Managed solutions are a straightforward way to reduce the amount of time you spend on your investments. These are investment portfolios made up of a diverse mix of funds invested in equities, fixed income, cash and other assets. Professional portfolio managers steer the portfolio through shifting market conditions and help protect against extreme market swings.
Your workplace pension gives you advantages that can help you save more so you can retire on your terms. It helps bridge the gap between your personal savings and what you need for your retirement. In some cases, your employer may match a portion of what you contribute.
Segregated funds invest in a variety of stocks and bonds. They’re different than mutual funds. They offer unique protection features that are only available through insurance companies. They’re a great way to save for your retirement and investment goals.
Income annuities can help you step into retirement with the certainty of a steady income stream. It’s a simple way to turn a portion of your savings into regular income – for a fixed period or the rest of your life. You can put a portion of your retirement savings, like your RRSP, into an annuity.
Mutual funds allow you to invest in a portfolio of assets that are managed by professionals. They let you diversify your portfolio more widely than you may be able to do when investing in individual stocks and bonds on your own. Together we can select a fund that gives you the right balance of risk and reward for your financial plan.
Learn about market volatility, how it impacts your investments, and how you can manage it.
Description: This animated video introduces a character named Tim and his advisor with illustrated graphics to show how market volatility can impact your imvestments and how to manage it.
Text: Ask an advisor” appears. The camera zooms out as the text lands in an outlined square. “How does market volatility affect my investments?” fades in below. An illustration of a bar graph draws on the right side of the frame.
Tim: There seems to be lots of ups and downs in the markets these days. What’s that mean for my investments?
Description: Tim and his advisor stand on a bridge in front of a body of water and hold coffee cups. The illustration zooms in on Tim, then on the advisor.
Advisor: Some market volatility is the sign of a normal, healthy market.
Description: A graphic titled Historical Returns appears on screen and draws the S&P/TSX composite total return index between 2004 and 2008.
Advisor: I know big declines in the market can make you question your investment plan.
Description: The graph expands to a falling market around 2009, then an improvement in the market until 2014.
Advisor: But, history has shown that when the market does fall, it eventually comes back even stronger.
Description: The graph flips over a smaller graph titled Retirement. It shows growth between 1% and 3% over a period of time.
Advisor: And that can be good for your investments in the long run.
Description: Screen transitions to a shot of Tim talking.
Tim: Are there things I can do to prepare for volatility?
Description: Screen transitions to a shot of the advisor talking and showing Tim the screen of her phone.
Advisor: There are – some you’re already doing.
Description: The rectangles appear on screen one on top of the other with the text, Investment plan, Long-term goals and Investment risk.
Advisor: Like having an investment plan. Staying focused on your long-term goals. And understanding your tolerance for investment risk.
Description: Screen returns to Tim and the Advisor standing on the bridge.
Advisor: Let’s talk about other strategies to help you manage market volatility.
Text “Let’s talk. Contact me today.” appears onscreen with the Canada Life logo and legal line: “Canada Life and design are trademarks of The Canada Life Assurance Company. canadalife.com 1-888-252-1847.”
Learn how to save more money for your retirement by earning return on your contributions.
Description: Tamira sits on her patio and opens her laptop.
Narrator: When it comes to saving.
Description: Cut to view of laptop.
Narrator: Your contributions aren’t the only way your investments can grow.
Description: She reviews her group retirement and savings plan. The balance, contributions and growth are shown.
Narrator: You can also count on the returns on those contributions.
Description: Camera pans up to reveal a few bills of money as an initial contribution.
Narrator: Both your contributions and any earnings get reinvested.
Description: Camera zooms out. An arrow connects the bills to an investment graphic.
Narrator: Then anything you earn on that money is reinvested.
Description: A larger grouping of bills is connected to a second investment graphic.
Narrator: And anything you earn on that money is reinvested.
Description: A pile of money is connected. The pile is connected to the contribution. All graphics create a cycle.
Narrator: You’re making earnings on your earnings.
Description: Camera pans back to the initial bills shown. There is now a larger pile of money.
Narrator: This pattern is called compounding.
Description: The word “Compounding” appears onscreen.
Narrator: If you contribute to your savings monthly,
Description: Cut to bar graph showing yearly contributions over 5 years.
Narrator: watch how a 5% annual return on your investment.
Description: 5% of earnings is added on top of each yearly contribution.
Narrator: will grow over 10, 15, 20 years and so on.
Description: Camera zooms out to as the graph extends to show contributions over 20 years.
