VGRO Fee Breakdown
How much does VGRO's MER actually cost?
VGRO is Canada's largest balanced ETF by assets: an 80/20 growth portfolio in a single ticker. At 0.24%, its MER is a touch higher than XGRO's, so here is what that costs and whether the DIY split is worth it.
Calculate your VGRO cost
VGRO is already selected. Enter your RRSP, TFSA, and non-registered balances to see what its MER and foreign withholding tax cost you per year, and where splitting starts to pay.
Your Portfolio
Enter what you have in each account. Leave 0 for any you don't use.
Your Savings
What VGRO's 0.24% MER costs per year
VGRO charges a 0.24% MER. On $100,000 that is about $240 a year, and roughly $1,200 on $500,000. That is around $40 more per $100,000 than XGRO's 0.20%, taken quietly from fund returns each year.
As an 80/20 fund, VGRO holds less US equity than an all-equity portfolio, so its foreign withholding tax (FWT) drag inside an RRSP is smaller, but it is still there because the US sleeve sits in a Canadian-dollar wrapper (VUN). Holding VTI directly recovers it. The calculator combines the MER gap and the FWT recovery for your situation.
VGRO specifications
VGRO: ETF Specifications
- MER
- 0.24%
- Holdings
- ~13,500
- Equity / Bond
- 80% equity / 20% bonds
- Distribution
- Annual (December)
- Inception
- Jan 25, 2018
- AUM
- ~$5B CAD
- Exchange
- TSX
- Currency
- CAD
What does VGRO hold?
VGRO is about 80% global equity and 20% bonds in one ticker, with Vanguard's familiar Canadian tilt and a single annual December distribution that keeps non-registered bookkeeping simple. It rebalances inside the fund.
The DIY equivalent holds VTI (US, held directly for the RRSP tax benefit), VCN (Canada), VIU (developed international), and VEE (emerging markets) for the equity sleeve, plus VAB for Canadian bonds, at the 80/20 weights. Lower blended fee, more positions to manage.
The convenience cost at common portfolio sizes
The convenience cost: VGRO vs splitting
Assumes 50% RRSP allocation. See the calculator for your own numbers.
| Portfolio | Annual cost | 20-year cost (compounded) |
|---|---|---|
| $250K | $498/yr | $18,303 |
| $500K | $995/yr | $36,606 |
| $1M | $1,990/yr | $73,213 |
Annual cost combines MER drag and foreign withholding tax savings foregone, against a split into VTI, VCN, VIU, VEE, VAB. Assumes a 50% RRSP allocation. The 20-year figure compounds annual savings at 6% growth. Use the calculator above for your own account mix.
Is VGRO's fee worth it versus DIY?
VGRO's slightly higher MER means the fee savings from splitting, or from simply choosing XGRO, are a bit larger than for the iShares fund. Whether that justifies running five positions yourself still comes down to portfolio size and how much sits in an RRSP.
If you value the single annual distribution for tax tracking, VGRO earns its small premium. Preselect VGRO below and enter your balances to see your breakeven against the DIY split.