Making the Most of Your Money
As a Summerland Credit Union Member you can rest easy knowing you’ve made the right financial decisions.
It's never too early to start investing in your family's future. Early investment allows for greater choice and flexibility, and these days there are myriad investments available to everyone. The knowledgeable staff at Summerland Credit Union, can help you determine which investments will best help you reach your long-term financial goals.
Basic Types of Investments - Cash, Debt and Equity
Cash is simply money that you have immediate access to through a bank account or other short-term, interest-bearing account like a T-bill. Because of its excellent liquidity, all investors should have a portion of their money in cash instruments, and in this day and age, most already do.
Debt instruments are the second type of investment. These involve loaning your money to the government or a financial institution for a set period of time at a fixed interest rate. Debt instruments include things like Canada Savings Bonds and Term Deposits (GICs) and usually take two to twelve years to mature, usually you can access your money earlier if required, but there may be an associated financial penalty depending on the particulars of the investment. These are low-risk investments, but offer a higher return than cash instruments.
The potential to generate the greatest return for your money lies in equity investments. Most people know this as the stock market, but equity investments also include many lesser-known instruments. There are no time restrictions on how long you must invest your money. There are also no guaranteed returns. But if you know what you're doing, or work with someone who does, the potential for long-term growth is much better than from either cash or debt instruments.
“Beware the investment activity that produces applause; the great moves are usually greeted by yawns.”
Warren Buffett
Investment plans are not the same for everyone. That’s why we have access to a variety of products and services available for all incomes, ages, tolerance to risk and other factors. We can help you find what's right for your lifestyle and goals. Call or visit the Summerland Credit Union or our subsidiary, Summerland Financial Services Ltd. for details.
How to Invest
There are many different ways to invest these days: by phone, online or through a broker, who can set up an investment account that suits your needs. Once that's done, you can keep track of your investment by phone or the internet. You can learn more about potential investment opportunities from brokerages by mail, or on one of hundreds of web sites full of financial and market information.
The important thing is that now, more than ever, it's easy for you to learn about, understand and then choose an investment plan that's right for your family.
Talk to Us Today
Our skilled advisors focus on your goals to offer a personalized investment plan that is uniquely yours. Investing with Summerland Credit Union means not only are your deposits insured, your money stays in the local community to help the Okanagan prosper. Plus, we’ve partnered with Qtrade Direct InvestingTM to provide online investing* solutions for new and experienced investors to reach their investment goals.
© Summerland Credit Union 2024
