Our Research Methodology
Last updated: May 2026
Our Editorial Team
Our team of Canadian investors manually tests every referral code monthly. Each team member holds active accounts on the platforms we cover, allowing us to verify offers from the inside — not just by reading public terms. We have combined experience spanning personal investing, tax planning, and financial journalism in Canada.
Lead Researcher
Wealthsimple, TFSA & RRSP strategy
Tax Analyst
CRA treatment of referral income
Verification Editor
Monthly code testing & fact-checking
Verification Process
Before publishing — and every month thereafter — each referral offer goes through this exact sequence:
- 1
Create a test account
A team member opens a new Wealthsimple account using a fresh email address to simulate the new-user experience end to end.
- 2
Enter the referral code
We enter the code XVJHLJ in the referral field during signup. We document whether the field appears, whether the code is accepted, and any error messages shown.
- 3
Make the qualifying deposit
We transfer $100 from an external Canadian bank account and monitor the deposit timeline and confirmation.
- 4
Confirm bonus credited
We verify the $25 CAD bonus appears in the account within the expected 5–7 business day window, documenting the exact credit date.
- 5
Cross-reference official terms
We compare our findings against Wealthsimple's current official referral page, in-app help centre, and any published terms updates.
- 6
Publish with verification timestamp
We update the verified date on every page and log the result in our internal verification record. Any discrepancies trigger an immediate content update.
Update Frequency
All codes verified on the first business day of each month. Our standard review schedule by content type:
| Content type | Review cadence |
|---|---|
| Referral code pages | Monthly (first business day) |
| Bonus history pages | Updated when offer changes |
| Account type guides (TFSA, RRSP, FHSA) | Quarterly |
| Educational articles | Quarterly |
| Tax & regulatory content | Annually or when regulations change |
| Comparison pages | Monthly |
Editorial Independence
WealthPerks is independently operated. We disclose all affiliate relationships. Revenue from referral commissions does not influence our verification standards, our reporting of offer terms, or our decision to feature or exclude a program. If a code stops working, we say so — even if we earn a fee from it.
Our editorial team and our commercial team operate independently. No advertiser can purchase placement, influence our ratings, or review content before publication.
What We Verify
- ✓Current referral code validity
- ✓Bonus amounts (referrer and referee)
- ✓Minimum deposit requirements
- ✓Eligible account types
- ✓Eligibility restrictions (new users, Canadian residents)
- ✓Bonus payment timeline
- ✓Holding period requirements
- ✓Offer expiry dates (when applicable)
What We Cannot Guarantee
Financial institutions can change their referral programs without notice. While we update content as soon as we become aware of changes, there may be a lag between an offer changing and our content reflecting that change. We always recommend verifying the current offer directly on the institution's website before signing up.
Primary Sources
We rely on these sources for Wealthsimple referral information:
- Wealthsimple official referral page
- Wealthsimple in-app referral section (verified via live account)
- Wealthsimple terms of service and help centre
- Canada Revenue Agency guidance on investment income