Reports
| June 11, 2026
RIA Investor Pulse Check: Spring 2026

Partners






The Investor Pulse Checks gauge retail investor sentiment on responsible investing. The concise and frequent format provides a timely means of tracking investor attitudes across specific issues in response to market, policy, regulatory and public-interest developments.
The inaugural Investor Pulse Check is based on data collected by Ipsos from 1,001 Canadian individual investors between May 1 and May 6, 2026. Investors are defined as individuals who currently own investments such as mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, stocks, bonds or other securities. The poll has a Bayesian credibility interval of ±3.5%.
- Affordability and inflation dominate investor decision-making, cited by roughly half of Canadian investors as having the greatest impact on their investment decisions.
- Investors remain highly focused on economic resilience and geopolitical uncertainty, highlighting concerns that extend beyond personal finances and market performance.
- Multiple responsible investment-related terms resonate with investors, including responsible investing, sustainable investing and values-aligned investing.• Understanding of responsible investing remains fragmented, with investors associating the term with a range of concepts, including ESG factors, values alignment, risk mitigation and impact.
- Investors want more personalized discussions with advisors, including conversations about values, preferences and ESG-related considerations alongside their financial goals.
- Practical guidance matters, with investors seeking examples, case studies and information about risk and return to support investment decisions.
About The Responsible Investment Association (RIA)
The RIA is Canada’s investment industry association with a purpose of entrenching responsible investment (RI) in Canada’s financial ecosystem. The RIA’s membership includes asset managers, asset owners, advisors and service providers. Institutional members collectively manage over $45 trillion in assets globally. Learn more at www.riacanada.ca.


