ont rel YOGI Berra once said, “this is like deja vu all * Over again.” Every year around this time, I get my own sense of “Here we go again,” as the RRSP advertising _ season kicks into full swing. Mutual ‘ fund companies do their best to: tempt. yield-starved investors by dangling stratos- heric returns from their ottest fund; hoping these - ‘investors bite. And too often, . - they do. ._ .. These so-called super-star wv. fands might seem like ‘the perfect: investment. for your impending -RRSP contribu- ton; but! are -they?. Whether your sidering: shifting: existing _investme rts,” ‘choosing fast year’s to ) dog, five-star, #1 ranked wise strategy..: a Two, very important. facts familiar: “to investment xperts but n necessarily to dividual“ investors’ should affect your decisions, number. ‘one: Last: car's performance. i is not, by useful” predictor of xt year’s performance. is." has” "proven. by istorical. studies: ad heaps of somewhat bor-"” ing empirical evidence. Yer, .d ali’: Stors. still hold’; the: notion ‘that: the. es ula! fe 4 up to. the counter.to: buy -the. test self-help guide for fund re try.comparing this results wit! ks in -last year’s Ww gurus: of the icking game w serformance - ey. driver, of =: investing this year’s ~ RRSP. contribution ‘or: con-- nd: may. not be. ai of. the contrary, ment id be. Gry shown to be chasing the funds that had recently enjoyed “a nice run.” Recent mutual fund sales here in Canada paint a simi- lar picture. In November 1998, Canadians poured $736 million into Canadian stock and balanced funds, while just over half that amount was invested into forcign equity funds. Then, for a short period of time, Canadian markets lagged behind their U.S. and over- as counterparts. The reac- tion of Canadian investors proved sadly predictable. In November 1999, Canadians pulled $337 mil- lion from their domestic equity and balanced funds and hammered over $1 bil- lion into foreign funds, hop- ing last year’s stars would show a repeat performance: Only time will tell if this move pays off. However, investors searching for a profitable New Year’s resolu- tion might want to try a dif- ferent strategy. . Resist the temptation to solely rely on past “perfor- mance and consider other variables. when _ selecting funds for this year’s RRSP contribution. Take the time to learn a bit about the fund’s portfolio managers and their tenure with that fund. Read up on the fund's mandate as described in the prospectus. : Most funds have ‘a written mandate that is light on investment jargon and easy ‘to understand. -- Maintaining: a particular ‘investment ‘style and .set of risk controls is also impor- tant. Together, all of these variables. play an. important role in‘ determining whether - or not‘ long-term. historical .returns are. likely to be _Fepcated over time. You'll be wiser. for doing o. And, chances are, richer as swell.” Chris Carter és an invest- executive with Royal Bank congratulates Jackie ‘Simmons for achieving the accredited position of Personal financial : Planner. PFP isthe premier =: designation of the Institute of «~~ Canadian Bankers. és an Lnvestnent and Retirement Planer tn the North Vancouver area - - and now a certified Personal _] Financial Planner -~- Jackie provides’ © her clients with professional, one-on- ‘one advice for their financial planning and invesiment management needs. - Jackie's extensive training benefits ler clients by helping them make key decisions about estate planning, tax planning, maximizing their. investments, and planning effectively | for their financial security. : jackie ‘can be reached theough any of the North Vancouver area Roya! Bank branches or you can call her directly a a a77-8492 ROYAL BANK ScotiaMcLeod Inc. in North business commentator on the Vancouver. He is also the daily BCTV Morning News. He can be reached at 981-7618. If you have any questions, you can Spm veady for velivement. put wy RSP isn’t.” Max out-the unused contribution room in your RRSP with our Scotia’ RRSP Catch-Up™ Line of Credit, a new, better way to: borrow for investment. You can berrew up to $50,000 at rates as low as Scotiabank prime. But, unlike a loan, you don’t need to reapply each year. Sign up once and go: And you repay on your. terms — all at once or regularly over the long haul. Another quick, smart. investment solution made simple.. Get it working for you now. Call 1-806-575-8888, or visit : www.scotiabank.ca or a branch near you. .. visit his Veb site . n past performance for fund choice at