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Stocks & bonds

Take advantage of a wide range of stocks and bonds to build a powerful, diversified investment portfolio – guided by our experienced advisors.

 
 
 

Investing in stocks

What are stocks?

Stocks (also known as equities or shares) represent partial ownership in a company. When you buy a stock, you’re essentially buying a small piece of that company.

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How do stocks work?

Stocks work like tradeable ownership certificates for a company. You can buy or sell these certificates on the stock market. Their value depends on how well the company is doing. 

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Why invest in stocks?
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Growth potential

Stocks have historically had positive returns over the long-term, making them a great option for growing your investment portfolio.

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Diversification

You can invest in a wide variety of stocks. This ensures you don't have all your eggs in one basket, reducing your portfolio’s overall risk.

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Regular income

Owning stock makes you a shareholder. Some companies pay their shareholders dividends, giving a regular income from the investment.

 
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Are stocks right for me?

Stocks can play a key role in a well-diversified portfolio. They’re particularly useful in certain situations:

  • Investing for returns – if you’re looking for potentially higher returns from your portfolio.

  • Long-term goals – if you have a longer investment horizon. Stocks perform best as part of a long-term strategy.

  • Higher risk tolerance – if you’re comfortable with some volatility, as stock prices rise and fall.

  • Tax focused – if you’re looking to pay less tax. Stock dividends and capital gains are typically more tax efficient than investment interest.


Ready to invest in stocks?

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Investing in bonds

What are bonds?

Bonds are like a loan you give to the government or a company. When you buy a bond, you’re basically lending them your money under the promise that they’ll pay it back with interest.

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How do bonds work?

You buy a bond from the government or a company. They then pay you interest on a regular basis for a set period of time. When that time is up, they pay back the rest of your original investment (the principal). 

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Why invest in bonds?
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Predictable returns

Similar to a term deposit, bonds earn a fixed interest rate. That means you can enjoy dependable growth with this investment.

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Investment protection

As long as you don’t sell your bond early, you’ll get your initial investment back in full. So you can invest with peace of mind.

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Balanced portfolio

Bonds are considered a less volatile investment. As a result, they can be a good way to balance risk in your portfolio. 

 

Are bonds right for me?

Bonds are generally considered a lower risk investment than stocks. They also have their place in a well-diversified portfolio, particularly in certain situations:

  • Stability – if you prefer more predictable investments and lower volatility in your portfolio.

  • Regular income – if you’re looking for an investment with the potential to earn steady returns.

  • Medium to long-term goals – if you don’t need to cash in your investment for a while, ensuring maximum returns.


Ready to invest in bonds?

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Your stocks & bonds questions answered

Stocks and bonds are often talked about together but they’re actually quite different investments. To help you understand, we’ll break down the key difference between stocks and bonds:

Stocks
Bonds

Represent partial ownership in a company

 Represent a loan to the government or a company. Bond owners still have partial ownership in a company

Offer potential for high returns

 Offer potential for steady, regular returns

Can be considered a higher risk investment

 Can be considered a more predictable investment

While there are differences between stocks and bonds, both have their place in a diversified portfolio. If you want help figuring out the best combination of investments for you, book a chat with one of our advisors. Highly experienced, they’ll be happy to help you design a personalized portfolio based on your needs and goals.

Investors interested in how to buy stocks in Canada have two options. They can invest in stocks by:

  • Opening a brokerage account, like our award-winning Qtrade Direct Investing™ platform. This option is often best for experienced investors who know how to research a stock’s health, performance and fit for their portfolio.

  • Working with a financial advisor. This is a good option for investors who are still learning how to buy stocks, since it can be an intimidating process. Our advisors will break down all your options and help design a personalized stock portfolio based on your needs and goals.

Book a chat

In Canada, you can buy bonds through your financial institution or via a brokerage account like our award-winning Qtrade Direct Investing™ platform.

Want to buy bonds but not sure where to start? Book a chat with one of our advisors. They’ll be happy to help you explore your options and determine the right bonds for your portfolio.

This is a good question. When to choose bonds vs stocks really depends on your investment strategy, goals, and comfort level with risk. Bonds can provide a more predictable income. On the other hand, stocks can offer greater growth over time (but also more volatility in your portfolio).

Not sure which investment to choose? Our advisors can help you determine the best ratio of stocks vs bonds for your needs.

Book a chat

Have more questions?

Don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re just a live chat, video, or phone call away when you need us.

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Other solutions you might want

Mutual funds*

Whether you’re just starting out or already have a growing portfolio, enjoy access to a full array of affordable investments professionally managed for you.

Explore mutual funds

Term deposits

Want a strong, predictable investment? Term deposits help you grow your money guaranteed, while enjoying complete protection of your initial investment. 

Explore term deposits

*Mutual funds and other securities are offered through Aviso Wealth, a division of Aviso Financial Inc. Unless otherwise stated, mutual funds, other securities and cash balances are not covered by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation or by any other government deposit insurer that insures deposits in credit unions. 

 

At Gulf & Fraser, we're here to power your possible

GFCU Savings contact

The GFCU Savings call centre hours are open from 7:00am-7:00pm Monday to Friday and 8:00am-4:00pm on Saturday.

Local: 1-250-442-5511

Toll-free: 1-866-442-5511

Email: info@gfcu.com

 
 

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