie gets one master pie. This is the top-level allocation target for that account — the plan that describes what percentage of the account should be in each category. The master pie can contain direct slices (individual stocks or ETFs assigned a percentage) or child pies (groups of related holdings that share a combined percentage of the master). Having exactly one master pie per account prevents the common mistake of creating overlapping or competing allocation plans.
Direct slices versus child pies
A direct slice in the master pie is a single holding assigned a target percentage. A child pie is a named group of holdings that together fill one percentage bucket in the master. For example, a master pie might allocate 40% to "Broad ETFs" — that child pie could contain VFV.TO, XEF.TO, and XBB.TO, each with their own internal percentage. The master only sees 40% total; the child pie handles the internal split.
When a simpler structure beats a hierarchical one
For accounts with fewer than five or six holdings, a flat master pie with only direct slices is often cleaner than adding child pies. Every layer of hierarchy adds a step to the mental model. A TFSA with three ETFs does not need a nested structure. The rule of thumb is to add a child pie only when a group of holdings genuinely shares a single purpose that you want to track as one allocation block.
The 100% requirement and why it matters
A master pie must total exactly 100% before WealthPie can run deposit planning estimates. If slices add to 95%, the remaining 5% is unaccounted for in any planning calculation. This is not a technical restriction — it is a planning discipline. A 100% pie means every dollar you plan to invest has an explicit destination in your model. Completing the pie is the first step toward using every other planning feature in WealthPie.