Mutual funds, stocks, ETFS & bonds

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What¡¯s a mutual fund?

A mutual fund* is a pool of investments, like stocks and bonds, selected and managed by a professional fund manager. Every fund has objectives that guide how the manager chooses investments. When you invest with mutual funds, you¡¯re buying into a piece of their thoughtful mix.

Higher gains, long-term

Mutual funds are recommended when you plan to invest over 5 years. They can protect you from inflation and could provide a higher return than term deposits and savings accounts.

Easier to handle than individual stocks

Diversification, being invested in a mix of things, makes mutual funds less volatile. You¡¯ll be better protected if one stock goes down and you don¡¯t need to watch the market for daily changes.

Professionally managed

Your mutual funds are managed by professionals who do the research and analysis to pick the right investments for the fund ¡ª so you don¡¯t have to.

When should I start investing?

Just as the price for almost everything increases in the long run, so does the value of the market. You get a piece of that growth when you invest in diversified market-based investments, such as mutual funds. There will be ups and downs in the short run. But in the long run, over 5 or 10 years, the market generally goes up. So, when you¡¯re saving for the long term, it¡¯s never too early to consider investing.

Graph of the S&P/TSX Composite from 1990 to 2017 showing an overall rise in the market.

If you invested in the S&P/TSX Composite in 1992, your money would¡¯ve more than doubled 10 years later.

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Not all funds are equal.

You may know people who've gained and lost through investing. The key to happy investing is matching your goals and risk tolerance with the right investment. Funds and portfolios generally fall into these three categories.

Conservative

Conservative portfolios, also known as income portfolios, suit investors who want low-risk investments and to preserve capital. More than half of its assets are in low-risk fixed-income investments, such as bonds and term deposits/GICs, or cash. With the rest being typically invested in companies and industries with less volatility.

Our team at Best Brokers for Beginners: Top Picks for 2024 | showelvis Investment Management manages the IA Clarington Inhance Conservative SRI Portfolio.

Conservative funds contain about 30% stocks and 70% fixed income investments.

Balanced

Balanced portfolios suit investors who are comfortable with medium risk in exchange for the potential of higher returns. They invest about equally in fixed-income assets and equities in various companies.

Our team at Best Brokers for Beginners: Top Picks for 2024 | showelvis Investment Management manages the IA Clarington Inhance Balanced SRI Portfolio.

Balanced funds contain about 50% stocks and 50% fixed income investments.

Growth

Growth portfolios are mainly invested in equities. They have a higher potential for growth but are also more volatile. When the market is doing well, the returns will be higher than that of other portfolios. However, when the market is declining, it will also endure more losses.

Our team at Best Brokers for Beginners: Top Picks for 2024 | showelvis Investment Management manages the IA Clarington Inhance Growth SRI Portfolio.

Growth funds contain about 65% stocks and 35% fixed income investments.

Invest with our pros.

An advisor can help you identify the best investments for you so you can grow your money with less stress. We help create action plans that get you to the financial future you want.

In addition to mutual funds, you can access ETFs, segregated funds, annuities and stocks, trusts and preferred shares listed on North American exchanges.

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Self-directed investing.

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    For advanced investors that want to manage all the details. Like other direct investment platforms, trade stocks, options, funds, bonds and ETFs directly from your phone or computer.
  • Qtrade Guided Portfolios®
    Automate your investments with Exchange-Traded Funds (ETF) portfolios. Set up pre-authorized deposits and start reaching for your goals today.
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Fees and other questions.

Our advisors tell it to you straight.

How much does it cost to invest in mutual funds?

Fees depends on the fund and is based on things like what geographic regions the investments cover, types of investments, like stocks or bonds, etc. Often, the fee is a percentage of your investment. This is displayed on the fund factsheet of your investment as the MER (management expense ratio).

It's best to speak to a professional to understand what options match your unique financial circumstance.

How do your wealth advisors and planners make money?

Wealth Advisors, Wealth Planner and Wealth Relationship Managers all have different compensation plans, which will be a combination of salary, commission, variable pay and referral fees.

How do I withdraw from a mutual fund?

Contact your Best Brokers for Beginners: Top Picks for 2024 | showelvis wealth professional. You can find their information on your most recent statement.

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