Insurance strategies offer a powerful way to build, protect and increase wealth.(Brampton) There are various kind of investments options available in insurance.
Registered Investments
The Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) is a new and smart way to grow your money. Beginning January 2009, you’ll be able to make after-tax dollar contributions to this flexible personal savings vehicle. Because you pay no tax on investment income or on withdrawals, the TFSA will be one of the best ways to save throughout your entire lifetime.
TFSA Benefits:
• Tax-Free Investment Income and Withdrawals
• Flexible Withdrawals
• No Income Requirement
• Indefinite Carry-Forwards
• Lifelong Eligibility
• No Lifetime Contribution Limits
• No Impact on Federal Benefits or Credits.
RRSP
A Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) is the government’s way of encouraging you to save for retirement. You can contribute to your retirement account and invest in professionally managed investments. And when you have saved enough and are ready to retire, your funds can easily be converted to a steady stream of retirement income.
RRSP Benefits:
• Get Money Back or Tax Savings
• More Growth
• Tax-free compounding
• Protected from Creditors
Tax Benefits
Although contributions to an RESP are not tax deductible, the investment growth is tax deferred until the fund is withdrawn. When funds are withdrawn, the contributions are tax free since they have already been taxed. The investment growth is taxed at the recipient’s tax rate. The recipient is typically a post-secondary student and his or her tax rate is usually low due to low income. Therefore tax saving can be achieved.
Government incentives and the tax benefits make an RESP an attractive vehicle for saving for a child’s post-secondary education. RESP should be incorporated in the overall family tax planning strategy.
Non Registered Investments
Non Registered Investments are different from registered investments only in that growth is taxed as it happens, depending on whether the investment provides capital gains, dividends or interest.
Capital Gains:
An increase in the value of a capital asset (investment or real estate) that gives it a higher worth than the purchase price. The gain is not realized until the asset is sold. A capital gain may be short term (one year or less) or long term (more than one year) and must be claimed on income taxes. A capital loss is incurred when there is a decrease in the capital asset value compared to an asset’s purchase price.
Dividends:
An amount distributed out of a corporation’s retained earnings (accumulated profits) to shareholders. Dividends on preferred shares will usually be for a fixed amount. Dividends on common shares may fluctuate depending on the profits of the company. Dividends are generally grossed up by either 125% or 145%, depending on whether or not they are eligible or ineligible.
Interest:
Is the most inefficient form of growth. Every dollar that the original investment grows is taxable compared to 50% of growth in capital gains, 25% to 33% in dividends. The type of investment vehicles that generates interest are Daily interest savings, GIC, Bonds.
