(NC) If your image of investing is of a world stuck in the past, it's time to take another look. Rapidly growing investment choices and technology-based solutions are making it easier for every customer to find investments that fit their needs.

Investment funds based on stocks and bonds are still the choice of many investors. But today, you can augment traditional choices with socially responsible mutual funds that reflect your own values whether your concerns are environmental, geopolitical or centred on fair trade and employment practices.

A growing range of active and passively managed exchange-traded funds can be matched with mutual funds to create a balanced portfolio that better position investors to weather the ups and downs of the capital markets.

Technology is making investing more accessible than ever before. You can now invest online and complete some transactions through mobile applications. Company and independent blogs, calculators, and mock portfolios let you increase your knowledge and confidence before you put your savings on the line.

Firms and advisors are using technology to streamline the investment process, allowing them to spend more time educating and coaching their clients. For investors who don't want advice but want help choosing their investments, new digital advice platforms – sometimes called robo firms – will recommend a pre-selected portfolio for you.

Check out all your options – do your research and speak to a trusted financial advisor to determine the approach that works best for you.

For more information, visit IFIC.CA > Investors

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