Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Guaranteed Investment Certificate shopping experience:

1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Guaranteed Investment Certificate offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Guaranteed Investment Certificate at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.

2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about

3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Guaranteed Investment Certificate? Wrong! If the Guaranteed Investment Certificate is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.

4. Questions - Got a question about Guaranteed Investment Certificate then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....

5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Guaranteed Investment Certificate? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Guaranteed Investment Certificate and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.

6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Guaranteed Investment Certificate wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.

7. Feedback - happy with your Guaranteed Investment Certificate then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.

8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Guaranteed Investment Certificate site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site

9. Contact - got a question about Guaranteed Investment Certificate, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.

10. Payment - ready to pay for your Guaranteed Investment Certificate, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.

A Guaranteed Investment Certificate is a Canada investment that offers a guaranteed rate of return over a fixed period of time, most commonly issued by trust companies or banks. Due to its low risk profile, the return is generally less than other investments such as stock, Bond (finance), or mutual_fund.

GICs can be RRSP or Non Registered, and come in many forms, from conventional term deposits to market investments. GIC's regularly have lifespans of 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 year terms. At maturity they can be cashed as taxable income or renewed for another term. Usually, regular term deposits for financial institutions carry an interest rate from 1-5% pending on the various factors, such as the length of the term and specified interest rates from the Bank of Canada.

However, other GICs such as Market Growth GICs or Market Stock-Indexed GICs have their interest rates determined by the rate of growth of a specific stock market (such as the TSX or S&P 500). For example; if the TSX has a market growth increase of 30% in 3 years, beginning at the same point in time the GIC was issued, the GIC will return with an interest of 30%. However, unlike other GICs there is always a possibility that the market could perform poorly, having even no growth at all, in which the interest rate could return at 0%. Just like regular GICs, Market Growth GICs are risk-free; your capital is guaranteed to remain intact, even if the stock market shrinks.

See also

• Certificate of deposit

External Links

• Investor Education Fund - GICs and Savings Bonds
A Guaranteed Investment Certificate is a Canada investment that offers a guaranteed rate of return over a fixed period of time, most commonly issued by trust companies or banks. Due to its low risk profile, the return is generally less than other investments such as stock, Bond (finance), or mutual_fund.

GICs can be RRSP or Non Registered, and come in many forms, from conventional term deposits to market investments. GIC's regularly have lifespans of 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 year terms. At maturity they can be cashed as taxable income or renewed for another term. Usually, regular term deposits for financial institutions carry an interest rate from 1-5% pending on the various factors, such as the length of the term and specified interest rates from the Bank of Canada.

However, other GICs such as Market Growth GICs or Market Stock-Indexed GICs have their interest rates determined by the rate of growth of a specific stock market (such as the TSX or S&P 500). For example; if the TSX has a market growth increase of 30% in 3 years, beginning at the same point in time the GIC was issued, the GIC will return with an interest of 30%. However, unlike other GICs there is always a possibility that the market could perform poorly, having even no growth at all, in which the interest rate could return at 0%. Just like regular GICs, Market Growth GICs are risk-free; your capital is guaranteed to remain intact, even if the stock market shrinks.

See also
• Certificate of deposit


External Links
• Investor Education Fund - GICs and Savings Bonds