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Get time on your side.

Investing while you’re still young is a winning strategy, even if you don’t have a lot of money.

Let’s see what happens to 2 investors.

a. Investor A: He invests $3,000 per year from ages 30 to 39, for a total of $30,000.

b. Investor B: He also invests $3,000 per year for 20 years, from ages 41 to 60, for a total of $60,000.

With half as much capital, Investor A still ends up with the same value when he’s 60!

It’s normal to be nervous when markets are volatile. But left unchecked, emotions can lead to bad decisions. Learning to manage them will help you reach your goals.

Below are the most common behaviours we see in investors when it comes to the stock market.

What's a stock market investment? It’s an investment in the shares or stock of a company listed on a stock exchange. You might also see this kind of investment referred to as an “equity” or “growth” investment. They have a long-term growth objective and represent a higher risk than fixed-income investments (like bonds) or cash investments (like Treasury bills).

Investor emotions and the stock markets

The biggest gains often follow market corrections.* Pulling your money out early can hurt the long-term performance of your investments. Don’t miss the potential of the best days!

No one can predict the market. That’s why it pays to invest regularly. Take advantage of market downturns and don’t just buy when prices are high. With a periodic investment program - External link. This link will open in a new window., you’ll have the best chance of getting the best average cost per share and capitalizing on market opportunities.

It’s important to diversify your investments. A portfolio with a variety of industries, management styles, countries and asset classes will have a higher return potential and be less vulnerable to volatility.

In periods of high volatility, you may be tempted to deviate from your long-term investment strategy by “parking” your money in so-called safer investments. However, the cost of this short-term solution can be very high if you miss out on a significant rebound.

Talk to a professional to get expert, objective advice tailored to your financial situation. Studies have shown that people who work with an advisor tend to be in better financial health.^[ 1 ] note

Here are the benefits of getting professional advice:

1. Potentially higher net worth
   Improve the likelihood of growing your wealth with the help of an advisor. The earlier you start working with a financial advisor, the longer your assets have an opportunity to grow.^[ 2 ] note
   
2. Better saving rates and habits
   Getting advice from an advisor can help you improve your saving habits and save twice as much as households that manage their own finances.^[ 1 ] note. Households who don’t work with an advisor have a savings rate of 9.2% compared to 11.1% for those who do.
3. Better retirement planning
   Having access to financial advice could have a major impact on how retirement-ready you are. Be more confident about having enough money to last throughout your retirement. Increase your likelihood of having a comfortable retirement.

It makes sense to ask a few questions before entrusting your investments to any institution, large or small. The financial scandals of recent years have made many investors more cautious. Choosing a financial institution is not a decision you should make lightly.

Desjardins Group is the leading cooperative financial group in Canada and the sixth largest cooperative financial group in the world, with assets of close to $404 billion.^[ 3 ] note. It’s been rated one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers by Mediacorp. To meet the diverse needs of its members and clients, Desjardins offers a full range of products and services to individuals and businesses through its extensive distribution network, online platforms and subsidiaries across Canada. Ranked among the world’s strongest banks by The Banker magazine, Desjardins has one of the highest capital ratios and credit ratings in the industry.

The Desjardins Funds are managed by Desjardins Investments Inc., one of the leading investment fund managers in Canada with $39.3 billion in assets under management^[ 4 ] note.

Desjardins Investments offers a wide range of investment funds and stands out for its innovative investment solutions that meet the varied and changing needs of Canadian investors. Recognized for its rigorous, credible and transparent approach, Desjardins Investments plays a leadership role in supporting and promoting responsible investing in Canada through the SocieTerra family of funds and portfolios.

Just enter your data and you’re done!

Easy to use, these tools will help you see how much money you’ll have later on.

• Making retirement planning simple with the new Desjardins retirement calculator  - This link will open in a new window
• How much will your regular instalment investments be worth? - This link will open in a new window
• Calculate the transfer amount you need to reach your goal - This link will open in a new window