investing – Prosper Canada Learning Hub

Benefits of having a financial plan

Glossary of Common Investing Terms

What is DIY investing and how does it work?

Money and Youth: A guide to financial literacy

Financial Planners and Financial Advisors

Getting your money back: an investor’s guide to navigating Canada’s complaint system

Understanding do-it-yourself (DIY) account holders

Artificial intelligence and investor behaviour

Investor’s guide: cryptocurrencies

Long-haul scammers: Fraudsters who invest time to take your money

Annual information about your investment fees

The Benefits of Working with a CIRO Member

Where We Fit in the Canadian Securities Regulatory Framework

Seeking Financial Compensation?

Complaints Outside of CIRO’s Jurisdiction

The Value of Behaviorally-Informed Financial Advice Study

Learn about the Risk of Crypto Assets

Understanding Investment Performance / Returns

Interest Rates and How They Impact Your Finances

Navigating Finances: Paying Down Debt vs. Investing

Know Your Rights as An Investor

How to Read Your Account Statement and the Things to Focus on

Types of Investments and Types of Accounts

Saving or investing for short-term goals

Spring cleaning your investment portfolio

Focus groups –Understanding Canadian investors

Eight common investment scams and how to spot them

Canadian crypto survey results for 2023

The Future of Wealth- discussion series

Balancing Debt Repayment with Saving for the Future

How volatility affects your investments

Ability to manage: Supportive tools to help community members manage their expenses, saving and debt

Resources

Handouts, video and time stamps

Presentation slides

Video and time stamps

0.22 – Welcome and warm-up

4:29 – Current situation

8:59 – Resources

9:54 – Making the most of your money demo

23:01 – Investing with interest demo

42:15 – Questions and wrap-up

Study explores Canadian attitudes about Crypto

Making the most of your money & Investing with interest: An introduction

Resources

Presentation slides and video time stamps

View the Making the most of your money course.

View the Investing with interest booklet.

Read the presentation slides for this webinar.

Time stamps for the video:

0:50 – Welcome, introductions, and warm-up

3:10 – Making the most of your money overview

12:57 – Demo

25:26 – Investing with interest overview

40:00 – Other resources

44:04 – Q&A

What is risk tolerance in investing?

Inflation and your household budget

Managing money is challenging. In the current economic environment, it has become even more difficult. For people living on a low-income, managing the day-to-day expenses, let alone life changes or emergencies, can be overwhelming.

Prosper Canada has created an online course that you can share or use with your clients to help them access tools and resources to support their daily money management.

Making the most of your money is an easy-to-use, accessible, online course to help people living on a low income organize their finances and explore ways to increase the amount of money coming in and reduce what is going out. This interactive course has activities, videos, handouts and resources that are also downloadable.

5 benefits of paying down debt with your tax refund

The average Canadian tax return amount in 2023 is $2,072 and that money can go a long way when it comes to meeting your financial goals.

But remember, this isn’t a cash windfall; it’s YOUR money that the government borrowed from you, so Credit Canada recommends using it for needs versus wants. More specifically, consider using it to help pay down your debt.

Responsible or sustainable investing

While there is no official definition of responsible or sustainable investing, many investors would like to adopt an investment approach that combines environmental, socials and governance (ESG) factors with traditional financial research.

The Autorité des marchés financiers has compiled information about ESG factors, the challenges of investing while taking ESG factors into account.

Disponible en français.

Make it Count

Make it Count is a parent's resource for youth money management provided by the Manitoba Securities Commission that provides activities and tips to help you incorporate youth money management lessons into your daily routine. You can easily turn errands into education.

Disponible en français

Financial wellness guide: questionnaire

CPA Canada developed the Financial Wellness Guide to help you understand money basics. Complete the online questionnaire to get straightforward tools and information, based on your financial situation, that will help you with your financial goals.

Your financial toolkit

A comprehensive learning program that provides basic information and tools to help adults manage their personal finances and gain the confidence they need to make better financial decisions. Learn more about the program and how to use the learning modules.

Investing with Interest: tips and tools for maximizing your savings

English

Investing with interest: tips and tools for maximizing your savings

IWI – Worksheet #1: What do you want to save for?

IWI – Worksheet #2: Tracking your income and expenses

IWI- Worksheet #3: Are you ready to invest?

IWI- Worksheet #4: What can you invest in?

