What If You Maxed Your TFSA Every Year Since It Started — and Knew How to Invest?
If you knew how to invest and aimed for just a little better return, your TFSA would be a wealth-building machine.
The Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) has been around since 2009, and while it sounds like a basic place to park your money, it’s actually one of the most powerful tools in Canada to grow wealth — especially if you know how to invest.
Let’s imagine you’ve been maxing out your TFSA every year since the beginning and earning a conservative 10% annual return — nothing wild, just steady investing in solid ETFs or stocks.
What would that look like today?
First, the Basics: How Much Could You Have Contributed?
Here’s the total TFSA contribution room from 2009 to 2025: If you would have maxed out every year, the total contribution $103,500. Now Let’s Talk Growth — With a 10% Return
Let’s assume you contributed at the start of every year and your investments returned 10% annually — realistic for a balanced portfolio with some growth stocks or ETFs.
Using compound growth, that $103,500 in contributions would now be worth roughly:
✅ ~$260,000 to $280,000
(and remember: that’s all tax-free)
Even better? You didn’t need to be a day-trader or chase risky coins. You just needed a plan, patience, and a little investing know-how.
So, What If You Keep Going?
If you continue maxing your TFSA every year and maintain that 10% return, here’s what the future could look like:
| Years from Now | Projected Value |
|---|---|
| 10 years (2035) | ~$700,000+ |
| 15 years (2040) | ~$1.1 million+ |
| 20 years (2045) | ~$1.7 million+ |
Not bad for something most people still think is “just a savings account,” right?
So, use your TFSA wisely.