The Tax-Free Financial savings Account (TFSA) is a profit the Canada Income Company (CRA) has offered to Canadians above 19 years of age. The profit is that you just make investments your after-tax earnings within the account, and no matter you earn from there isn’t a concern of the CRA, offered you keep true to the 4 guidelines:
- No buying and selling, solely investing.
- No different investments like shares of a personal firm or an actual property belief.
- No over contribution.
- Not contributing to a TFSA in case you are not a Canadian resident for tax functions.
Many Canadians are benefiting from theTFSA, with the common TFSA steadiness for a 50-year-old reaching $30,190 within the 2023 tax yr, based on the CRA statistics. In case your TFSA steadiness is above the common steadiness, you already know you might be doing higher than many. However is it sufficient?

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Is having a mean TFSA steadiness sufficient?
The typical steadiness consists of the web contribution after withdrawals and the funding returns in your TFSA. Within the 2023 tax yr, the cumulative TFSA contribution alone was $88,000. Even when we assume that account holders didn’t make investments and simply stored their cash idle, they’re utilizing solely one-third of the TFSA profit.
The underused alternative value is much higher than the unused contribution room of $57,855. In case you had maxed out in your TFSA contribution and invested it in shares that generate a 5% common annual return, your TFSA steadiness could be nearer to $160,000 at first of 2026. That’s a possibility value of $130,000.
| 12 months | TFSA Contribution | Cumulative TFSA Stability | 5% common return |
| 2009 | $5,000 | $5,000.00 | $250.00 |
| 2010 | $5,000 | $10,250.00 | $512.50 |
| 2011 | $5,000 | $15,762.50 | $788.13 |
| 2012 | $5,000 | $21,550.63 | $1,077.53 |
| 2013 | $5,500 | $28,128.16 | $1,406.41 |
| 2014 | $5,500 | $35,034.56 | $1,751.73 |
| 2015 | $10,000 | $46,786.29 | $2,339.31 |
| 2016 | $5,500 | $54,625.61 | $2,731.28 |
| 2017 | $5,500 | $62,856.89 | $3,142.84 |
| 2018 | $5,500 | $71,499.73 | $3,574.99 |
| 2019 | $6,000 | $81,074.72 | $4,053.74 |
| 2020 | $6,000 | $91,128.45 | $4,556.42 |
| 2021 | $6,000 | $101,684.88 | $5,084.24 |
| 2022 | $6,000 | $112,769.12 | $5,638.46 |
| 2023 | $6,500 | $124,907.58 | $6,245.38 |
| 2024 | $7,000 | $138,152.96 | $6,907.65 |
| 2025 | $7,000 | $152,060.60 | $7,603.03 |
| 2026 | $159,663.63 |
Suppose you invested $5,000 in 2009 and earned a 5% return of $250. In 2010, you’ll make investments one other $5,000, bringing your TFSA steadiness to $10,250. You’ll earn 5% on this new steadiness, which involves $512. Lengthy-term investing makes your cash work and compounds your returns.
After studying in regards to the potential of compounding, do you suppose that having a mean TFSA steadiness is sufficient?
The best way to enhance your TFSA steadiness at age 50
It’s nonetheless not too late to spice up your TFSA steadiness. At age 50, you might be on the peak of your profession, have ample unused TFSA contribution room, and cash to take a position. Why not sacrifice one or two years of your trip and make investments that cash in a TFSA to earn cash be just right for you? The inventory market is on the cusp of recent progress alternatives in synthetic intelligence (AI), the worldwide commerce shift, and Canadian infrastructure tasks.
AI inventory to purchase
Micron Expertise (NASDAQ:MU) is a US-based reminiscence chipmaker. The fast AI infrastructure funding has created an acute provide scarcity of reminiscence chips, giving Micron pricing energy. In December 2025, Micron stated that it’s going to cease producing reminiscence chips for cell and PCs to divert capability to knowledge centre chips. The following two years might see extra progress after the inventory jumped 330% in 2025.
Even when the present AI knowledge centre bubble bursts, demand for reminiscence chips from cell phones, computer systems, automotives, and different units will drive progress. AI demand will maintain returning as it should want extra reminiscence to entry and course of knowledge with rising AI purposes.
Within the final 10 years, Micron inventory has jumped 3,900%, driving the cloud, cell, crypto, and now AI rally. Each subsequent cycle has surpassed the height of the earlier cycle, making it a inventory to personal for each medium and long run.
Different shares to contemplate
You should utilize the unused TFSA contribution room of greater than $50,000 to additionally purchase Descartes Programs for restoration in commerce volumes and TC Power for North American pure gasoline liquids (NGL) exports alternative.