What are the fees for Justwealth vs Wealthsimple Managed?

Justwealth charges 0.50% management fee on balances under $25,000 and 0.40% on $25,000–$500,000. For balances over $500,000, the fee drops to 0.40% flat. Underlying ETF MERs add approximately 0.15–0.25%, giving an all-in cost of roughly 0.55–0.75% for most clients. Wealthsimple Managed charges 0.40% management fee (Core, under $100K Wealthsimple Plus threshold) plus ETF MERs of about 0.10–0.20%, for an all-in of ~0.50–0.60%. At smaller balances under $25,000, Justwealth is slightly more expensive. At $100,000–$500,000 the fees are broadly similar. Neither wins dramatically on fee structure above $25K.

Does Justwealth have better RESP options than Wealthsimple?

Yes — Justwealth's standout feature is its target-date RESP portfolios. Justwealth offers portfolios that automatically shift asset allocation from growth-oriented to conservative as your child approaches post-secondary age, mimicking what a skilled advisor would do manually. Wealthsimple offers RESPs but uses a static risk-level allocation you choose and manually shift over time. For Canadians prioritizing RESP management, Justwealth is the most purpose-built option among Canadian robo-advisors. Justwealth also processes CESG, CLB, and provincial grants automatically.

Does Justwealth offer custom or personalized portfolios?

Justwealth offers a higher degree of customization than most robo-advisors. They provide over 70 portfolio options including target-date (RESP), income, balanced, growth, and responsible investing portfolios. Clients can also speak with a portfolio manager about their specific situation — a feature Wealthsimple does not offer at standard account sizes. At $500,000+, Justwealth clients get enhanced advisor access. This makes Justwealth closer to a traditional financial advisor experience while retaining the low-cost robo-advisor fee structure.

Is Justwealth CIPF and IIROC (CIRO) regulated?

Yes. Justwealth Securities Inc. is a registered portfolio manager and exempt market dealer with CIRO (Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization, formerly IIROC). Client accounts are covered by CIPF (Canadian Investor Protection Fund) for up to $1 million per account category. Wealthsimple Investments Inc. operates under the same regulatory framework — both are CIRO members with CIPF coverage. Regulatory standing is equivalent between the two platforms.

What is Justwealth's minimum investment?

Justwealth requires a minimum investment of $5,000 to open an account. This is higher than Wealthsimple's no-minimum approach and Questwealth's $1,000 minimum. For investors just starting out with less than $5,000, Justwealth is not an option. For those with $5,000+ who want carefully managed portfolios and strong RESP support, the minimum is reasonable given the service level provided.

Wealthsimple vs Justwealth 2026: Which Robo-Advisor Is Better for Canadians?

Quick Comparison Summary

Feature	Wealthsimple Managed	Justwealth
Management fee (under $25K)	0.40%	0.50%
Management fee ($25K–$500K)	0.40%	0.40%
Management fee ($500K+)	0.40% (Generation at $2M = 0.20%)	0.40%
Underlying ETF MERs	~0.10–0.20%	~0.15–0.25%
All-in estimated cost	~0.50–0.60%	~0.55–0.65%
Minimum investment	$0	$5,000
RESP target-date glide path	❌ No	✅ Yes
Portfolio selection	5 risk levels + SRI + Halal	70+ portfolio options
Halal portfolio	✅ Yes	❌ No
Human advisor access	Limited (Generation tier)	✅ Yes (all clients)
App quality	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐
Self-directed brokerage integration	✅ Yes (Wealthsimple Trade)	❌ No
Regulatory coverage	CIRO / CIPF	CIRO / CIPF

Fee Comparison at Different Portfolio Sizes

Portfolio Size	Wealthsimple All-In	Justwealth All-In	Difference
$10,000	~$55	~$65	Justwealth +$10/yr
$25,000	~$138	~$163	Justwealth +$25/yr
$50,000	~$275	~$300	Justwealth +$25/yr
$100,000	~$550	~$575	Justwealth +$25/yr
$250,000	~$1,375	~$1,375	Roughly equal
$500,000	~$2,750	~$2,750	Roughly equal

Estimates are approximate. All-in cost = management fee + blended ETF MER. RESP portfolios may have slightly different MERs.

RESP Comparison — Justwealth’s Key Advantage

Feature	Wealthsimple Managed	Justwealth
RESP account available	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Target-date glide path	❌ No	✅ Yes (adjusts automatically by child’s age)
Years to maturity portfolios	❌ No	✅ Yes (10+ portfolio options keyed to when child turns 17–19)
CESG processing	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
CLB (Canada Learning Bond)	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Provincial grants (BCTESG, QESI, ACEI)	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Family plan RESP	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Portfolio auto-de-risking as child ages	❌ No	✅ Yes

Why the RESP glide path matters: A common investor mistake is keeping aggressive RESP portfolios through a market crash just before a child starts university. Justwealth’s automatic age-based de-risking removes this behavioural risk entirely. No other major Canadian robo-advisor offers this automatically.

Portfolio Selection

Wealthsimple Portfolio Types

Portfolio	Description
Core Conservative	30% equities, 70% fixed income
Core Balanced	50/50
Core Growth	70% equities
Core Aggressive Growth	90% equities
SRI (Socially Responsible)	ESG-screened ETFs; growth and balanced options
Halal	Islamic finance screened; MSCI global equities only

Justwealth Portfolio Types (Selected)

Portfolio Category	Examples	Count
Target-Date RESP	“2028 RESP Portfolio”, “2033 RESP Portfolio”, etc.	8+
Standard (Income to Aggressive Growth)	Conservative, Balanced, Growth, etc.	~10
Responsible Investing	ESG-screened ETFs	~8
US Dollar Portfolios	Non-registered USD accounts	~5
Canadian-focused	Higher Canada tilt	~4
Total portfolio options		70+

Advisor Access

Access Level	Wealthsimple Managed	Justwealth
Online chat support	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Phone or email advisor consultation	❌ Not below $500K	✅ Yes (all clients)
Human portfolio manager review	❌ Not below $2M (Generation)	✅ Yes ($500K+, enhanced)
Onboarding call	❌ No	✅ Yes (offered to new clients)

Account Types

Account Type	Wealthsimple Managed	Justwealth
TFSA	✅	✅
RRSP	✅	✅
FHSA	✅	✅
RESP	✅	✅
RRIF	✅	✅
LIRA	✅	✅
Personal non-registered	✅	✅
Joint	✅	✅
Corporate	✅	✅
USD non-registered	❌	✅

Who Should Choose Each Platform

Choose Wealthsimple Managed If…	Choose Justwealth If…
You’re a beginner under $5,000	You have $5,000+ and want maximum RESP features
You want a best-in-class app	You want a portfolio manager to consult with
You want Halal-compliant investing	You want 70+ portfolio options with custom fit
You want the Wealthsimple Cash + Tax ecosystem	You want automatic RESP age-based de-risking
You keep under $25K (Justwealth costs more here)	You have a family and RESP is a priority
You plan to be very hands-off	You value advisor contact even at modest balances

The Verdict

For most beginner investors, Wealthsimple’s polished app, no minimum, and familiar brand make it the default choice. For families focused on RESP optimization, Justwealth’s target-date portfolios are a compelling reason to pay a small premium (or accept roughly equal cost at $50K+). For clients who want to speak to a human about their portfolio without paying traditional advisor fees, Justwealth provides that accessibility.

Bottom line: Wealthsimple for beginners and app lovers. Justwealth for RESP-focused families and investors who want portfolio manager access.