Investing for the New AI Generation With Only 25% Down Payment?
By Erwin Szeto | Co-Founder, iWIN Wealth Planning
Recorded: September 2026
Host: Erwin Szeto, The Truth About Financial Independence for Canadians
Guest: Sadaf Chowdhury, Director of Investment Sales at Equitable
Investing for the New AI Generation With Only 25% Down Payment?
Canadian investors understand the power of a down payment because they have used mortgages to buy real estate for generations. In this episode, I sit down with Sadaf Chowdhury to discuss whether an investment loan with a 25% down payment may help suitable investors build wealth through professionally managed stock funds in the new AI economy.
Why Investors Are Looking Beyond Rentals
Many Canadian investors already have significant exposure to local real estate. Higher operating costs, tenant challenges, property maintenance and natural-disaster risk are encouraging some families to consider more passive investment options. That does not make real estate obsolete, but it can make diversification more important.
What Does 25% Down Mean?
The strategy discussed uses an investment loan in which a qualified investor contributes 25% and borrows the balance. It is not available or appropriate for everyone. Approval, interest rates, payment terms and performance are not guaranteed, and suitability depends on income, cash flow, risk tolerance and goals.
Professionally Managed Stock Funds and Estate Planning
Sadaf explains how professionally managed stock funds offered through an insurance contract may include death benefit guarantees, beneficiary designations and annuity settlement options. The exact legal, tax and estate results depend on the contract and personal circumstances.
Why AI Changes the Investing Conversation
AI is not limited to chatbots. The investment theme can extend across semiconductors, cloud computing, data centres, software and robotics. Rapid change may create opportunity, but it can also increase volatility and the difficulty of selecting individual winners.
Bottom Line
Investing for the new AI generation is not simply about buying AI stocks. It is about building a plan that combines suitable financing, professional management, diversification and the ability to remain invested through market cycles.
Join Me Live: Free Training on the $100,000 Investment Loan Strategy
The session will explain zero or 25% down investment-loan strategies, how prudent leverage may accelerate wealth building, and why suitability, cash flow and risk tolerance matter.
Educational purposes only. This is not individualized investment, tax or legal advice. Approval and performance are not guaranteed. Historical or simulated results do not predict future performance.
Here is exactly what I will walk through in 90 minutes:
- The complete $100,000 investment loan structure
- The math — what $433 a month actually buys you over 5 and 10 years
- Every loss scenario — what happens when the market drops 20%, 30%, 40%
- How this fits alongside, not replacing, a real estate portfolio
- Live Q&A — bring your questions, bring your skepticism
Two dates to choose from. Both cover the same content — pick whichever fits your schedule.
Saturday September 12th, Hybrid (Oakville + Zoom) — 9:00am ET, hard stop 10:30am. In-person seats are capped at 40 and they always go. If you want to be in the room, register today.
Tuesday, September 15th – 8:00pm ET.
Quick Answers: AI Investing With a 25% Down Payment
Can Canadians invest with a 25% down payment?
A qualified investor may be able to use an investment loan that requires a 25% contribution. Approval and suitability depend on the lender and the investor’s finances.
What is 25% Down on the Stock Market?
It is TAFI’s name for an investment-loan strategy where an investor contributes 25% and borrows the balance for professionally managed stock funds.
Is an investment loan the same as a margin account?
No. Payment rules, collateral terms and liquidation rights can differ, so the specific agreement must be reviewed.
What are professionally managed stock funds?
They pool investor money in portfolios selected and monitored by professional managers. Some are offered through insurance contracts with estate-planning features.
How does AI affect investing?
AI creates potential opportunities across chips, cloud infrastructure, software, data centres and robotics. It also creates volatility and makes professional research important.
Who may be suited to an investment loan?
It may be a fit for someone with stable income, strong cash flow, a long time horizon and comfort with market declines.
Do investment loans guarantee better returns?
No. Borrowing magnifies outcomes, and neither approval nor investment performance is guaranteed.
Can these investments create income?
Investors may take profits or withdrawals over time, but available income depends on market performance and the financial plan.
How can these funds support estate planning?
Certain insurance contracts may include beneficiary designations, death benefit guarantees and settlement options. Terms vary by contract and circumstances.
Why are Canadians investing beyond real estate?
Some investors want greater diversification and fewer responsibilities related to tenants, maintenance and property operations.
To Listen
Audible: https://www.audible.ca/pd/B0HJ5Y72KY?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp
You’ve Built Wealth. Now It’s Time to Understand It.
After dozens of consultations, I’ve noticed the same pattern again and again: most investors have built real wealth, but they’re not confident they can retire from it. They’re sitting on $2M–$5M in property but feel cash-flow poor. They’re paying more tax than they should because everything is held in personal names. They have no liquidity, no insurance strategy, and no clear plan for what happens if something happens to them. And almost every single client tells me the same thing: “I don’t actually know what retirement looks like for us.”
Real estate builds equity, but it doesn’t automatically build freedom. Without a coordinated plan for taxes, income, protection, and exit strategy, investors often end up working harder in retirement than they did in their 30s. That’s why I created the Wealth Freedom Blueprint – a simple, practical guide to help you understand where you stand today, what gaps are costing you money, and how to turn the wealth you’ve built into a life you can actually live.
Download your free Wealth Freedom Blueprint
Disclaimer:
As a committed advocate for transparent and responsible investing, I disclose that I am an Advisor to SHARE SFR (Single Family Rental). I hold equity in the company and earn referral commissions from clients I refer. I am also a licensed insurance agent with Open Concept Financial Group. The investment loan strategies referenced in this post are for educational purposes only and are not a guarantee of approval or performance. Suitability depends on individual income, cash flow, risk tolerance, and goals. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Every investor should do their own due diligence.
Sponsored by… Me!
This episode isn’t sponsored—except by my wife Cherry and me. Real estate investing is our life. It’s helped us build wealth and achieve peace of mind about retirement and our children’s future.
Till next time—just do it. I believe in you.
Erwin Szeto
W: erwinszeto.com
FB: facebook.com/erwin.szeto
IG: @erwinszeto
Disclaimer
As a committed advocate for transparent and responsible investing, I want to disclose that I am an Advisor to SHARE SFR (Single Family Rental). I hold equity in the company and earn referral commissions from clients I refer.
My endorsement of their model—focusing on positive cash flow and direct ownership—is based on personal experience and belief. Still, every investor should do their own due diligence.
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