IWI-Worksheet #5: Where can you get advice?

IWI-Worksheet #6: Watch out for investment frauds and scams

IWI-Worksheet #7: Tips for success

Investing with interest – Resources

Investing with interest – Full booklet

Resources

Crypto Quiz, OSC

Grandparent scams and how to avoid them, OSC

RRSP Savings calculator, OSC

Compound interest calculator, OSC

Emergency fund calculator, OSC

Tips to keep your credit card safe, OSC

Investment products, OSC

Types of fraud, OSC

Multilingual financial resources for Ontarians, OSC

Pay down debt or invest tool, OSC

Reporting fraud, OSC

Planning for retirement, OSC

Investor readiness quiz, OSC

Introduction to investing, OSC

Scam spotter tool, OSC

Your trusted person and why they matter, OSC

Getting Your Money Back; An Investor’s Guide to Navigating Canada’s Complaint System, FAIR Canada

Study explores Canadian attitudes about Crypto, OSC

How the stock market works, OSC

The basics of personal finance, Credit Canada

Investing Academy, OSC

What is risk tolerance in investing, OSC

Eight common investment scams and how to spot them, OSC

4 signs of investment fraud, OSC

Evolution of the fraud pitch , Canadian Anti Fraud Centre

Saving or investing for short-term goals, OSC

Investor questionnaire, CIRO

Fees matter, MFDA

Fee calculator, OSC

Annual information about your investment fees, OSC

Investing basics, CIRO

Selecting an advisor, CIRO

The many faces of elder abuse, OSC

How to Read Your Account Statement and the Things to Focus on, CIRO

What is herd behaviour? OSC

Long-haul scammers: Fraudsters who invest time to take your money, OSC

Cybersecurity and Fraud, CIRO

Investor’s guide: cryptocurrencies, CIRO

Artificial intelligence and investor behaviour, OSC

Loan and Trust, FSRA

Fighting Fraud 101: Smart tips for investors, First Nations Development Institute

Financial Planners and Financial Advisors, FSRA

Glossary of common investing terms, CIRO

Invest smart: Taxes and investing, CIRO

French

L’intérêt d’investir: Conseils et outils pour maximiser votre épargne

01- Dan quel but voulez-vous épargner?

02- Faire le suivi de vos revenus et de vos dépenses

03- Êtes-vous prêt à investir?

04- Dans quoi pouvez-vous investir?

05- Où pouvez-vous obtenir des conseils?

06- Méfiez-vous des fraudes et arnaques

07- Conseils pour réussir

L’intérêt d’investir – Ressources

L’intérêt d’investir – Livret complet

Ressources

Questionnaire sur les cryptoactifs, Commission des valeurs mobilières de l’Ontario

Les arnaques des grands-parents et comment les éviter, Commission des valeurs mobilières de l’Ontario

Calculatrice épargne REER, Commission des valeurs mobilières de l’Ontario

Calculatrice intérêts composés, Commission des valeurs mobilières de l’Ontario

Calculatrice fonds d’urgence, Commission des valeurs mobilières de l’Ontario

Astuces pour garder votre carte de crédit en toute sécurité, Commission des valeurs mobilières de l’Ontario

Produits d’investissement, Commission des valeurs mobilières de l’Ontario

Types de fraude, Commission des valeurs mobilières de l’Ontario

Ressources financières multilingues pour les Ontariennes et les Ontariens, Commission des valeurs mobilières de l’Ontario

Calculatrice rembourser des dettes ou investir, Commission des valeurs mobilières de l’Ontario

Signaler une escroquerie, Commission des valeurs mobilières de l’Ontario

Planification de la retraite, Commission des valeurs mobilières de l’Ontario

Questionnaire préparation des investisseurs, Commission des valeurs mobilières de l’Ontario

Introduction au placement, Commission des valeurs mobilières de l’Ontario

Outil détecteur d’escroquerie, Commission des valeurs mobilières de l’Ontario

Votre personne de confiance et les raisons qui expliquent son importance, Commission des valeurs mobilières de l’Ontario

Comment vous faire rembourser : Un guide de l’investisseur pour mieux s’y retrouver dans le système de traitement des plaintes au Canada, FAIR Canada

Une étude explore les attitudes des Canadiens à l’égard de la cryptomonnaie, Commission des valeurs mobilières de l’Ontario

