This is a preview: it shows the short view with example figures. Open the file in Safari or Chrome to try the calculator with your own amounts.
Shared with a few select people for feedback. A simple strategy to Benefit Financially F.A.S.T.Fast (respects time), Adaptable (progress beyond basics only where you value more), Simple (easy to understand and implement), Tailored (personalized to your specifics). Not "get rich quick", but you could gain thousands.
Strategy
Would You Move Some Investments for $3,000?
Some investment dealers run promos paying 1% or more to move investments to them. On $100K, 2026's best offers paid up to $3,000.
Talbot Stevens · 2026-11-03
I missed out on a 3% transfer promo worth tens of thousands, by acting too late. The following is what I learned, how I recovered, and how you might gain thousands.
Origin Story: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Good. About a year ago, we moved 9 accounts (including corporate) to Wealthsimple, to receive a 1% transfer bonus, totalling tens of thousands. While it did take more effort than hoped, the net experience was better than expected.
Bad. I learned about a 2% transfer bonus too late to take advantage.
Ugly. To get our investments back, BMO InvestorLine offered us a special transfer promo of 3% on RRSPs and 2% on other accounts, up to generous limits. This could have resulted in gaining many tens of thousands, MUCH more than the 1% Wealthsimple bonus, which itself was well "Worth It". But I did not act soon enough: the fine print required the transfer to be completed by the deadline, not just started, as was the case with the Wealthsimple transfers.
Lesson, and a possible opportunity. Knowing about these promos, and ACTing on the best ones before their deadlines, can be worth thousands, and tens of thousands to some.
The Opportunity
Investment dealers compete for your money. They expect to earn from you for years, so some simply "buy" market share.
Same investments, new address. Your holdings usually move as they are. Your risk doesn't change; only the firm holding them does.
New opportunities keep coming. In 2026 so far, 8 investment dealers ran 13 offers. In the last week, 3 ended and 5 started.
Benefits: What It Could Be Worth to You
Your potential bonus$5,000
2.5% of $200,000, by moving $100,000 to RBC, $100,000 to BMO.
Other promos, for comparison:
BMO only: $4,000
Wealthsimple only: $2,000
For one person, using fall 2026 offers as the example. Registered money is asked for separately because some dealers pay more on it. Nothing you type leaves this page.
Costs and Risks
Your money is tied up. It must stay 1 to 2 years. Taking cash out during the hold cuts the bonus.
Small fees. Your current investment dealer may charge about $50–150 per account to transfer out. Some new dealers refund it.
Deadlines are earlier than they look. Transfers take 1 to 3 weeks, and the money must arrive by the deadline.
Not guaranteed. An investment dealer can change or withdraw an offer. Get the terms in writing before you move.
Transfer Promo Service Idea
The Problem
Most investors don't know these promos exist. Fewer know which offer best suits their situation, the deadlines, the fine print, or whether moving some or all of their investments is worth it.
The Solution
I am considering creating a service that:
Monitors all of the transfer promos currently available, daily.
Optimizes the transfer option for your situation, with strategies to optimize promo payouts, including combining multiple offers, "Refer a Friend" bonuses, and more.
Example: On November 4, an upgraded optimization engine and a new offer added an EXTRA $5,000 to our personal transfer plan. "Worth It!"
Notifies you, ONLY when a transfer opportunity is "Worth It".
Gives you a Transfer Opportunity guide, tailored to your specifics: the benefits, the fine-print risks and the other factors, to help you decide whether to transfer. If you do, a step-by-step ACTion Plan guides you.
Watches for your next opportunity, when you can make additional transfers for higher-than-normal bonuses and/or when your holding period is over.
Feedback, Please
Next Steps
Your honest feedback is very valuable and appreciated. One click opens an email with your answers above, ready to send.
You'll be among the first to hear when good offers appear. Beta testers for free, of course.
“Help a Friend”
I hope this simple idea is valuable enough that you'll want to share it with friends who might also benefit. It won't hurt to introduce it to others now, but my solution should improve with several rounds of feedback from beta testers.
Shared with a few select people for feedback. A simple strategy to Benefit Financially F.A.S.T.Fast (respects time), Adaptable (progress beyond basics only where you value more), Simple (easy to understand and implement), Tailored (personalized to your specifics). Not "get rich quick", but you could gain thousands.
Strategy
Would You Move Some Investments for $3,000?
Some investment dealers run promos paying 1% or more to move investments to them. On $100K, 2026's best offers paid up to $3,000.
Talbot Stevens · 2026-11-03
I missed out on a 3% transfer promo worth tens of thousands, by acting too late. The following is what I learned, how I recovered, and how you might gain thousands.
Origin Story: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Good. About a year ago, we moved 9 accounts (including corporate) to Wealthsimple, to receive a 1% transfer bonus, totalling tens of thousands. While it did take more effort than hoped, the net experience was better than expected. With Wealthsimple, we upgraded our credit cards to 2% cash back on everything (versus 1%), over 2% higher interest on all savings and chequing accounts, at least 0.5% higher rates on our cash-like investments, a free Globe and Mail subscription (which I was paying for), airport DragonPass access, and a global eSIM for travel. For us, these are worth several thousand dollars per year, beyond the 1% promo bonus.
