RRSP:

What is it:  A registered retirement savings plan defers taxes on savings until the time of withdrawal.

Who would benefit:  If you are in a higher tax bracket when you invest the money compared to when you withdraw it, you have saved on taxes.  A typical scenario of this is to invest while in your working years and earn higher income than the first tax bracket.  Then withdraw while in retirement when in the lower bracket.

RRIF:

What is it:  A registered retirement income fund is used for retirement income from a registered plan.  Quite often a RRSP account is transferred to RRIF once funds are to be accessed or at age 71.  Money drawn from a RRIF account may be eligible to be “pension income” if certain criteria are met for pension splitting and pension credit purposes.

LRSP, LIRA, & LIF:

What are they:  Locked in versions of the above accounts.  These funds originated as a company pension plan.

TFSA:

What is it:  The tax free savings account is a way to invest money and have it earn interest, dividends, and capital gains tax free.

Who would benefit:  Most people would benefit from earning tax free money.

Non-Registered Account:

What is it:  This is investing money in an account that is not-registered, and sometimes called an “open account”.

Manulife Advantage Account:

What is it:  This is a high interest savings account that can be quickly transferred from your chequing and savings account for your convenience as well as earn you a little more interest for your money when compared to your chequing account.

RESP:

What is it:  The registered education savings plan is designed to help save for your child’s post-secondary education.

Who would benefit:  Anyone who would like to save for a child’s education could benefit by receiving CESG and CESB within this.

RDSP:

What is it:  The registered disability savings plan is a savings plan for someone who has met the requirements for the disability tax credit and is under the age of 60.

Who would benefit:  The main benefit is to receive RDSG and/or the RDSB on the money you invest in this type of account until age 49.

Life Insurance:

What is it:  Life insurance pays a lump sum to the listed beneficiary on your policy on the event of your death.

Who would benefit:  This is a way to pay off any outstanding debt in the event of your death and/or help support any dependants you may have at that time.

Mortgage Insurance:

What is it: Insurance to protect your estate against the debt of your mortgage.

Disability Insurance:

What is it:  Disability insurance makes payments to you in the event you become disabled.

Who would benefit:  Your ability to earn income is your most valuable asset.  This insurance makes sure you will have some source of income in the event you are unable to work.

Critical Illness Insurance:

What is it:  Critical Illness insurance covers a listed number of illnesses and in the event you become sick with one of them will pay a lump sum to you.

Disclaimer: For more in-depth information on any of the above products contact us.