Stock markets’ recent declines may have you questioning your investments or wondering what to do next. The evolving coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, interest rate changes, declining oil prices and other developments have increased market volatility, and asset prices continue to fluctuate as people react to the uncertainty. The truth is, no one can predict the future, let alone what stock prices will be in a week, month or year from now. But there are practical investing strategies that could be helpful in times when market volatility is high.

Investing in stocks is a common way for investors to save and build their wealth over time. However, all investments come with risk and stocks are no different. Learn about ways to manage some of these risks.

Protecting Older and Vulnerable Investors

The Canadian Securities Administrators, which includes the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC), recently proposed changes to protect older and vulnerable investors and give industry the tools to do right by their clients.

The proposals address situations involving diminished mental capacity or the potential financial exploitation of vulnerable clients, covering areas such as Trusted Contact Persons (TCP) and temporary holds where financial exploitation or diminished capacity is suspected.

Under the proposed changes, firms and their representatives will be required to take reasonable steps to obtain the name and contact information of a TCP from their clients, as well as the client's written consent to contact the TCP in specified circumstances.

The proposals also set out the steps that firms must take if they place a temporary hold on a transaction due to a reasonable belief that a vulnerable client is being financially exploited, or that a client lacks mental capacity.

The comment period on the proposals closes on June 3, 2020. Read more

The OSC recently announced two new members of its independent Investor Advisory Panel (IAP). Read their biographies.

The IAP advises and comments on proposed rules, policies and investor protection initiatives, while considering the views of a broad range of investors through consultation with investors and organizations representing investors. Learn more

Protect Your Money

The Canadian Securities Administrators, which includes the OSC, continues to encourage investors to properly research investment opportunities and stay ahead of the tell-tale signs of fraud during Fraud Prevention Month this March. Read the news release

Can you tell if an investment opportunity is really just a scam? Our Scam Spotter Tool can help you learn how to spot the warning signs of investment fraud. Fraudsters may tempt you with pump-and-dump scams and other "get-rich-quick schemes". Our colleagues at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission recently published this alert on coronavirus-related investment scams.

Volatility-linked ETFs

Given the recent stock market volatility, you may have heard the term "fear gauge" or "VIX index" mentioned in the media or among some investors.

Products like volatility-linked ETFs are complex, high-risk investments which benefit from major swings in the market such as a stock market crash. Despite its name, volatility-linked ETFs are very different from most other ETFs. In fact, you could risk major losses if you invest in volatility-linked ETFs without fully understanding how they work, even if you hold them for only a few hours. Learn more

Mutual Funds 101 Video

Mutual funds are one of the most commonly held investment products in Canada. But how do they work and what do you need to know before investing in one? Watch this video to find out.

Check out our new Financial Literacy 101 video series about money and investing basics on YouTube. We're adding new videos throughout the year, so remember to subscribe to get notified whenever we upload new content.

Seniors and Tax

Did you know, older Canadians may be eligible for certain tax benefits and credits? Whether you are working or retired, you need to file your tax return every year. Filing your return could allow you to access certain benefits or credits, even if you don't have income. Check out these tax highlights for seniors that you may be entitled to.

Prepare Financially for Retirement

Transitioning from working life to retirement takes careful financial planning and decision-making. Take a moment to outline your goals, retirement preferences and financial situation. Think about events that could disrupt your retirement plans and how you’d want to deal with them. Check out these 7 ways to prepare financially for retirement

Interactive Investing Chart

The stock market has historically performed well over the long-term, but it also experiences short-term fluctuations and occasional bear markets. And, there’s no guarantee you’ll make money on a specific stock at any given point in time.

Use our Interactive Investing Chart to learn about how certain stock indices and investments have performed historically or over specific time periods. You can go as far back as 1935 and add markers for the years that you reached a personal milestone.

International Diversification

Diversification helps to reduce the risk of your portfolio, and an efficient portfolio has the least possible risk for a given return. One way to diversify is by investing in markets and countries around the world. International markets can provide exposure to additional market sectors that may be unavailable in Canada. Learn more

Yield Curves

Experienced investors may try to predict how interest rate changes will affect bond returns. They use tools like yield curves and duration to help make these predictions and to decide when to hold bonds and when to sell.

Yield curves can be a useful forecasting tool, but there’s no guarantee that a yield curve – and therefore bond prices – will move the way you expect. Learn more

Investor News

More and more people are discovering Investor News.

Over 14,000 people have now signed up for Investor News to stay informed about the latest investor and regulatory initiatives, educational resources, topical issues, key dates and investor warnings and alerts.

If you haven't already done so, subscribe today and let your family, friends and colleagues know that they should subscribe too.