Should I Invest In a RRSP or TFSA?

In this episode of the Invested Teacher Podcast, we delve into the weeds to discuss which government tax incentivized investment vehicle in Canada will best serve our Invested Student audience: the Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) or the Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP). 

We will take some time to dig into some specific cases including those in “golden handcuff” careers with Defined Benefit Pension Plan (DBPP) in your job and whether or not you should be putting all of your investment eggs into the RRSP basket or whether looking to the TFSA as a better place to build on that defined benefit pension plan.

We’ll also share why we’re big fans of using the TFSA for your longer term, growth-focused investments, while keeping the RRSP for your safer and steady assets. However, we won’t hold back on sharing why an RRSP can feel a bit like an "investment jail," especially if you're thinking your income tax bracket during retirement might be the same or higher than it is currently.

Finally, we’ll be talking about the impact inflation might have on your income tax bracket during retirement and some creative ways to use your RRSPs with strategies like The Smith Maneuver to unlock some of the dead equity in your primary residence to still benefit from the tax deferral power.

Sit back and get ready to take a trip through the TFSA vs. RRSP maze with a promise to give you some great tips for every circumstance. 

What you’ll learn:

• What is a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) and how does a RRSP work?
• What is a Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA) and how does a TFSA work?
• Why those in “golden handcuff” careers with a Defined Benefit Pension Plan (DBPP) might hold off on dumping all of their investment funds into their RRSP;
• Why a TFSA is the better spot for your growth-focused investments and your RRSP for safer, more conservative investments; 
• Why an RRSP might be considered a “jail” for your investment funds, especially if you feel that your tax bracket may be the same or higher in retirement; 
• How inflation alone may push you up into higher tax brackets by retirement even if your income has only increased by a Cost of Inflation Allowance (COLA);
• Why an RRSP is a fantastic idea for those interested in putting the “dead equity” from their primary residence to work; and,
• Is it better to use equity from your home to fund your RRSP or to apply The Smith Maneuver?

Resources: 

• Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) overview of the Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA)
• Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) overview of the Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP)
• Episode 44: Saving Taxes and Accelerating Your Investments With The Smith Maneuver
• Book a Discovery Call with us so we can help you overcome your current strug

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Canadian Wealth Secrets is an informative podcast that digs into the intricacies of building a robust portfolio, maximizing dividend returns, the nuances of real estate investment, and the complexities of business finance, while offering expert advice on wealth management, navigating capital gains tax, and understanding the role of financial institutions in personal finance.