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Creatively helping Canadian families reach their financial goals by designing a customized plan. Innovatively working with people, to recognize their short- and long-term goals. Understanding what you want to achieve, and proactively preparing for the risks along the way.
Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSP) and Tax-Free Savings Accounts (TFSA) area both useful vehicles in savings for one’s retirement. With a RRSP, eligible contributions are deducted from earnings to reduce income taxes and they remain tax deferred in the plan until they are withdrawn. Eligible TFSA contributions are made with after-tax dollars and the funds are not taxed within the plan or when they are withdrawn.
A First Home Savings Account (FHSA) is a registered plan lets you contribute up to $8,000 per year (lifetime $40,000) to save tax-free towards a qualifying home. The First Home Savings Account (FHSA) is a Canadian registered plan for first-time homebuyers, combining tax-deductible contributions (like an RRSP) with tax-free growth and withdrawals (like a TFSA) for a home purchase, up to a $40,000 lifetime limit, allowing savings to grow tax-free and be withdrawn tax-free for a qualifying first home.
A Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) is designed for parents to accumulate money with the purpose to fund their eligible children’s post-secondary education. Investment earnings accrue on a tax-deferred basis.
What are the main advantages of an RESP?
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The growth on contributions must be used for post-secondary education. If the child does not pursue post-secondary education, all CESG money must be returned to the government. However, contributors can withdraw contributions tax-free and investment earnings can be rolled into the contributor’s RRSP (up to $50,000 and if contribution room is available) or withdrawn in cash. When withdrawn in cash, there is a 20% tax penalty in addition to regular income taxes.
There are restrictions on CESG eligibility for beneficiaries 16 years and older.
To qualify for CESG money, the plan beneficiaries must have a valid Social Insurance Number.
Along with the same tax advantages as a personal RRSP, group retirement plans offer the following benefits: Payroll deductions for immediate tax benefits. Employer contributions enhance your personal contribution amounts. Preferred management fees on pooled funds.
A key way to provide a competitive advantage to large and small business’. Excellent wat to attract and retain the best employees
EasyInsure, operated by Belyer Insurance Limited, is Canada’s first ever full-service online insurance broker. Since our inception in 2007, by founders Grant Belanger and Leen Meyer, we have experienced significant growth and are now one of the fastest growing insurance brokerages in Canada. Tens of thousands of individuals and businesses have purchased insurance through us. With our focus expanding beyond personal insurance, we also offer a full suite of commercial insurance products. Some of the largest commercial groups in Canada have chosen us for their insurance needs.
A segregated fund is an investment fund that you hold within an insurance contract. The term “segregated” refers to the fact that your investment is separated from the general assets of the insurance company. Your insurance contract dictates the insurance protection you receive. Segregated funds are an insurance contract that provides you with investment management plus protection.
Segregated funds are similar to mutual funds in many respects but provide a number of additional features and benefits.
Professional Money Management – Like mutual funds, segregated funds are run by professional money managers who have the experience and skills necessary to effectively manage your money. They also have access to economic data, company research reports and technology that may not generally be available to you.
Diversification – Like mutual funds, segregated funds provide you with access to diversified investment portfolios. Diversification – or spreading your assets among a variety of different investments is an investment strategy designed to lower a portfolio’s overall risk while enhancing returns over time.
Depending on the contract, an investor can choose from a number of options that guarantee a minimum of 75% of the total amount you paid to the contract upon death or contract maturity date. Up to 100% can be guaranteed with some insurance companies.
This feature is of primary concern for business owners or professionals as their assets may be exposed to creditors. You may be able to achieve potential creditor protection by naming a “preferred” or “irrevocable” beneficiary. The key relationship is between the life insured (the annuitant) and the beneficiary. There are exceptions to this and it is recommended that you consult independent legal counsel.
Proceeds of your contract are paid directly to your beneficiary, avoiding the time and expense of probate. Also, probate is a public process and information associated with it is accessible to the public. By helping your heirs bypass probate, segregated funds can ensure that your personal decisions and information remain the way they are meant to be… personal.
Segregated funds are eligible for coverage by Assuris. This plan protects Canadian policyholders, within limits, from loss of benefits in the event of the insolvency of the insurance company.
There are many different types of funds. They are listed below, in order of increasing risk. This list is in no way exhaustive.
Money Markets are a mix of short term bonds, GIC, government T-Bills, bank notes, commercial papers and cash. It is the only mutual fund recommended for a short term investment (less than 3 years).
Bond Funds are comprised primarily of government bonds of various durations and are mid to long term investments (5 to 30 years).
Dividend Funds are usually a mix of preferred shares from various large cap corporations and generally are purchased to produce a stream of income over a mid to long term time horizon.
Income Funds are usually composed of high quality corporate bonds, income trusts and dividend paying preferred shares. The purpose is to produce preferred income over the mid-term.
Conservative Portfolio Funds consist of a number of funds assembled to reduce volatility and still take advantage of the market opportunities. Generally they are professionally rebalanced on a regular basis and the mandate is to preserve capital.
Balanced Funds are a mixture of both bonds and stocks with a defined minimum and maximum percentage for each asset class, for example, 50% each bonds and stocks.
Equity Funds are composed of stocks only and have no fixed income or bond component. They are considered a long term investment.
Moderate Portfolio Funds strive to achieve a greater rate of return with reduced volatility by diversifying within the fund itself and professionally rebalancing on a regular basis. They are a mix of bond and stocks as well as cash. The mandate is often preservation of capital and income.
Growth Portfolio Funds are focused more on growth and a proportionately higher portion of these portfolios are invested in common stocks, both Canadian and foreign. They achieve a greater rate of return with reduced volatility by diversifying within the fund itself and professionally rebalancing on a regular basis. The mandate is commonly growth and a long term horizon is required.
Foreign Equity Funds purchase stocks outside of Canada and can be either geographically specific such as a European fund or invested globally with no specific geographic mandate.
Specialty Funds are the riskiest in the market due to lack of diversification. They are sector or geographic specific such as technology or telecommunications or resources. They are the most volatile and are definitely a long term investment.
Aggressive Portfolio Funds may consist of various equities form specific countries and sectors. They are long term and generally volatile, however, the diversification and regular rebalancing does help reduce both factors somewhat.
Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG Funds)/ Responsible Investing(RI) - products are designed for investors who are looking for attractive return potential and the opportunity to support companies that are committed to sustainability and social responsibility toward people and communities.
Mutual funds can be redeemed at any time at their current NAV along with any fees or charges at redemption
The most respected money managers are available to the average person who could not afford to hire such professionals themselves.
Dividends and capital gains are taxed at lower rates or have tax credits applied.
Large sums are not required to set up an account and that allows the ordinary individual to participate in a normally costly market.
This is available in the case of fraud.
One mutual can hold many different types of stocks and/or bonds from various sectors such as financial services, consumer goods, resources, etc. This is an investment strategy that is designed to lower a portfolio’s overall risk while enhancing returns over time.