Better living through investing: make your plan with ACU in partnership with Aviso Wealth

Saving for the future can be intimidating. In fact, more than half of Canadians say around $200 is the difference between making and missing their bill payments—a challenging problem partially caused and certainly compounded by rising inflation and interest rates.

And while the cost of living in Manitoba is lower than in other provinces like Ontario or British Columbia, Manitobans are still feeling the pinch when it comes to expenses like housing, food and transportation. But even under these challenging circumstances, your financial goals —like purchasing a house, saving for retirement or saving for a major life event like a wedding or the birth of a child—are within reach.

ACU in partnership with Aviso Wealth offers specialized savings plans to help you meet your savings goals, and investment expertise to help you make the most of your money.
Set your goals

According to Ryan Fontaine, Senior Investment Advisor at Aviso Wealth, the first step in your financial journey is figuring out what you’re saving for.

Ryan explains that while retirement is probably the most important thing you can save for, it’s also one of the hardest things to visualize.

“It’s a difficult goal to set when you’re young, but you have to paint that retirement picture and put some of your earnings aside today so you can stop working eventually.”

While some employers out there still provide pension plans, Ryan says there are many more that don’t—and that means if you want to retire, you probably need to save and invest.

Whether you’re interested in long-term saving for your retirement or short-term saving for a home expense, it’s important to plan for your financial goals—and that’s where ACU and Aviso Wealth comes in.

Talk to a pro

There are a lot of options out there when it comes to saving and investing your money. Once you’ve figured out your savings goals—a house, a new car, retirement, something else or all of the above—the next step is sorting out your savings plan.

Ryan knows that ACU’s advisors have plenty of expertise in building savings plans.

“Depending on your goal, there are different roads you can take, and you’ll be tackling multiple financial goals at once. That’s why it’s important to speak to an advisor. We have the tools to identify the right approach for your savings goals and guide you on your investment journey”

Some of these tools include tax-free savings accounts (TFSAs), registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs) and first home savings accounts (FHSAs). Regardless of your goals, a professional financial or investment advisor will be able to help you sort through the acronyms and find the right path toward meeting them.

“These are all different places your money can grow, and it’s our job to understand these options and help you choose the right ones for you,” Ryan says.

Know the risks, reap the rewards

Ryan explains that after you’ve identified your savings goals and spoken to a professional, you’ll have decisions to make about where those savings go.

“Once you’ve decided to create a savings plan, there are other choices to make. What kind of investment vehicle do I use? How do I put my money to work?”

There are short-term financial products, like savings accounts with compounding interest or guaranteed investment certificates (GICs). There are also long-term financial products, like mutual funds, stocks and equities.

While short-term financial products generally offer more stability, they tend to offer lower returns over time. They may, however, be the right products for a more conservative investor, and can form a solid foundation for a more complex or nuanced financial strategy that includes other, longer-term products like equities, stocks and mutual funds.

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Examples of short-term financial products:

• High-yield savings account
• GIC
• Government bonds

Examples of long-term financial products:

• Mutual funds
• Stocks and equities

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Ryan elaborates. “If you invest in mutual funds, for example, there’s a mutual fund for every goal with varying levels of risk. But if you’re in pure stocks, short-term volatility is a risk. The value of each stock changes daily. You could see downturns in your portfolio, but over time your portfolio will probably appreciate more than if you were just parking your money in savings.”

ACU in partnership with Aviso Wealth has a plan for you

Considering your financial goals, risk tolerance, current income and lifestyle are all important in creating a comprehensive financial plan that helps you grow your money—and our expert advisors understand the nuances of personalizing an individual financial plan.

Regardless of whether you’re just starting out with savings or looking to learn more about long-term, complex investment strategies, we have a strategy for you.

Book an appointment online, call ACU at 204.958.8588, or stop by any branch to start learning how you can embark on your savings and investment journey.

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Mutual funds and other securities are offered through Aviso Wealth, a division of Aviso Financial Inc.

Mutual funds and other securities are offered through Aviso Wealth, a division of Aviso Financial Inc. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. Unless otherwise stated, mutual fund securities and cash balances are not insured nor guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated.

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The information contained in this article was obtained from sources believed to be reliable; however, we cannot guarantee that it is accurate or complete. This material is for informational and educational purposes and it is not intended to provide specific advice including, without limitation, investment, financial, tax or similar matters.

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