When you choose a lending investment, you loan your money to an institution, a company, or an individual. In return for the use of your money, you'll receive interest payments. And at the end of the agreed-upon loan period, you'll also get your original investment returned. Lending investments includes everything from a savings account to Canada Savings Bonds, Guaranteed Investment Certificates, and corporate bonds. In contrast, an ownership investment means you become the actual owner -- or part-owner -- of your investment. Ownership investments -- also called equity investments -- includes real estate, stocks and putting money into a smally business. If the underlying business or property increases in value, the value or your share will also rise.

Lender investors, in effect, loan their money to an institution in return for interest payments. This "loan" might be in the form of a bond, GIC or Treasury bill.

Owner investors actually become partial owners of the companies in which they invest. As such, they are paid a portion of the company's earnings. These investors typically buy equity investments, like stocks or real estate.