RRSPs: What you need to know
Do you know what an RRSP is and what it can do for you?
By Fonds de solidarité FTQ
Whether through your employer, family, or friends, you've probably heard about the registered retirement savings plan (RRSP). But what exactly is it and how does it work? Here's what you need to know about RRSPs and how they can make your money work for you.
What is an RRSP?
An RRSP is a financial tool that provides an incentive to save for retirement. It can also be used for other big projects, such as buying a home through the Home Buyers' Plan (HBP)Attention, this link will open a new tab. or going back to school through the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP)Attention, this link will open a new tab..
What are the advantages of an RRSP?
Save taxes now and invest with flexibility
When you contribute to your RRSP, the amount is deducted from your taxable income. This directly reduces your tax bill. For instance, a person with an income of $49,020 to $90,199 in 2021 is taxed at a rate of 37.1 percent. If they contribute $5,000 in a RRSP with FlexiFonds, they will save $1,855 in taxes.
The advantages of the RRSP+ at the Fonds de solidarité FTQ
By choosing the RRSP+ at the Fonds de solidarité FTQ, they will receive an additional tax credit of 30 percent.** When combined with regular RRSP deductions, the tax reduction increases to $3,355. Their $5,000 in savings will have cost them only $1,645.
To find out how much you personally can save in taxes, use the Fonds de solidarité FTQ's tax savings calculator. However, keep in mind that if you withdraw funds from your RRSP other than through the HBP and LLP, you still have to pay tax on the amount withdrawn.
Defer taxes
An RRSP lets you defer the tax you pay on your income. The advantage is that your current tax rate is probably higher than what it will be when you retire. So, by deferring the taxes, you should end up with a lower tax bill than what you received as a deduction when you contributed. In the meantime, the money you invest in your RRSP will grow tax-free.
Make your money work for you
Once your money is in an RRSP, it can generate tax-sheltered profits. For example, if you contribute $1,000 a year over 20 years, you will have invested a total of $20,000.
Let's say you have a constant return of 3 percent per year during this period; this interest will be added to the initial amount and grow. After 20 years, you would have $26,870 in your RRSP—$6,870 more than the amount you initially invested. To find out how much your personal future investments could be worth, use the Fonds de solidarité FTQ's future value of investments calculator.
Contribute to your spouse's RRSP
You can also contribute to your spouse's RRSP. Depending on your situation, this may be a worthwhile retirement withdrawal strategy to pay less tax once you retire. If your income is much higher than your spouse's, your tax rate will likely be higher than theirs. With pension income splitting, you can distribute your retirement income and that of your spouse more evenly so as to reduce both your tax bills. You can do this by contributing to your lower-income spouse's RRSP.
RRSPs: Key takeaways
Age 18
From this age onward, your annual contribution can exceed $2,000.
Age 71
You can contribute to your RRSP until December 31 of the year you reach this age. The following year, you'll have to transfer your RRSP to a registered retirement income fund (RRIF).
18 percent
This is the maximum percentage of your earned income from the previous tax year that can be contributed, up to a maximum amount of $29,210 for the 2022 tax year. The limit may vary depending on a number of factors, including unused contribution room from prior years and pension plan contributions.
March 1st, 2022
That's the deadline to contribute to your RRSP to reduce your 2021 tax bill. Any contributions after that will reduce your taxes for the 2022 tax year.
Depending on your situation, contributing to an RRSP can pay dividends in terms of both the tax savings and the earnings on your investment. An RRSP can give you the means to achieve your dreams. While contributing early can generate more long-term benefits, there is no ideal age to start. You don't have to have large sums of money to invest—it's always advantageous to add a few dollars to your reserves. The Fonds de solidarité FTQ offers an automatic savings option with the RRSP+ that can help you put money aside and develop healthy savings habits as you manage your personal finances.
Saving Savvy: Crash courses to learn to love saving
Understanding personal finances is within everyone's reach! For this reason, we've prepared a series of five video courses on various topics, including compound interest, budgeting, savings vehicles, and investment products.
Start the courses**Tax credits granted to Fonds de solidarité FTQ shareholders are 15 percent provincially and 15 percent federally. They are capped at $1,500 per fiscal year, which represents a $5,000 purchase of shares of the Fonds de solidarité FTQ. Please read the prospectus before buying Fonds de solidarité FTQ shares. You can obtain a copy online at fondsftq.com, from a local representative, or from any Fonds de solidarité FTQ office. Fonds de solidarité FTQ shares are not guaranteed, their value fluctuates, and past returns are not indicative of future returns.
FlexiFonds de solidarité FTQ inc.
The FlexiFonds are distributed solely in Québec by FlexiFonds de solidarité FTQ Inc. a mutual fund dealer wholly owned by the Fonds de solidarité FTQ. FlexiFonds de solidarité FTQ inc. does not distribute any other mutual funds. Please consult your advisor and read the prospectus and fund facts before making an investment. The FlexiFonds are not insured by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government deposit insurer or by the Autorité des marchés financiers. The mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated.
These articles may be of interest to you
