Canadian Capitalist

Rob Smith, author of Dollars From Change and Dave at Investing Intelligently had a couple of comments on yesterday’s post that you should consider when deciding if a RRSP contribution is right for you:

Rob pointed out that RRSPs are important because you are “maximizing the tax rate of deductible contributions and minimizing the tax rate [...]

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As the deadline for contributions to your RRSP approaches (March 1, 2007 is the deadline for 2006 contributions), you are going to be bombarded with full-page newspaper ads, commercials in television and radio and even phone calls at home (I’ve received three calls already). Instead of being hustled into doing something, take a deep breath [...]

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I couldn’t resist commenting on the specious reasoning that Jim Stanford, an economist with the Canadian Auto Workers Union, advanced in a column in The Globe and Mail. Mr. Stanford argues that Canadians should tune out the commercials during the RRSP season and invest in their homes instead because:
At the end of the day, you [...]

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We have held investing and self-directed RRSP accounts with RBC Direct Investing for more than 5 years now but the time has come to move our accounts to another broker. I short listed just two brokerages: E*Trade (low commissions) and TD Waterhouse (wash trades, TD eFunds).
I have some experience with both discount brokers as we [...]

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A reader, Mr. L, sent the following information on how TD Waterhouse clients can avoid paying currency conversion fees when trading US-listed stocks in a self-directed RRSP account. Here is his detailed e-mail, posted with his permission (and slightly edited):
Since my last email to you, I have discovered that one brokerage house does allow you [...]

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DIY Finances left the following comment in response to an earlier debate on RRSPs that elicited a lot of comments:
I saw you mention that you hold your dividend paying stocks in your RRSP. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but dividends are tax-advantaged income. By that I mean you pay less tax on [...]

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Derek Foster, author of Stop Working, launches yet another debate on the merits of a RRSP with this article in Canadian MoneySaver magazine. While low-income Canadians might be better off saving outside a RRSP, the upfront tax deferral and tax-sheltered growth made possible by RRSPs are very valuable for the vast majority of middle- and [...]

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E*Trade is trying to inject some badly needed competition into the Canadian discount brokerage industry, where the major players owned by the big banks have a comfortable oligopoly. As described in an earlier post, E*Trade now charges a minimum commission of $19.99, which is the lowest among the big brokerages.
Now, E*Trade is raising the stakes [...]

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Financial Advisor James Yih offers a great tip in this MoneySense column on designating beneficiaries for RRSPs. It is something I have been paying attention lately, so it is now on my to-do list.
The Toronto Star has a good number of columns on various topics like taking out a RRSP loan, packaged portfolios, foreign investments, [...]

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New this RRSP season: No foreign content restrictions. The 30% cap on foreign content was eliminated in the 2005 Federal Budget.
Also new this season: Investment-grade gold and silver bullion coins, bars and certificates are now “qualified investments” for a RRSP.
A RRSP help you defer your income tax. Earnings inside it accumulate tax-free. Withdrawals are taxed [...]

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