Le fonctionnement de la bourse, Commission des valeurs mobilières de l’Ontario

Académie d’investissement, Commission des valeurs mobilières de l’Ontario

Quelle est votre tolérance au risque en matière d’investissement? CVMO

Huit escroqueries courantes en matière d’investissement et comment les repérer, CVMO

Quatre signes de fraude liée aux placements, CVMO

Bulletin : Évolution des types de fraudes, Centre centreantifraude du Canada

Épargner ou investir pour réaliser des objectifs à court terme, CVMO

Questionnaire de l’investisseur, OCRI

Calculateur de frais, CVMO

Information annuelle sur vos frais de placement, CVMO

Principes de base en matière de placement, OCRI

Choisir un conseiller, OCRI

Les nobreuses facettes de l’exploitation financière envers les personnes âgées, CVMO

Comment lire votre relevé de compte et les éléments particuliers qu’il contient, OCRI

Les escrocs à l’investissement de longue durée : des fraudeurs qui investissent du temps pour vous soutirer de l’argent, CVMO

La cybersécurité et la fraude, OCRI

Intelligence artificielle et comportement des investisseurs, CVMO

Planificateurs financiers et conseillers financiers, ARSF

Glossaire des placements, OCRI

Investir judicieusement : les impôts et les placements, OCRI

Getting Your Money Back: An Investor’s Guide to Navigating Canada’s Complaint System

If you have a complaint, it is important you fully understand your rights, so that you don’t feel taken advantage of during the process.

After reading the guide, you will:
● Know how and who to contact when you first make a complaint.
● Understand your basic rights during the process, including how much time your bank or investment firm has to resolve your complaint.
● Know when and where to bring your complaint, if you are not satisfied with your bank’s or investment firm’s response.
● Learn what other options may be available to you, if you are still not happy with the outcome.
● Be aware of time limits that may affect you.

Disponible en Francais

OSC study finds many investors overestimate their knowledge

4 Reasons to keep saving even when inflation is high

Investment knowledge quiz

Most people know a little about investing, but they need to know more to be able to manage their investments to meet their goals. Try this quiz by the FCAC to see if your knowledge is basic or more advanced.

Start Your Investment Journey

Before you start investing, it is important to consider your budget and financial goals, and how much risk you are comfortable taking on. Like many things in life, investing comes with its own share of risks and rewards. You can do this on your own or with the help of an advisor.

Social influencers and your finances

Just because someone has a lot of followers doesn’t mean their advice is right for you. Social media influencers are increasingly sharing information about investing. This can be done by ordinary people or by celebrities who have taken an interest in a specific product or investment. They are often called “finfluencers” — financial influencers whose media accounts are focused on money and investing. This article will outline some questions to ask yourself before you choose to invest.

Investing and saving during a recession

If a recession seems likely, consider how your investing and savings plans may be affected. Increases in the cost of living and borrowing, combined with the overall financial uncertainty over the impact of a potential recession, can be enough to cause personal and financial stress. There is no single best way to respond to such times.

Research study: Crypto assets 2022

This study by the Ontario Securities Commission examines Canadians’ crypto ownership and knowledge. It found 13% of Canadians currently own crypto assets or crypto funds. The study also found most Canadians did not have a working knowledge of the practical, legal and regulatory dimensions of crypto assets. Crypto assets were believed to play a key role in the financial system by 38% of those surveyed. The study provides a profile of crypto owners, their reasons for purchasing crypto assets or crypto funds, the role of financial advice, impact of advertising, and the experience of crypto owners with crypto trading platforms.

Investing with confidence for financially vulnerable Canadians

Resources

Presentation slides, handouts, and video time stamps

Read the presentation slides for this webinar.

Download resources provided by webinar speakers:

Time-stamps for the video recording:
3:24 – Agenda and Introductions
6:36 – Audience poll questions
9:33 – FAIR Canada presentation (speaker: Tasmin Waley)
24:07 – Ontario Securities Commission presentation (speaker: Christine Allum)
39:10 – Investor Protection Clinic at Osgoode Hall Law School (speaker: Brigitte Catellier)
51:34 – Q&A

Investment products

There are many investment products, here's some information about them:

Annuities: a contract with a life insurance company. Annuities are most commonly used to generate retirement income.

Bonds: when you buy a bond, you’re lending your money to a company or a government for a set period of time. In return, the issuer pays you interest. On the date the bond becomes due, the issuer is supposed to pay back the face value of the bond to you in full.

