Geopolitical uncertainty continues to weigh on investor sentiment
Affordability and inflation are the dominant factors shaping how Canadian investors make financial decisions, according to new research released by the Responsible Investment Association (RIA).
The inaugural Investor Pulse Check — a survey-based series designed to track retail investor sentiment between the RIA’s larger annual studies — is based on responses from 1,001 Canadian investors polled by Ipsos between May 1 and May 6, 2026. The findings come amid persistent cost pressures and an uncertain macroeconomic backdrop and carry a Bayesian credibility interval of ±3.5%.
“The investment landscape is evolving rapidly, shaped by economic pressures, geopolitical developments and changing investor expectations,” said Patricia Fletcher, CEO of the Responsible Investment Association. “At a time when affordability pressures, economic uncertainty and geopolitical developments continue to influence investor behaviour, understanding how Canadians are navigating these issues is more important than ever.”
Economic concerns run deep
Beyond personal finances, Canadian investors also expressed concern about broader structural issues. Canada’s economic resilience ranked as the second-most cited factor affecting investment decisions, followed by global geopolitical uncertainty. Corporate accountability and governance, energy and infrastructure development, and climate and environmental risks also emerged as important considerations for a meaningful share of respondents.
The findings align with broader assessments of Canada’s economic outlook in 2026. The Bank of Canada has projected that inflation will rise this year, driven largely by higher oil prices linked to conflict in the Middle East, before moderating in 2027. The central bank has also noted that residential investment remains constrained by housing affordability challenges.
Meanwhile, the federal government’s Spring Economic Update highlighted continued price pressures on essentials such as food and housing and identified heightened global uncertainty as a key economic risk.
Responsible investing terms resonate, but knowledge gaps persist
The Investor Pulse Check also examined how Canadians understand and relate to responsible investing. Multiple terms — including “responsible investing,” “sustainable investing” and “values-aligned investing” — resonated positively with respondents.
However, the report found considerable variation in how investors interpret responsible investing, with associations ranging from environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors and values alignment to risk mitigation and broader social impact.
The findings echo a separate RIA study published earlier this year. The 2026 RIA Investor Opinion Survey, based on a parallel Ipsos poll of 1,001 investors, found that 67% of Canadian investors expressed interest in responsible investing, unchanged from 2025. At the same time, 71% reported knowing little or nothing about the category, highlighting a persistent gap between interest and understanding.
Demand for personalized advice growing
The Investor Pulse Check found growing demand among investors for more tailored guidance from financial advisors. Respondents indicated that discussions about personal values, investment preferences and ESG considerations were important components of holistic financial planning.
That investor demand sits against a documented supply-side shortfall. The RIA’s 2025 Advisor RI Insights Study, based on a survey of 300 Canadian retail investment advisors, found that adoption of responsible investment strategies among advisors fell to 64% in 2025 from 73% in 2023.
The study also found that clients — not advisors — were more often the ones initiating responsible investment conversations, a dynamic the RIA has described as a persistent “service gap.” Nearly half of advisors surveyed said they would support embedding responsible investment questions into the standard Know Your Client process as one way to close that divide.
