March is Fraud Prevention Month. Always take your time to make an informed investment decision and ask questions. And if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Remember to check the registration of any person or business trying to sell you an investment or give you investment advice. Registration helps protect you from unqualified or fraudulent individuals. Learn more

Recognize, Reject and Report Fraud

This morning, Investor Office Director Tyler Fleming joined partners to kick off Fraud Prevention Month at the Toronto Police Service's news conference to help people recognize, reject and report investment fraud. 

Investment scams have targeted millions of Canadians, with 1 in 25 Canadians reporting being a victim of these crimes. Tyler shared these commons signs of investment fraud and other tips to help investors protect their money.

In general, higher-risk investments offer higher potential returns, and lower-risk investments offer lower returns. This is known as the risk-return relationship. When you buy investments like stocks, there’s no guarantee you’ll make money. And the risk of losing money increases with the potential return. Investments that are considered low risk typically have returns similar to GIC rates. If your expected return is higher than this, you’re taking more risk with your money. Learn more about the risks of investing.

The sources of “hot tips” or “insider information” don’t have your best interests in mind. Think about why they’re offering you tips, and how they benefit by telling you about them. If the hot tip is false, you will lose your money if you act on it. If it is really inside information about a public company, it would be illegal to act on it under insider trading laws. Learn more about reporting wrongdoing.

Scammers use high-pressure sales tactics. If you’re asked to make a decision right away, or are presented with a limited time offer, it’s likely not in your best interests. Scammers know that if you have time to check things out, you may not fall for their scam. Know the answers to these 7 questions before you invest.

Before you invest, check the registration and background of the person offering you the investment. In general, anyone selling securities or offering investment advice must be registered with their provincial securities regulator. Learn more at CheckBeforeYouInvest.ca

OSC Chair and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Maureen Jensen recently announced her decision to step down, effective April 15, 2020.

Maureen is the first woman to serve as Chair and CEO of the OSC. Under her leadership, the OSC finalized Client Focused Reforms, which establish a higher level of investor protection. It launched a successful whistleblower program, which has paid out awards of $7.5 million and continues to receive increasingly high-quality tips. Most recently, the OSC announced 107 regulatory changes to reduce burden for market participants while maintaining critical investor protections.

All of us at the OSC and so many investor and industry stakeholders and friends thank Maureen for her efforts and lasting legacy in support of the people and businesses in Ontario's capital markets. We'll miss you, Maureen, and wish you all the best! Read more

Deferred Sales Charge Option

The OSC is proposing a rule that would restrict the use of the deferred sales charge (DSC) option in the sale of mutual funds. Stakeholders are invited to submit comments in writing by May 21, 2020. Learn more

Tax Season

The 2020 tax filing season is here. For most Canadians, 2019 tax returns must be filed on or before April 30, 2020. If you or your spouse is self-employed, you have until June 15, 2020 to file your return, but any balance owing must be paid on or before April 30, 2020. Visit the Canada Revenue Agency website for more important dates for individuals.

As an investor, you may have to pay taxes on some or all your investment returns such as interest, dividends and capital gains. The amount of taxes you pay, if any, depends on your income, type of investment income, and whether the investments are held in a tax-sheltered plan, like a TFSA, or not. Our Understanding Tax hub on GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca has more information on how income tax works and the different tax deductions and credits available.

Using RRSPs to Reduce Your Taxes

Today (March 2) is the last day to make an RRSP contribution for the 2019 tax year.

Your RRSP contributions can be claimed as a deduction on your tax return. For example, if you’re in the top tax bracket in Ontario, every $1,000 you contribute reduces the tax you pay by approximately $535. And if your income is lower in a year, you can carry forward the deduction for your contribution to a future year when your income may be higher. That way, your tax savings are greater when you’re in a higher tax bracket. Learn more

RRSP Savings Calculator

How much money could you have in retirement? Use our RRSP Savings Calculator to help you estimate how much your RRSP could be worth at retirement and how much income it could provide each year.

Visit GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca for more popular and free articles, tools and calculators to help you with your finances.

Volatility in the Stock Market

It’s natural to be nervous when markets are volatile, and you may even be tempted to start selling out of fear. A well-defined investment plan is important because it can give you a clearer understanding of your financial goals and guide you on what steps to take for navigating market volatility. We've put together these 4 tips for dealing with market volatility to help you.  

Our next telephone townhall is on March 12, 2020. As part of Fraud Prevention Month activities, OSC staff will share tips on investment fraud prevention and answer your questions.

Telephone townhalls are a way for the Investor Office to connect with thousands of Ontarians at a time, in the comfort of their own home. Telephone townhalls work much like a call-in radio show where OSC staff provide information, answer questions and conduct live polls over the course of one hour.

Free registration