Narrator: With compounding, you make so much more.
Description: 5% of earnings is added on top of each contribution from 6 to 20 years.
Narrator: The longer your money is invested, the more you earn over time.
Description: Camera pans to show total earnings of $203,729 over 20 years as a large number. Small text appears underneath: “$500 monthly with 5% annual earnings.”
Narrator: The key is to start saving early and maintain a long-term focus.
Description: The total moves over to the left side of the frame.
Narrator: An extra five years of saving and earning can make a big difference.
Description: On the right, total earnings of $294,060 over 25 years is compared.
Narrator: So start investing now through your group retirement and savings plan.
Description: Cut to Tamira 5 years later, sitting on the patio of a coffee shop, looking at her phone.
Narrator: Make regular contributions and avoid taking money out.
Description: She receives a notification from her banking application that $500 has been sent to her savings plan.
Narrator: Then watch compounding help your money grow.
Description: Cut to close up of her phone. Her overall investment growth is shown on a line graph.
Narrator: It’s an easy and powerful way to save for your future.
Description: Cut back to Tamira, talking to her partner on the patio.
Narrator: Sign into GRS Access at canadalife.com.
Description: Text “Sign into GRS Access at canadalife.com” appears with Canada Life logo and legal line: Canada Life and design are trademarks of The Canada Life Assurance Company. canadalife.com 1-800-724-3402.
All investments have risk, just some more than others. Manage your exposure by diversifying your investments across different levels of risk within your plan.
Description: Braelynn walks into her kitchen with a bag full of groceries. She sets them down on the counter.
Narrator: What kind of investor are you? Adventurous. Cautious. In between.
Description: She opens her cupboard and places three types of hot sauce on the shelf: hot, mild then medium in between.
Narrator: These are just some ways to express your comfort with investment risk.
Description: Camera zooms in on sauces.
Narrator: All investments have risk, some more than others.
Description: Cut to Braelynn, she stands and thinks.
Narrator: One way to reduce risk is through diversification.
Description: “Diversification” appears onscreen.
Narrator: That means spreading your money around in various investments.
Description: Cut to three pie graphs with investment graphics, each display a meter underneath to indicate a “Lower” or “Higher” amount of risk. Each graph is set to a low or medium level of risk.
Narrator: That way, if the market changes for one investment, you have other investments to keep you balanced.
Description: The investment in the middle becomes smaller and the risk level increases. The other two investments adjust to a lower risk to accommodate.
Narrator: If you think diversifying your investments is complicated, it doesn’t have to be.
Description: Camera pans down to reveal a large question mark, investments fall behind.
Narrator: This is where an asset allocation fund comes in.
Description: A pie graph of an asset allocation fund appears. Investment graphics surround the graph.
Narrator: An asset allocation fund automatically spreads your money amongst several funds, so they help manage risk.
Description: A dollar sign appears in the middle of the asset allocation fund. All investment graphics flip to show dollar signs.
Narrator: You can choose from three different types of asset allocation funds.
Description: Cut to three squares with text in each: “Target date funds,” “Target risk funds” and “Risk-adjusted target date funds.” A cursor enters the frame and clicks on “Target date funds.”
Narrator: Target date funds are based on the year you expect to retire.
Description: A pie graph appears, labelled “Target date funds” with a counter below. The counter rolls to 2050.
Narrator: Target risk funds are based on your comfort with risk.
Description: Five pie graphs appear, labelled “Target risk funds.” A meter appears below to indicate a “Lower” or “Higher” amount of risk. The graphs are arranged from low to high risk: “Conservative,” “Moderate,” “Balanced,” “Advanced” and “Aggressive.”
Narrator: Risk-adjusted target date funds are based both on the year you want to retire and your comfort with risk.
Description: 2050 target date and aggressive target risk fund graphics are shown side-by-side. The label “Risk-adjusted target date funds” appears.
Narrator: Not sure how comfortable you are with risk?
Description: Cut to large question mark.
Narrator: Our investment personality questionnaire can help you figure that out.
Description: Cut to view of hands holding a tablet. The investment personality questionnaire is displayed.
Narrator: Now you can have a diversified investment portfolio that fits your needs and helps you reach your savings goals.
Description: Return to Braelynn in her kitchen, using the medium hot sauce to make dinner.
Narrator: Sign into GRS Access at canadalife.com
The right solutions for you.
We’ll review and monitor your plan regularly, so it works for you today and down the road – wherever that road takes you. I’ll help you choose the financial security products that are right for you.
Let’s get started today.