Marianne Vander Dussen, 23
Occupation
Real estate agent
The portfolio
TD Dividend Growth Fund, Bank of Nova Scotia, Royal Bank of Canada.
The investor
Although she majored in theatre at university, it was the education she received in her younger years that gave rise to Ms. Vander Dussen’s interest in – and career in – real estate. “I lived in 10 different cities, and so I got used to many different houses and neighbourhoods and it became a passion.”
But paying for her degree also focused her attention on investing. “I was sitting on a pile of student debt, and knew there was a huge system in place that revolved around it, but I had no financial literacy.” So she began reading up on money and investing.
Her first investment
Ms. Vander Dussen says she walked into one of the big banks, and an “adviser,” after realizing she only had a little money to invest, simply said, “I’m sorry, but we can’t help you.” She marched across the street to a TD branch and was soon signed up for a $25-a-month automatic RRSP contribution.
Her first stock
It wasn’t books but her grandfather who helped her choose Bank of Nova Scotia. Unfortunately, she bought in the summer of 2007, just before the recession kicked in. One year later, her shares were worth close to half of what she’d paid. “I was kicking myself, but I held on,” she says. “That’s one good thing about being a young investor. If you’re confident and secure in your position and the company has a strong record of growth, you can hold on without losing your shirt.”
Why she’ll stick with blue chips
Despite seeing a friend enjoy a fourfold return from investing in Google, she says she’ll avoid the tech sector. “Those sorts of experiences are hard to duplicate unless you have a finger on the pulse of the industry, which I don’t.” She also is unlikely to be buying oil or mining stocks. “As an environmentalist, that would make me uncomfortable.”
Best move
She is a big fan of the TD Dividend fund, where she has seen her original investment rise some 50 per cent in just a few years.
Worst move
Buying a five-year locked-in GIC was a mistake, Ms. Vander Dussen says. She likens it to being locked into a bad phone contract.
Advice
“Read as much as you can. If you educate yourself, that’s the strongest foundation you can lay. When you’re financially illiterate, you are at the whims of anybody who gives advice.”
Special to The Globe and Mail
Want to share your strategies? E-mail: tony.martin@sympatico.ca