Complex investments: these investments may have the potential for higher gains, but carry greater risks.

ETFs: when you buy a share or unit of an ETF, you’re investing in a portfolio that holds a number of different stocks or other investments.

GICs: when you buy a guaranteed investment certificate (GIC), you are agreeing to lend the bank or financial institution your money for a set number of months or years. You are guaranteed to get the amount you deposited back at the end of the term.

Mutual funds & segregated funds: when you buy a mutual fund, your money is combined with the money from other investors, and allows you to buy part of a pool of investments.

Real estate: While real estate investments can offer a range of benefits, there is no guarantee that you will earn an income or profit and, like any investment, there are a number of risks and uncertainties that you need to carefully consider before investing.

Stocks: The stock market brings together people who want to sell stock with those who want to buy stock. When you buy stock (or equity) in a company, you receive a piece of the company and become a part owner.

Pensions & saving plans: if your employer offers contributions to your retirement or other savings plan, take advantage.

Cannabis: Emerging sectors like the cannabis industry have often attracted investors hoping to be among the first to capitalize on the potential growth and high returns of what they believe are untapped markets or products that may be popular in the future.

Cryptoassets: Cryptoassets primarily designed to be a store of value or medium of exchange (e.g., Bitcoin) are often referred to as “digital coins.

Reporting fraud

A comprehensive set of articles are available on the Ontario Securities Commission website on how to identify and report fraud as well as what to do if you have been defrauded.

A guide to the best robo-advisors in Canada for 2022

Robo-advisors first arrived in Canada in the beginning of 2014 presenting young and middle-income investors the option of having their savings passively managed in a bundle of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) matched to their goals and risk tolerance for about a penny on the dollar per year: A perfect set-it-and-forget it solution for people with better things to do.

Fast forward to today and the honeymoon atmosphere has dissipated. Against the backdrop of an extraordinarily long-lived bull market in stocks, active management has made a comeback (not least in the ETF space), exotic asset classes like cryptocurrency are on the rise, and new competition is coming from asset-allocation ETFs that do the job of portfolio management all in one security.

Suddenly robo-advisors find themselves having to prove their worth anew, all the while trying to establish a profitable business model in a low-margin corner of the investment universe. It’s surprising, really, because amid all the competition their fee structures and value proposition are as good as or better than ever.

Investors now must probe deeper in their choice of robo-advisor, asking tough questions around performance, risk and the composition of portfolios. The 2022 survey of the Canadian robo industry shows, they’re not all the same.

Checking registration

Checking registration helps protect you from unqualified or fraudulent individuals. Always check the registration of any person or business trying to sell you an investment or give you investment advice by using the Canadian Securities Administrators’ National Registration Search.

Titles like financial advisor, financial planner, investment consultant, and investment specialist aren’t legally defined terms or official registration categories. Some advisers or dealers may have designations that allow them to use specific titles, such as Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) or Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). Checking registration tells you what specific products and services they are (and aren’t) qualified to offer you, regardless of title.

Let’s talk money- seniors edition

Open, honest conversations about money are one of the keys to building a healthy relationship with your family, across the generations.

With a little preparation, talking about financial matters can help build trust, deepen connections, relieve stress and lead to greater peace of mind.

Yet for many people, these conversations can be difficult. In some families, money is just not something you talk about. The same applies to wills, inheritances, senior living, end-of-life care and many more topics that matter most to seniors.

Let's Talk About Money: Seniors' Edition -- wants to help you change that. There are tips to help parents talk with adult children and tips for adult children to have meaningful money conversations their parents.

The most important thing is to have these conversations early, before there’s a crisis. So let's start talking.

Investing basics

Whether you’re a first-time investor, thinking of saving for your education, or planning for your retirement, FAIR Canada's investing basics may help you on your investing journey.

Compound interest calculator

Using OSC's online calculator, find out how your investment will grow over time with compound interest.

Introduction to investing: A primer for new investors

Whether you’re new to investing, or new to Canada, InvestingIntroduction.ca can help. Visit the Ontario Securities Commission's refreshed website and find resources to help you make more informed investment decisions and better protect your money.

The information is available in 22 languages.

A guide to protect yourself against investment fraud

Scam spotter tool

Are you considering a new investment?

Use this tool to learn how to spot the warning signs of fraud, and to learn how to protect yourself from suspected scams.

