HERE’S a checklist from Bank of 26 - North Shore News ~ Wednesday, January 26, 2000 New year resolutions for ii of resolutions to keep your finances healthy Montreal’s First Canadian Funds Inc., year: “My money not only talks, it speaks Rive languages.” - . Average annual compound rates of return’: 1 Year 3¥ear - 5 Year 10 Year pe Stices ae oes tome - Latin American Fund’ aight ag spans f “Foreign markets give you two big upsides: better growth: potential . and more diversification. Still, most Canadians don’t take full , ,advantage of the 20% foreign content limit and of the potential better "returns found abroad. Our international funds are a smart way for _- you to max out on this. And our automatic monitoring ensures EO ; you never exceed your limit. oo Another quick, smart investment solution made simple. S Db Bee et it working for you now. Call 1-800-575-8888, or visit sey oo oe oan ‘www.scotiabank.ca or a branch near you, Life's looking up. : ®@ Registered trademark of The Bank of Nova Scotia. ™ Trademark of The Bank of Nova Scatia.*Important information about .. Scotia Mutual Funds is contained in the simplified prospectus, a copy of which can be obtained at Scotiabank, National Trust and Montreal Trust branches and should be read carefully before investing. Units of Scotia Mutual Funds are not insured by *. the Canada Deposit insurance Corporation, the Régie d'asstirance-dépdét du Québec or by any other government deposit insurer, are nct guaranteed by The Benk of Nova Scotia, Nationa! Trust or Montreal Trust. Scotia Securities Inc. is a corporate entity separate ‘. from, though wholly owned by, The Bank of Nova Scotia. Unit values and investment returns will fluctuate. indicat rates of return are the historical annual compounded total returns including changes in unit value and reinvestment of all ’- distributions. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. Performance as of December 31, 1999. © throughout the entire @ Review your investment profile — what are your long- and short-term objectives, and what’s your tolerance for risk? For example, if you are saving for a retirement that is more than 10 years away, jou should have equity invest- ments, since they offer higher returns for long-term invest- ing. Mi Maximize your foreign con- tent. You are allowed 20% under the current guidelines, but there are strategies to increase foreign content - beyond that limit. & Make sure your investments are diversified. ‘Studies show - downs. that more than 90% of invest- ment performance depends on diversification rather than the performance of individual investments. Use an asset allo- cation service such as MatchMaker from ‘First - Canadian Funds Inc. to help - develop a diversified portfolio of investments based on your goals and tolerance for risk. @ Invest regularly and. start early — monthly contribu-, ’ tions through a continvous - purchase plan make investing simpler, put. your money to work sooner and allow you to smooth out market ups and: WE ail know that the stock market is unpre- . dictable, and over the past year it’s had more than its share of ups and downs. ; When the market was down, some people thought about cashing in their invest: ments, or not contributing to their RRSP. “But ‘You’ can. actually benefit from: market corrections,” . . says Ed™ Legadins, president and CEO of the Bank. of Montreal’s First Canadian Funds. He. explains it like this: : Think of the stock market as a store, but instead of sell- ing clothes or groceries, it sells shares of companies. When prices in the store are high, it means that the market ‘is up. When the market is - down, it means there’s a sale on. eg So, if you coasider selling because ning from the store when Accountants of British Columbia have released’. a handy reference guide’ covering general per- '. sonal tax issues and’, need to know informa- tion on RRSPs for this tax seasom.) “ean. bay _more:. fu t . when. the price is low. or:“on “the: market is” down,”: you’re actually run-. " - ing ‘the’. Certifie * The’CGA Tax Tips and _ RRSP Guide for 1999/2600 - -is an easy to follow introduc-- there’s a sale on: Why does i rif there’s .a:“sale”. *s down, and stocks are on ‘sale’, you get a. deal: because. you. can buy more for your money,”. says Legzdins. — : The best way to. benefit from the market's ‘ups“ and. downs ‘is to- invest. regularl This means not waiting: unl the ‘March ‘deadline: to’ make your RRSP contribution." _ By: contributing: to: your: RRSP. on a monthly basis you -: id: units sale” and . fewer ‘when the price. is’ high, “helping” to reduce the: average unit: price _ over the long term. © : 2 > Making ~ monthly RRSP contributions .-* puts”: you ‘ups and’ downs, ‘you : never-: have fs) about ‘scrambling; to, make"a last minute lump: bution. :- well.as general ‘principles will help plan for 200 Andividuals': may, obtain free copy of this guide by call General Accountants: Association? of.