Not sure how to make a retirement plan? Read on…
Latest News
Sears pension ‘slap’ shows need to diversify savings + MORE Sep 23rd
Employer-sponsored pension plans force people to save for retirement. But what happens when a company isn't healthy enough to fund them?.... More »
Choosing priorities in retirement planning + MORE Nov 11th
Q: We are in our sixties and still have a $310,000 mortgage. We are paying about $600 per month for life and disability insurance. Can this insurance be cancelled? We’d like to use these funds to help pay down our mortgage sooner.
— Retiring in debt, Vancouver
Ayana Forward is a certi.... More »
Can I receive a share of my ex’s military pension? + MORE Dec 16th
Q: I was married to a Navy man, went through mediation and it was in our divorce settlement that I was entitled to receive half of his military pension. I thought I had to wait until he turned 65 to be entitled to half but I’ve been told that as soon as he left the Navy he was getting his pension..... More »
Best cash-alternative ETFs for Canadian investors 2026 + MORE May 2nd
If the only investment account you have is a registered retirement savings plan (RRSP), you probably don’t need to concern yourself with cash or cash-equivalent holdings. But let’s say you’re in the market for your first home and you’re saving up a down payment. You can’t afford to lose mo.... More »
Tax implications of making transfers between registered accounts + MORE Dec 21st
Ask MoneySense
I had a locked-in pension, which I converted to a life income fund (LIF). I also took advantage of the ability to unlock up to 50% of the LIF within 60 days and put $120,000 into an RRSP. I did not receive any funds—so I was shocked when I received a T4RIF for $120,000, which means .... More »
CPP’s success may signal bigger pensions ahead: Mayers
– thestar.com
In search of higher returns, the Canada Pension Plan is taking a little more risk, something it says can be done safely and prudently.
Will an insured retirement plan save you on taxes?
– moneysense.ca
Q: At 60, I’m in the home stretch for retirement. I’m considering an insured retirement plan as a way to add another tax-preferred source of income. What should I look out for? —Scott Windsor, Toronto
A: I love a good “cost-benefit” question. But you should know that I give a lot of weight to simplicity, so a strategy that uses insurance for something other than risk management rarely scores well in my books. The big question: Are the tax savings worth the fees and the cost of the insurance? Jason Heath, a Toronto fee-for-service financial planner at Objective Financial Partners says, “insurance isn’t always a clear winner, and because you’re giving your money to an insurance company to invest you’re giving up flexibility.” Plus, if you don’t actually need the coverage having it “attached to an investment may be a waste,” he says. Instead, consider other tax efficient strategies such as buying swap-based or corporate-class ETFs, or growth stocks that don’t pay dividends so your return is all deferred capital gains…
A: I love a good “cost-benefit” question. But you should know that I give a lot of weight to simplicity, so a strategy that uses insurance for something other than risk management rarely scores well in my books. The big question: Are the tax savings worth the fees and the cost of the insurance? Jason Heath, a Toronto fee-for-service financial planner at Objective Financial Partners says, “insurance isn’t always a clear winner, and because you’re giving your money to an insurance company to invest you’re giving up flexibility.” Plus, if you don’t actually need the coverage having it “attached to an investment may be a waste,” he says. Instead, consider other tax efficient strategies such as buying swap-based or corporate-class ETFs, or growth stocks that don’t pay dividends so your return is all deferred capital gains…
4 ways an automated RRSP plan will improve your life
– thestar.com
From less stress to greater gains, there are a number of reasons to set up monthly contributions.
