Quiz: What kind of investor am I?

Are you willing to take big risks for a big reward? Or do you err on the side of caution, preferring to stick with the tried and true? There’s no right or wrong way to invest — every investor has a different comfort level, especially when it comes to their hard-earned money.

Here’s a fun quiz to see what investor profile fits your personality:

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1. Your ideal vacation is:

a) A week at the family cottage

b) Off the beaten path in Europe

c) High-stakes gambling in Vegas

d) Rescuing sea turtles in Costa Rica

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2. During an economic downturn, this is your best-case scenario:

a) You’ll settle for lower returns in the long run to avoid volatility now

b) You’ll take some losses now to meet your long-term targets

c) You’re willing to take a hit for a potentially big long-term payoff

d) You’ll ride out the lows to support the companies you believe in

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3. Your idea of a thrill ride is:

a) The latest VR simulation ride

b) Go-kart racing

c) A roller coaster—the scarier, the better

d) Zip-lining through a rainforest

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4. You’re up $1,000 on a game show. Your next step would be to:

a) Stop while you’re ahead and take the guaranteed winnings

b) Risk a portion of your winnings, but not all

c) Double or nothing!

d) Donate your winnings to charity

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5. Which of these would you invest in?

a) Well-known companies with slow but stable growth

b) Tech companies with a track record of growth spurts

c) Start-ups in an emerging industry

d) Companies with a track record of sustainability

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6. Market volatility causes which reaction:

a) You can’t sleep at night

b) You’re concerned, but believe ‘this too shall pass’

c) You’re not losing any sleep over it

d) You stay the course because you believe in your investments

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Also read: How to manage your emotions while investing

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7. When a newfangled smartphone hits the market, you:

a) Aren’t interested — your old smartphone works just fine

b) Will check it out, but will wait a few months until the hype dies down

c) Are the first in line to buy it, bugs and all

d) Wish new tech would slow down — there’s enough electronic waste in landfills

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8. You’ve invested $10,000 and lose $3,000. What do you do?

a) Panic, and sell as fast as you can

b) Hold steady — you’re investing for the long-term

c) Buy more at fire-sale prices

d) Continue to support the companies you’ve invested in

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9. What best describes your philosophy on life?

a) Slow and steady wins the race

b) Life is a balance between what we can control and what we cannot

c) With great risk comes great reward

d) Don’t take more than you give back

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10. When you need to make a big life decision, you:

a) Take the tried-and-true approach — you don’t like surprises

b) Make an informed decision based on research, even if it involves some risk

c) Jump in with both feet, despite the risks

d) Base your decision on how it will affect others around you

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Answers:

Tally up your answers and see how many you selected for A, B, C and D. Which ones rose to the top? If you answered mostly in one of these options, see what that means below — and keep in mind that this is just for fun.

It’s always a good idea to have a discussion with your ACU financial advisor when it comes to investing, assessing your risk levels and making the right decisions for your portfolio.

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Mostly A

Conservative investor: You don’t like to take risks with your hard-earned money. You’d rather invest in stable financial products, even if it means you might miss out on bigger-than-average returns. Knowing you won’t suffer major losses — now or in the long run — helps you sleep at night.

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Mostly Bs

Balanced investor: You’re not risk-averse, but you do err on the side of caution. You can handle some risk because you want bigger returns, but you’re not willing to devote your entire portfolio to risky ventures. You do your research and take calculated risks, and are content with a moderate-growth portfolio.

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Mostly Cs

Aggressive investor: You’re willing to ride the roller coaster of highs and lows in the quest for big returns. You don’t get emotional about market lows. In fact, you use those to your advantage and seek out new investment opportunities. You believe risk, and even setbacks, are necessary to achieve long-term growth.

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Mostly Ds

Ethical investor: You care about your returns, but you also care about the societal impact of your investments. You take environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into consideration as part of your investment portfolio — so you can help save the planet while you save for your future.

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Ready to move beyond the quiz? Talk to an ACU financial advisor to discover what kind of investments fit you best. Contact us to set up an appointment.

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