The pace of financial news these days can make the idea of investing more complicated and overwhelming than ever. 

But decision paralysis can be costly if it means you’re not putting your money to work for you. If you’re sweating at the prospect of the upcoming RSP deadline, fear not. In this exclusive Q&A, Gaurav Singh, the Senior Vice President of Retail Banking at Tangerine, explains the cost of letting investing fears hold you back and offers his best advice for simplifying things and making confident investment decisions.

CB: Thanks for sitting down with Canadian Business, Gaurav. To start, what are some common feelings you hear from newbie investors?

Singh: Making financial decisions can feel overwhelming and complex, no matter how well-versed you are in investing. Between affordability concerns, product confusion and an overwhelming number of choices, investing requires you to make decisions about what to do with your money amidst a lot of uncertainty. Of course, that feels difficult. That’s why, taking a different approach, one that underscores simplicity is a great option, especially when starting out.

CB: What are some other things that hold people back when it comes to making investment decisions? 

Singh: A big one is that people think you need to have a lot to get started. Fun fact: you don’t! At Tangerine, you can start investing with just $25 and set up automatic contributions to keep you on track, hassle free. The earlier you start investing, the faster your money will work for you. 

Making financial decisions can also feel overwhelming and complex no matter how well-versed you are in investing. Between affordability concerns, product confusion and an overwhelming number of choices, people are now presented with the decision of what to do with their money amidst a lot of uncertainty. Now more than ever, simple is better. By focusing on you and your goals, and taking simple steps toward achieving them, you’ll stay on track.

CB: People often say it’s time in the market that counts more than timing your investments. Is that what they mean? What’s the takeaway for young investors? 

Singh: The best way to explain it is that investing is a long game and a tool for achieving longer-term goals. With that in mind, instead of trying to time your investments based on what’s happening in the market or what’s trendy, it’s more important to begin to start investing early to realize gains over the long-term. I have some personal experience with this myself. I started investing in 2008. At the time, like many, I had questions and hesitations, but Tangerine’s process made me feel confident and supported in establishing my goals. 24 years later, seeing how those early investments have grown for me and my family has reinforced my belief in the power of long-term investing. I am now thanking my younger self!  

I have some personal experience with this myself. I started investing in 2008, back when a trusted colleague encouraged me to start with Tangerine Investment Funds. At the time, like many, I had questions and hesitations, but Tangerine’s process made me feel confident and supported in establishing my goals and taking the leap. 24 years later, seeing how those early investments have grown for me and my family has reinforced my belief in the power of long-term investing. I am now thanking my younger self!

CB: So what do you recommend to people who are grappling with these decisions now?

Singh: The number one thing is to look for an investment provider that feels like the right fit for you. Tangerine’s process, whether it’s through our mobile app, or reaching out to one of our investment experts, makes it easy for you to get started and feel confident. I would also encourage Canadians to remember that you can’t control what is happening in the macro-economic environment. As we talked about, time-in-market is far more important than timing the market. So, focus on your goals—it will help quiet the noise and allow you to be more decisive. 

CB: How do Tangerine’s investment products simplify investing? 

Singh: Our approach is all about investing solutions that are tailored to you. We offer a simplified user experience, on mobile or web, complemented by simple product offerings, tailored to your risk tolerance and growth needs—making it easier to get started. 

We also offer low-fee, passively managed funds that keep up with the markets for you, as well as globally diversified portfolios that offer stocks from different countries – no need to keep all your eggs in one basket. We have a proven track record of investment performance, including winning three FundGrade A+® Awards in 2024 for our Socially Responsible Investing portfolios, which had consistent and outstanding performance throughout the year.

CB: Any final insights or takeaways for Canadian Business readers? 

Singh: If I could leave you with one takeaway, it would be this — keep it simple, focus on your goals and always remember — time-in-market is far more important than timing the market. Invest what you can now, and your future self will thank you. 

Visit https://www.tangerine.ca/en/personal/invest to learn more about Tangerine’s uncomplicated investing today.