#17 — Jim Chuong (The Lazy Canadian Investor): Real Estate and ETF Investing

Our guest this week is Jim Chuong—better known online as “The Lazy Canadian Investor.” With over 1 million followers across TikTok and Instagram, Jim has built a massive audience by breaking down investing concepts in a clear, no-BS way.

In this episode, Dave and Jim cover a wide range of investing topics—from how Jim first got into real estate investing to whether it still makes sense today. They dig into Jim’s philosophy on using leverage, his take on individual stocks vs. ETFs, and why he prefers US-only investing over global diversification. Jim also shares what motivates him to create content and how he approaches simplifying complex financial ideas for everyday Canadians.

If you’re curious about real estate, passive investing or just want to hear from someone who’s built a personal finance brand from scratch—this episode is packed with practical insights. 

 

Show Notes

(00:00) Intro & Disclaimer

(00:55) Intro to Jim Chuong

(01:44) How Jim Learned About Personal Finance

(06:52) Jim’s Early Investing Approach

(09:49) Getting Started with Real Estate Investing

(15:54) Is Real Estate Investing Still Attractive Today?

(20:34) The Toronto Real Estate Market

(22:12) Is Crypto An Investment?

(23:57) Jim’s Philosophy on Leverage and Investing

(25:49) Canada is a Wonderful Country 

(27:43) Parenting Teenagers

(29:12) Why Does Jim Make Content Online?

(33:15) US-Only Investing Versus Global Diversification

(36:43) Investing in Individual Stocks vs. Broad-Market ETFs

(39:56) Why Private-Market Investing Isn’t Well Suited for the Average Investor

(42:05) Conclusion