Can I withdraw from RRSPs to pay bills? + MORE Apr 20th

There are plenty of retirement plan options in Canada! Stay on top of the best plans right here.
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Reducing risk in an RESP: How to invest as your kid approaches college or university + MORE Oct 5th

If you’ve opened a registered education savings plan (RESP) for your child or grandchild, congratulations. You’ve taken the first step towards financing their future college, university or trade school education. And now your family can start benefiting from generous government grants worth thou.... More »

RRIF withdrawals: What should seniors with million-dollar portfolios do? Nov 16th

Ask MoneySense I have invested well and now I am in my 80s. My RIF is almost $3 million and is going to attract heavy taxes. My other investments are about $2 million, some with capital gains which we are going to donate to charity. Any suggestions on how to reduce the huge tax liability? Should .... More »
 retirement savings plan

Making sense of the markets this week: December 24, 2023 Dec 28th

Kyle Prevost, creator of 4 Steps to a Worry-Free Retirement, Canada’s DIY retirement planning course, shares financial headlines and offers context for Canadian investors. It’s a tough job, but… It’s really hard to predict what the investment world will do. It’s even harder to predic.... More »

Financial hardship withdrawal exceptions and increasing income in retirement + MORE Apr 4th

Ask MoneySense I am in B.C., Canada. I moved my LIRA into a LIF two years ago. I have taken the maximum annual withdrawals for each year. I thought it’d be smart to start taking it. How can I get more out of it? I need the funds to help deal with bill payments. All my monthly i.... More »
 retirement planning

Nicholas Hui, P.Eng, Certified Financial Planner + MORE Mar 22nd

Who is Nicholas Hui? Nicholas Hui was an automotive engineer for 20 years before becoming a Certified Financial Planner. He brings the same systematic approach from his engineering background to his practise now as an advice-only planner. Nicholas specializes in helping young families and profess.... More »
Million Dollar Journey editor and Canadian Financial Summit founder Kyle Prevost shares financial headlines and offers context for Canadian investors.

If a TFSA and an RRSP had a child: The new FHSA

As part of the 2022 budget, the government unveiled its new tax-free first home savings account (FFHSA, but I prefer FHSA as it’s less of a mouthful). And it will be a great way for first-time homebuyers to save up part of their down payment. In a nutshell, here’s what to know about the FHSA:

It allows Canadians to save and invest $8,000 per year, up to a lifetime maximum of $40,000.If you miss contributing in a year, you can’t “make up for it” by carrying forward contribution room in the years to come like you could with a tax-free savings account (TFSA) or a registered retirement savings plan (RRSP).It blends the tax refund benefits that we love with the RRSP, along with the no-strings-attached non-taxation of withdrawals that the TFSA is famous for.Investment income from interest, dividends or capital gains are yours to keep tax-free…

Continue Reading On moneysense.ca »

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 from your registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) to pay off unexpected bills.

Assuming you’ve incurred the debt yourself and you’re not desperate—and I mean really desperate—don’t pay your bills with an RRSP withdrawal.

You acquired the debt on your own, so I recommend figuring out a way to pay it off without cashing in investments or consolidating loans.

When unexpected bills arrive, cash flow issues are normally the underlying culprit; either not enough income or too much spending. 

What can you do to increase your income or reduce your spending so you can pay off your bills? 

Withdrawing from your RRSP may seem like the easy way out. Paying off a debt by cashing in an RRSP or consolidating loans is just a temporary fix, and it starts a cycle…

Continue Reading On moneysense.ca »

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