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Key takeaways:
Whether investing for retirement or putting money aside to save for a down payment, you want to ensure that your financial plan has the right mix of investments to help you reach your goal. That right mix of investments will depend on your goals, your risk tolerance, and the time horizon for when you’ll need the funds.
Mutual funds and guaranteed investment certificates (GICs) are two of the most popular investment options in Canada. We’ll break down their differences and how they work.
A Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) is a secure investment vehicle where 100% of your original investment is guaranteed, but you can still earn interest at a fixed or variable rate over the life of your investment. While in a GIC, your money is eligible to be protected through the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC).1
Similarly to a savings account, GICs allow you to deposit funds and earn interest on the principal amount, but unlike many savings accounts, you usually have to agree to an investment term during which you don’t remove the funds. GIC terms can range from 30 days to 10 years. However, there are also cashable and redeemable GICs that allow you to take money out before the end of your term.
There are several types of GICs with different interest rates , including cashable GICs, redeemable GICs, market-linked GICs, and non-redeemable GICs. You can hold them in non-registered accounts or registered accounts, such as registered retirement savings plans (RRSP), tax-free savings accounts (TFSA), first home savings account (FHSA) or registered retirement income funds (RRIF).
| Benefits | Considerations |
| No fees | Many banks have a $500 investment minimum |
| Interest paid monthly, annually, or on the date of maturity | Returns are tied to market interest rates |
| Can hold GICs in registered and non-registered accounts | GICs in non-registered accounts are less tax-efficient as returns are taxed as interest income |
| Principal investment is guaranteed | Investors should consider the trade-off between higher returns and security |
| GIC laddering allows you to stagger your GIC maturity dates to allow for flexibility and potentially protect against interest rate risk | Depending on the circumstance you may forfeit interest earned if you take funds out before the end of your term |
A mutual fund is a professionally managed investment that pools money from different investors to invest in stocks, bonds, short-term money market instruments or other securities. They're managed by portfolio managers who use their experience and training to choose which investments to hold and when to buy and sell the fund's investments. One of the benefits of mutual funds is that they diversify your risk by distributing your money over a range of securities, geographies, sectors, asset classes and more.
By investing in a mutual fund, you can invest in several securities at once — which could be time-consuming, complicated and expensive to do on your own. Unsure which mutual fund to choose? It will depend on your unique investment goals, risk tolerance, and preferences. A Scotia advisor can work with you to create a customized financial plan complete with investment recommendations that may include mutual funds that align with your goals, time horizon and risk tolerance.
There several types of mutual funds, including cash equivalent funds, income funds, balanced funds, equity funds, and Portfolio Solutions. Similarly to GICs, you can hold mutual funds in non-registered accounts or registered accounts, such as registered retirement savings plans (RRSP), tax-free savings accounts (TFSA), first home savings account (FHSA) or registered retirement income funds (RRIF). For the benefit of having your investment professionally managed, you pay a mutual fund fee, also known as a Management Expense Ratio (MER), that ranges depending on the type of fund. This covers the cost of advice from your advisor, taxes, operating expenses, and the investment management fee, which pays for professional fund management.
| Benefits | Considerations |
| Some funds have no minimum investments. Mutual funds can be more tax-efficient than GICs and many offer monthly cash flow options. When the income is in the form of a dividend, there are tax advantages, especially for eligible Canadian dividends. | There are fees |
| Built-in diversification and long-term growth potential. | Initial investment not guaranteed |
| Professional investment managers actively keep your investment on track. They do the analysis, security selection, trading, and monitoring. | Performance is not guaranteed |
| Liquidity (ability to buy and sell daily) | No CDIC insurance |
GICs can be solid investments at any stage of life, but they’re optimized for short-term and medium-term financial goals. For example, if you’re saving for a car or vacation and have an investment time horizon of less than three years, a GIC is a great choice. Similarly, if you’re saving for a down payment for a house, a major home renovation or another financial goal with a time horizon of three to five years, a GIC could be a good choice.
However, a GIC isn't a logical fit for something like an emergency fund since your money is tied to the maturity date, so funds aren't easy to withdraw immediately. If you want to access your money in the short term, Cashable/Redeemable GICs are a smart option because you can take out the money at any time.
Whether you should invest in a GIC depends on your income, timeline, and goals. Your best strategy is to speak to an advisor about creating a financial plan that works for you.
Whether you’re saving for retirement, a child’s education, or other important goals, several mutual fund options can help you achieve your financial dreams.
There are many mutual fund options to suit your unique objectives and risk tolerance, ranging from shorter-term cash-equivalent funds to longer-term equity funds. A Scotia advisor can help you find the right solution based on your goals and investing preferences.
Looking to invest in a combination of mutual funds? Portfolio Solutions offer a diversified mix of individual mutual funds that are carefully selected, thoughtfully combined, and continuously managed by experienced investment professionals in a single, convenient solution. From long-term growth to regular monthly income, there’s a Portfolio Solution designed to help you achieve your goals with confidence.
If you're asking yourself, “Should I invest in GICs or mutual funds?" remember there's not one answer. Whether GICs, mutual funds, or both are right for you depends on your personal circumstances. Ready to start investing? A Scotia advisor can help you set financial goals, create customized investment strategies, routinely review your investments, and evaluate your financial plan.
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This article is provided for information purposes only. It is not to be relied upon as financial, tax or investment advice or guarantees about the future, nor should it be considered a recommendation to buy or sell. Information contained in this article, including information relating to interest rates, market conditions, tax rules, and other investment factors are subject to change without notice and The Bank of Nova Scotia is not responsible to update this information. References to any third party product or service, opinion or statement, or the use of any trade, firm or corporation name does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or approval by The Bank of Nova Scotia of any of the products, services or opinions of the third party. All third party sources are believed to be accurate and reliable as of the date of publication and The Bank of Nova Scotia does not guarantee its accuracy or reliability. Readers should consult their own professional advisor for specific financial, investment and/or tax advice tailored to their needs to ensure that individual circumstances are considered properly and action is taken based on the latest available information.
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