Bad. I learned about a 2% transfer bonus too late to take advantage.
Ugly. To get our investments back, BMO InvestorLine offered us a special transfer promo of 3% on RRSPs and 2% on other accounts, up to generous limits. This could have resulted in gaining many tens of thousands, MUCH more than the 1% Wealthsimple bonus, which itself was well "Worth It". But I did not act soon enough: the fine print required the transfer to be completed by the deadline, not just started, as was the case with the Wealthsimple transfers.
Lesson, and a possible opportunity. Knowing about these promos, and ACTing on the best ones before their deadlines, can be worth thousands, and tens of thousands to some. While missing the 3% and 2% transfer bonuses was a big miss, it prompted me to survey all of the other transfer promos still available, and to consider helping others benefit with this strategy. I discovered a 3% bonus with RBC, and learned that BMO has a new 2% promo starting soon.
The Opportunity
Investment dealers compete for your money. They expect to earn from you for years, so some simply "buy" market share.
Same investments, new address. Your holdings usually move as they are. Your risk doesn't change; only the firm holding them does.
New opportunities keep coming. In 2026 so far, 8 investment dealers ran 13 offers. In the last week, 3 ended and 5 started.
How a promo offer works. You get a percentage of the money you move, up to a maximum, paid later, often in two parts. You keep the money there for a set time, usually 1 to 2 years.
The fine print that matters. Transfer payouts are on new money from outside the dealer's group. Each payment is usually figured on the lowest balance you kept during its period, so a withdrawal cuts it and a later deposit doesn't restore it. Market drops don't count against you.
Or get paid to stay. Your current investment dealer may match a competitor's offer to keep you. Asking takes one phone call and no paperwork.
Benefits: What It Could Be Worth to You
Showing the example figures ($100K + $100K).
For one person, using fall 2026 offers as the example. Registered money is asked for separately because some dealers pay more on it. Nothing you type leaves this page.
Why two amounts? RBC's fall 2026 offer paid 3% on registered accounts but 1% on the rest. BMO's paid 2% on the first $250K, then 1%, on any account. Sometimes combining two promo offers results in a higher payout for you.
A household multiplies it. Offers are per person, so spouses can each earn one, and at some dealers so can a corporation. And some have "Refer a Friend" bonuses that might include referring your spouse.
Costs and Risks
Your money is tied up. It must stay 1 to 2 years. Taking cash out during the hold cuts the bonus.
Small fees. Your current investment dealer may charge about $50–150 per account to transfer out. Some new dealers refund it.
Deadlines are earlier than they look. Transfers take 1 to 3 weeks, and the money must arrive by the deadline.
Not guaranteed. An investment dealer can change or withdraw an offer. Get the terms in writing before you move.
A bonus you are still owed. If your current dealer is paying you an earlier bonus, moving out may reduce or cancel it.
Higher ongoing costs. Compare trading and currency-conversion costs; a 1% bonus is lost in a few years of higher fees. Transferring assets that are held long-term with few transactions is ideal.
Tax. The offers' terms don't say how a bonus paid outside a registered plan is taxed. Ask your accountant.
Paperwork. Each account needs its own transfer form. The largest account carries most of the bonus, so it goes first.
Transfer Promo Service Idea
The Problem
Most investors don't know these promos exist. Fewer know which offer best suits their situation, the deadlines, the fine print, or whether moving some or all of their investments is worth it.
The Solution
I am considering creating a service that:
Monitors all of the transfer promos currently available, daily.
Optimizes the transfer option for your situation, with strategies to optimize promo payouts, including combining multiple offers, "Refer a Friend" bonuses, and more.
Example: On November 4, an upgraded optimization engine and a new offer added an EXTRA $5,000 to our personal transfer plan. "Worth It!"
Identifies additional benefits that affect your decision or "Worth It" experience. Especially true for higher-net-worth investors.
Notifies you, ONLY when a transfer opportunity is "Worth It".
Gives you a Transfer Opportunity guide, tailored to your specifics: the benefits, the fine-print risks and the other factors, to help you decide whether to transfer. If you do, a step-by-step ACTion Plan guides you.
Makes it easy to share similar transfer opportunities with friends.
Watches for your next opportunity, when you can make additional transfers for higher-than-normal bonuses and/or when your holding period is over.
Gives you a script for the "Pay to Stay" ask.
Target Market
This strategy is best for those who:
are do-it-yourself investors, not working with a financial advisor, or want to move some money from advisor-managed to self-directed to save fees;
are comfortable with online technology and financial platforms;
have enough investments to be "Worth It" (over $100K?);
are OK with some or all of their investments being held at a different investment dealer;
have some investments that are mostly held long-term. Fewer transactions means lower fees and less admin.
Feedback, Please
Next Steps
Your honest feedback is very valuable and appreciated. One click opens an email with your answers above, ready to send.