For long-term growth and stability, mutual funds are an optimal choice. Some of the advantages for investors include advanced portfolio management, dividend reinvestment, risk reduction, convenience, and fair pricing. Mutual Funds can also be held in a registered investment vehicle like an RSP, or as a non-registered investment to build wealth. It’s for these reasons that Mutual Funds are an excellent compliment to a well-balanced investment portfolio.

A segregated fund is a type of investment issued by Canadian insurance companies. These funds offer security to the investor as they are held separately from the insurance company’s other investments. Segregated funds provide certain guarantees such as a stable payout in the case of term maturity or death of the holder, and proceeds from a segregated fund can be paid to a beneficiary, avoiding estate fees, when the holder passes away.

A GIC, or Guaranteed Investment Certificate, offers a specific rate of return over a defined period of time. Because it is a low risk investment option, returns are typically not spectacular, but GIC’s are useful if stability is your primary concern. A great aspect of GIC’s is that the principal invested is never at risk.

With the cost of post-secondary education becoming increasingly expensive, RESPs allows parents to invest on behalf of your kids so the necessary funding to pay for college or university are available when they need them. Investments are made with after-tax dollars and withdrawals are taxed at the recipient’s rate (typically very low to non-existent for a student) making this a great way to funding your child’s education. An added bonus is that the government will contribute up to $500 a year to your child’s RESP.

These investment options are designed to offer people living with disabilities long-term financial security with help from family and friends. You can invest up to $200,000 after-tax dollars into a RDSP and name a beneficiary.

The Government will match personal contributions through the Canada Disability Savings Grant and, similar to an RSP, taxes on earnings and growth are deferred until the person you’ve set this up for withdraws funds.

An RRSP (Registered Retirement Savings Plan) allows you to use before-tax dollars to invest for your retirement, making it a great way to defer taxes until withdrawing funds. This investment vehicle may even lower your current tax bracket.

You can contribute a set amount according to your level of income up to a government-imposed maximum, which tends to increase each fiscal year.

You can choose a number of investment options within your RSP to grow your savings, and with compound interest applied, it makes a lot of sense that this ends up being the retirement savings tool of choice for many Canadians.

At the age of 71, Canadians have to change their RSP to a RIF (Registered Income Fund). You’ll draw income from your RIF during retirement. Your savings grow the same as they would in an RSP, minus withdrawals, but once it becomes active you’ll no longer invest money in the RIF fund.

A LIF (Life Income Fund) is a registered retirement income vehicle that holds pension funds and pays out retirement income over time. 

A LIF is designed to provide funds to retirees in a sustainable manner for the life of the holder.

LIFs don’t allow for lump-sum withdrawals but instead ensure you’ll have yearly income to maintain a comfortable lifestyle.

The TFSA program began in 2009. It is a way for individuals who are 18 years of age or older to set money aside tax-free throughout their lifetime.