RRIF

Great benefits of opening an RRIF

A Registered Retirement Income Fund (or RRIF) is usually opened when you transfer money from an existing RRSP. It is a type of savings account which has the advantage of providing you with a consistent and regular source of income in your retirement. Here are some good reasons to consider opening a RRIF.

  • You retain control over how your money is invested. You can choose between investment options such as mutual funds, segregated funds, and GICs for example, depending on your circumstances.
  • You benefit from tax-free savings. When you transfer funds from your RRSP to a RRIF you won’t pay any tax on your investment earnings or on the funds that remain in the RRIF, though you will have to pay tax on any money that you subsequently withdraw.
  • On the topic of withdrawals, a RRIF offers good flexibility providing that you withdraw the agreed minimum amount every year. There is no maximum amount that you have to withdraw and it is your choice as to how often you make withdrawals or the frequency or value of them.
  • You have the option of stating your spouse as your beneficiary so that they can inherit the funds in your RRIF in the event of your death, without paying any tax. In fact, if you choose to name your spouse as a “successor annuitant” then they are able to take the RRIF over so that they can receive payments from it directly. In addition, your RRIF is not classed as part of your estate and is therefore exempt from exclusion in probate fees.
  • A final benefit of an RRIF is that the minimum annual withdrawal amounts depend on your age and are lower the younger you are.  The age of your spouse can be used to base these minimum annual withdrawals on and, if they are younger than you, this could potentially reduce the amount of tax that you pay on withdrawals.
Learn More

Latest News

Demystifying MER’s (Management Expense Ratio)

Investing in a fund involves knowing its associated costs, and the Management Expense Ratio (MER) is a crucial factor to consider. The MER is a percentage of the total assets in the investment fund that covers the fund's operating and management costs. It's important to note that the MER is subtracted from your investment returns, so a higher MER will result in lower net returns for you. For example, if a fund's expenses amounted to 2% of its assets, its MER would be 2%. It's crucial to understand the MER of a fund to make informed investment decisions and ensure that you're getting the most value for your money. In this article and infographic, we will break down the various components of the MER to help you better understand it.

First Home Savings Account (FHSA): What You Need to Know

Are you looking to buy your first home in Canada? The First Home Savings Account (FHSA) could help make it happen. This savings plan allows first-time home buyers to save up to $40,000 tax-free, with contributions being tax-deductible. In this article and infographic, we cover everything you need to know about FHSA, including eligibility requirements, contributions and deductions, qualifying investments, withdrawals, and transfers.

Tax Tips You Need To Know Before Filing Your 2022 Taxes

It’ll be time to file your 2022 taxes soon, and you must take advantage of every tax credit and deduction you can! Our article covers the following: • Canada Workers Benefit. • Claiming home office expenses. • The tax deduction for zero-emissions vehicles. • Return Of Fuel Charge Proceeds To Farmers Tax Credit. • Eligible Educator School Supply Tax Credit.

Federal Budget 2023 Highlights

On March 28, 2023, the Federal Government released their 2032 budget. This article highlights the following financial measures: • New transfer options associated with Bill C-208 for intergenerational transfer. • New rules for employee ownership trusts. • Changes to how the Alternative Minimum Tax is calculated. • Improvements to Registered Education Savings Plans. • Expanding access to Registered Disability Savings Plans. • Grocery rebate. • Deduction for tradespeople tool expenses. • Automatic tax filing. • New Canadian Dental Care Plan.

British Columbia 2023 Budget Highlights

On February 28, 2023, the B.C. Minister of Finance announced the 2023 budget. We have highlighted the most important financial measures you need to know: • Tax credit changes. • Increases to the B.C Family Benefit. • Carbon tax changes. • Other important tax changes. • Healthcare and housing spending.

TFSA versus RRSP – What you need to know to make the most of them in 2023

When looking to save money in a tax-efficient manner, Tax-Free Savings Accounts (TFSA) and Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSP) can offer significant tax benefits. The main difference between the two is that TFSAs are ideal for short-term goals, such as saving for a down payment on a house or a vacation, as its growth is entirely tax-free, while RRSPs are more suitable for long-term goals such as retirement. When comparing deposit differences, TFSAs have a limit of $6,500 for the current year, while RRSPs have a limit of 18% of your pre-tax income from the previous year, with a maximum limit of $30,780. In terms of withdrawals, TFSAs have no conversion requirements and withdrawals are tax-free, while RRSPs must be converted to a Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF) at age 71 and withdrawals are taxed as income.

2023 Financial Calendar

Welcome to our 2023 financial calendar! This calendar is designed to help you keep track of important financial dates and deadlines, such as tax filing and government benefit distribution. You can bookmark this page for easy reference or add these dates to your personal calendar to ensure you don't miss any important financial obligations.

2022 Year End Tax Tips and Strategies for Business Owners

The end of 2022 is quickly approaching – which means for business owners, it's time to review tax tips and strategies to maximize your benefits.

2022 Personal Year-End Tax Tips

The end of 2022 is quickly approaching – which means it’s time to get everything in order, so you’re ready when it comes time to file your taxes. We’ve broken this article into the following sections to make it easy to find the tax tips you’re looking for: • Investment considerations, including how to best contribute to TFSAs, RRSPs, and RDSPs. • Families, including how to claim childcare expenses and make the most of RESPs. • Retirees, including essential details about applying for CPP and OAS.