How to go about securing the best Retirement Plan in Canada.
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How to double your CPP income Apr 25th
A series of academic papers being rolled out by the National Institute on Ageing (NIA) has added fuel to the oft-argued case for delaying benefits for the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) to the latest possible age: 70.
As I reported on my own site, when an introduction and ove.... More »
TFSA contribution room calculator + MORE Jan 11th
Find out your current tax-free savings account (TFSA) contribution limit by using this calculator.
TFSA is a bit of a misnomer. While you can use it for straightforward savings, think of it more accurately as an investment holding account to store things like exchange-traded funds .... More »
Can I withdraw from RRSPs to pay bills? + MORE Apr 20th
What are the cons to withdrawing RRSP savings of $25,000 to pay off some unexpected bills I have incurred?—Anonymous
Withdrawing RRSPs when you’re not retired
Ahh, the unexpected bills.
Anonymous, I’ll give you my initial thoughts first, and then I’ll review the cons of withdrawing .... More »
Paying yourself first Nov 2nd
There is perhaps no single piece of financial advice more frequently repeated than “pay yourself first.” And with good reason. It’s tough to grow savings if you prioritize all your spending needs and wants ahead of putting money away. While some of us fully intend to stash whatever is left at .... More »
What is the CPP Survivor’s Pension? How can Canadians claim this benefit? + MORE Feb 15th
Ask MoneySense
My wife passed away, and I heard about the survivor’s pension. Can you tell me more about this benefit and how to receive it?—Kevin
What is the CPP Survivor’s Pension?
Thanks for your email, Kevin. Losing a spouse or common-law partner is one of the most challenging e.... More »
Do I need to retire my debt, before I retire myself?
– moneysense.ca
Q: So, I’m retiring (single male 65) with $850,000 total in RRSPs and a DCP where I currently work.
I have no debt. I owe $50,000 on a $500,000 home. I pay $730/month. Mortgage is due May 2019. Penalty would be minimal. Should I pay it out in 2018, my first year ‘unemployed’? What are my options?
—Art
A: Retiring debt-free should be a goal for Canadians in their 50s and 60s, but it’s not always possible. And it’s not always bad to retire with debt either. I think yours is a good case study, Art, to illustrate this concept.
With a mortgage that is only 10% of your home value and a net worth of $1.3 million, a $50,000 mortgage doesn’t seem like much, but I understand your dilemma. You’d like to get rid of it and you have this money sitting in your RRSP and your employer defined contribution (DC) pension plan that you could use.
Ask a Planner: Leave your question for Jason Heath »
The problem is, to pay off $50,000 of mortgage debt, you would likely need to take a withdrawal of $65,000 from your investments to be left with $50,000 pre-tax…