Investor readiness quiz

Investing is an important part of planning for a financially secure future. It can battle the effects of inflation on your savings, grow your wealth, and provide sources of income in retirement. The sooner you invest, the longer compound interest can work to grow your savings exponentially. However, there are some important milestones to achieve and questions to consider before you start investing.

Are you ready to invest? Take this quiz to find out!

Pay down debt or invest tool

If you have extra money, this calculator helps you decide whether to invest or pay off debt.

Helping low-income clients retire successfully- Free Course

Investing and The COVID-19 Pandemic: Survey of Canadian Investors

The Investor Office conducted this study to further our understanding of the experiences and behaviours of retail investors during the COVID-19 Pandemic. The study explored several topics including the financial preparedness, savings behaviour, financial situations, changing preference, and trading activity of retail investors. Key findings include that 32 per cent of investors have experienced a decline in their financial situation during the pandemic while 16 per cent have experienced an improvement. Half of investors have not done any trading during the pandemic, but of those who have been trading, 63 per cent have increased their holdings.

Fearless Woman: Financial Literacy and Stock Market Participation

Women are less financially literate than men. It is unclear whether this gap reflects a lack of knowledge or, rather, a lack of confidence. This survey experiment shows that women tend to disproportionately respond “do not know” to questions measuring financial knowledge, but when this response option is unavailable, they often choose the correct answer. The authors find that about one-third of the financial literacy gender gap can be explained by women’s lower confidence levels. Both financial knowledge and confidence explain stock market participation.

Retirement Literacy Website

The ACPM Retirement Literacy Program complements the financial literacy education efforts by the federal and provincial governments, and other organizations.

The website contains a series of quizzes to help improve your knowledge of pensions and retirement savings plans as well as links to financial literacy resources.

Investor Protection Clinic and Living Lab: 2019 Annual Report

The Investor Protection Clinic, the first clinic of its kind in Canada, provides free legal advice to people who believe their investments were mishandled and who cannot afford a lawyer. The Clinic was founded together with the Canadian Foundation for Advancement of Investor Rights (FAIR Canada), an organization that aims to enhance the rights of Canadian shareholders and individual investors.

The 2019 Annual Report summarizes the work of The Clinic, including description of the work and types of cases, example case scenarios of the clients who benefited from The Clinic's services, client data and demographics, and recommendations.

My money in Canada

Are you a newcomer to Canada, or someone who works with newcomers? This online tool will help you explore five money modules to better manage your finances in Canada. Learn about the financial system in Canada, income and expenses, setting goals and saving, credit and credit reports, and filing taxes.

Updated July 26, 2022:

My money in Canada provides important information about Canada’s financial system and promotes positive money management habits to support Canadians to succeed financially. Interactive exercises and checklists support you to make informed choices and to create a customized financial plan that works for you.

Originally designed to support newcomers to Canada as they settle and establish themselves financially, My money in Canada has been updated to serve all Canadians, including those who are new to Canada.

My money in Canada

This online tool will help you learn about the financial system in Canada and how to manage your money. Explore five money modules on banking, income and expenses, money goals and savings, credit, and taxes.

Clients can do the modules in the order they appear, or just the ones they want to use. The tool is intended to be used with clients and settlement workers together, but can also be used by the client on their own if they are comfortable.

Video: Additional CPP

This short video from the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board explains the new additional Canada Pension Plan (CPP).

RRSP Savings Calculator

Use this tool by the OSC to estimate how much your registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) will be worth at retirement and how much income it will provide each year.

TFSA Calculator

This calculator will help you estimate the value of the investments in your TFSA when you’re ready to withdraw them, and compare this amount to the value of your investments in a non-registered plan to see your overall estimated tax savings.

National Investor Research Study

This presentation shows the results of a quantitative study undertaken by the Ontario Securities Commission to assess attitudes, behaviour and knowledge among Canadians pertaining to a variety of investment topics. These topics include retirement planning and conversations about finances.

The Complaints Process for Retail Investments in Canada: A Handbook for Investors

Canadian investors need more and better information to protect themselves both when they act on their own and when they retain lawyers. This handbook is intended to help Canadian investors better understand the choices they face when making a complaint and the impact of those choices. It can also serve as a guide to assist them when they work with lawyers, particularly those whose law practice does not focus on assisting Canadian investors in obtaining financial compensation.