Why invest with Co-operators?

If the thought of portfolio management makes you feel a little uneasy, you’re not alone. According to a 2023 Co-operators survey, just one quarter (28%) of Canadians have confidence in their ability to pick investments that will make money.

Of those surveyed:

• Just 37% believe their current investing habits will set them up for retirement.
• Stock market fluctuations make more than one-third (36%) hesitant to invest.
• Nearly half (44%) feel like they don’t have enough money to invest in the first place.

This skepticism underscores the fact that Canadians need access to long-term, trusted financial advice and solutions. And that’s where we come in.

Expert guidance – like the kind we offer – can boost your confidence around saving and investing, so you can build the future you want. Here are the four main reasons why more and more Canadians are choosing to invest with us.

1. Our personalized, holistic advice

We know that one-size-fits-all planning doesn’t work. The reason: your situation is unique. Which, by default, makes your “best” way to invest unique, too.

Our personalized approach is holistic. That’s a fancy way of saying that we’ll assess your full picture – your needs and lifestyle, your investments and insurance, your immediate and long-term goals – to offer the recommendations that are right for you. With advice like this, you can:

• Set good savings habits and achievable retirement goals
• Choose suitable products for your situation
• Create a comprehensive, easy-to-follow financial roadmap
• Regularly review (and adjust) your plan and portfolio to ensure that you’re on track
• Protect against emotional and uninformed investing decisions

Working with a financial representative can also alleviate the stress around investing. Of those who choose professional advice, two in three (58%) say their advisor helps them feel confident about their financial decisions. And nearly the same amount, 56%, worry less about their financial situation overall.

2. Our wide range of solutions

You probably know us as one of Canada’s top insurers. But did you know that our investing side is equally trusted? Like all the top Canadian banking institutions, we offer effective savings and retirement accounts, including:

• Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs) for compounded, tax-deferred growth on your retirement savings.
• Tax-Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs), offering flexibility and tax-free earnings for your savings.
• Registered Education Savings Plans (RESPs), which let you save for a child’s education with the help of government grants.
• Registered Disability Savings Plans (RDSPs) to support the long-term security of a person with a disability.
• Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIFs), as a way to continue investing during retirement, while drawing a monthly income.
• Non-registered accounts to invest extra cash when you’ve reached the limits for your registered accounts.

Also like the banks, we’ve got the investments you need to fill these accounts and make money – whether you’re seeking the growth potential of mutual funds, the investment-protecting power of segregated funds, the guaranteed income of annuities, or the values-based approach of sustainable investing. Or maybe you want a mix of it all! That’s fine, too.

So how are we different? Many banks offer only their own funds. This limits the variety of offerings on their product shelves. At Co-operators, we offer our own carefully designed funds, along with products from leading Canadian fund managers – like Fidelity Canada, Franklin Templeton, Mackenzie Investments and more. Access to a wider range of products allows us to match the most suitable investments to your goals, and to construct a more flexible portfolio that can change with your life.

Are you on track to meet your retirement savings goals? Find out in just a few minutes by trying our RRSP calculators.

3. Our people-first approach

However you invest, it’s good to have a sense of your values – and what’s important to you – before choosing a financial services provider. For example, is putting people before profit important to you? What about a strong track record around social and environmental issues? Considerations like these are important, because they can point you to the company that most accurately reflects your philosophies.

At Co-operators, we’re committed to building social, economic and environmental resiliency for individuals and communities. Guided by our co-operative principles, we pride ourselves on offering transparent financial advice. We align our business strategies with the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. And more than 20% of our total portfolio (the highest proportion of any Canadian financial institution) is dedicated to impact investments, which contribute to positive change across the country. In other words, we’re invested, too.

4. Our trusted, long-standing reputation

Often overlooked, finding your “Why” around investing can be as important as finding the right provider. When you know why you’re investing, it serves as a foundation for your decisions moving forward and allows you to stay true to your goals. And that can lead to better results.

For more than 75 years, Canadians have counted on us to help them find their “Why.” That means you can expect a lasting partnership. Our financial representatives are deeply rooted in the communities they serve; they’ll be there to get you started and see you succeed.

So, back to that survey. We found that 60% of respondents believe they make better financial decisions when they work with a financial representative than they would make on their own. Want to feel more confident about your financial future?