Should I invest in equities?

Greater risk means greater return, you might have heard of this saying. Still, many investors shy away from equity investments, which can be found in actively managed mutual funds, fearing the stock market’s potential volatility.

It’s true that over the short term, equity returns can fluctuate substantially, but historically, mutual funds tend to become less volatile the longer you hold on to them, while continuing to provide the potential for growth. On the other hand, fixed income investments, such as guaranteed investments certificates (GICs) and bonds, may generate consistent returns, but their growth tends to be limited.

While it’s important to be aware of risk, being too conservative can also be risky. These “safe” investments alone may not generate the growth you desire to build retirement savings – especially when inflation is factored in. Most GICs also have a lock-in period, where you pay a penalty for pulling out money before the maturity date, which can be 3 months to 5 years. Diversification is the best solution to find a balance between risk and returns. Actively managed funds can invest in both equities and fixed income.

Here’s how actively managed funds compare to GICs:

What are the benefits of investing in equities? Putting at least some of your money in equities may give you a better chance of reaching your savings goals. And the longer time frame you have to invest for, the less of a concern volatility should be. Let’s look at the comparison of investments over the past 40 years. Starting with investments made over a one-year period, the chart below shows lots of volatility across asset classes and equities being more volatile in the short term. Then, if we look at investments over 20-year periods, the chart shows that equities start to line up with bonds and become less volatile.

Sources: Refinitiv. Indexes used: Canadian equities, S&P/TSX Composite Index; U.S. equities, S&P 500 Index; global equities, MSCI World Index; Canadian bonds, FTSE Canada Universe Bond Index. Based on monthly total returns (CDN$), except S&P 500 Index. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The index returns presented are calculated monthly total returns in CDN$ (includes reinvested dividends) from December 1980 to December 2019. The three-, five-, ten- and 20-year periods reflect annualized returns. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. Returns are in CDN$ and include reinvested dividends. As at December 31, 2019. Factoring inflation into your returns When calculating your investment goals, it is important to factor in inflation. In Canada, the annual inflation rate hovers around 2%, meaning the relative value of $1,000 today drops to about $980 next year. Although you may still have $1,000 in your savings account next year, the price of goods and cost of living may have risen in that time frame. This means next year, your $1,000 will be able to buy the same amount as if you had $980 today.

As you can see, there are risks to relying on low inflation for your investments, the future holds no guarantees – and even low inflation rates can eat away at your savings.

The risk of inflation is one reason so-called “safe” investments such as GICs may not be so safe after all. Often they have low returns, so on their own they may not generate enough to meet your goals once the increased cost of living is factored in. Consider diversifying your portfolio with equities for better growth potential to offset the impact of inflation.

Now, let’s look at what happens to your purchasing power over a longer time frame due to inflation. The chart below shows the effect of inflation on $10,000. Even at the relatively low rate of 2%, $10,000 shrinks to $6,729 of purchasing power in 20 years.

Source: Fidelity Investments Canada ULC.