What do you mean Choices?

On a regular basis I have people walking in requesting an investment, for a multitude of reasons... good marketing by all financial institutions on the TV, their mom told them they needed one and my favourite my buddy has one! I'm glad that your buddy has one but what type? At this point I'm looking in to a blank stare... no idea!
Under the RRSP and TFSA umbrella there are many options of where to put your money:

• Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GIC) the rate is fixed and so is the length of time the money is locked in for. PLUS, if you are with a financial institution they are insured.



• RRSP savings account or variable interest rate with a low return, flexible and you can move it at any time.



• Mutual Funds the rate of return depends on how the market is doing. So no guarantee on the rate of return. If you are going to loose sleep at night because the value of your investment is lower then what you invested. It's not as bad as it seems unless you are planning on taking the money out right now... it has time to come back up!



• Stocks and Bonds - the new trend is on-line brokerages. You handle all the research and decisions with the investments through the online brokerage, which may be riskier then Mutual Funds as you are your own boss - no help with advice except for the information on the website - but I know people who are doing quite well with this and it's their hobby or past time!

Each one has it's own strengths - pick the one you feel best with and start today!