Investing involves committing money in order to earn a financial return and is a great way to save towards your goals or create wealth over time.

There is a preconceived notion that you need a lot of money to start investing, but investing small amounts of money is a great habit to get into and your money will add up over time. If you have contributed to a savings account, then you likely have enough money to make the transition from a savings account to an investment account.

What are you saving for? Identifying your intentions at the outset will make later decisions more straightforward and will help us recommend the best course of action for you and your goals.

To help you reach your goals, you can put your investment products in:

• Government-registered plans and accounts which are tax-free (TFSAs) or tax-sheltered (RRSPs and RESPs), or

• Non-registered accounts that are not tax-free or tax-sheltered but allow for much more flexibility.

Once you’ve figured out your investment goals, you can choose which products you’d like to hold:

• Guaranteed investment certificates (GICs)

• Cash (investment account)

• Mutual funds

• Treasury bills

• Bonds

• Equities

• Exchange-traded funds (ETFs)

• High-interest savings accounts

All investors - from individual investors to professional money managers - have their own investment style that suits their particular financial objectives. You can take an active, passive or hybrid investing approach.

It’s important to note that the style implemented in a portfolio will impact everything from risk to return and will determine the types of investments that will be held or avoided.