A surprising 33% of Canadians are feeling opportunistic, analytical and willing to take on risk in their investments this RRSP season, a recent Franklin Templeton Investments Corp. survey reveals.

According to survey of 1,001 Canadians, conducted in early February by Angus Reid, 8% of respondents identify themselves as risk-taking investors, 15% are opportunistic investors and 10% are analytical investors.

Other investors are more cautious. Of those surveyed, 21% said they are suspicious and skeptical of the advice they receive and 13% identify themselves as timid investors. Almost a third of respondents were not sure how to define their investment personality.

Don Reed, president and CEO of Franklin Templeton Investments, said he is not surprised that Canadians are divided on their investment strategies.

“This happens at all market bottoms,” he said, explaining that market downturns make some investors skeptical while others embrace the resulting opportunities.

The investors that reap the most rewards are typically those who see challenging markets as an opportunity to invest, Reed added: “The people that get rewarded are the people that take on more risk early on. They’ll gain from the recovery.”

The national survey found that Western Canadians are the most bullish, with 39% of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba residents describing themselves as opportunistic, analytical and willing to take chances.

Ontario is close behind, with 35% of engaged investors describing themselves as strategic, research-driven and not averse to risk.

Manitoba and Saskatchewan are home to the most risk-takers, at 14%, while Quebec has the fewest, at 6%.

Men are more opportunistic, analytical and risk-taking (40%) than women (25%). Only 4% of Canadians age 55 and older identified themselves as risk-taking investors.