Posts by Jason Heath

The article “Is An RRSP Worth It If You’re Retiring Abroad?” was originally published on MoneySense on December 5, 2017. It makes sense from a tax perspective but might make investing a hassle Q: I am a permanent resident living in Canada. Is it worth me investing in an RRSP, when chances are I will be…

The article “When Using RRSP Money For Debt Is A Bad Idea” was originally published on MoneySense on December 2, 2017. You may have to withdraw twice the amount you owe Q: My wife and I currently have a mortgage of $297,000. On top of that we’ve had to dip into our line of credit (unsecured)…

The original article “How To Evaluate Your Group Savings Plan At Work” was originally published on MoneySense on November 28, 2017. Is Renee paying too much for her investments? Q. I have been registered with an insurance company through my employer since 2001. At the present time, I have about $50,000 in my plan. I pay…

The article “Owning Canadian Stocks As A U.S. Resident” was originally published on Moneysense on November 14, 2017. What are the capital gains consequences? Q: I live in the USA but still have some stocks in a Canada brokerage. If I should sell them what is the capital gains I pay since I have had no income…

The article “LIRA Regrets” was originally published on MoneySense on November 14, 2017. This woman’s husband transferred his workplace pension to a high-fee LIRA and is looking for a smarter solution Q: My husband worked for a municipality and when he left we transferred the money into a LIRA. I’ve realized that the MER (2.9%) and…

The article “How To Choose The Right Insurance” was originally published on MoneySense on October 31, 2017. Tara isn’t sure if mortgage, life or disability insurance is the right way to go for her and her husband. Q: My husband is 57 and I am 45. I am currently a stay at home mom to a…

The article “REIT Investing: The Risks of Chasing Returns” was originally published on MoneySense on October 24, 2017. This reader is happy with his real estate returns but not with his other equities. Should he transfer to REITs? Not so fast. Q: My wife and I are both retired. She is 70 and I am 76.…

The article “Planning Through Salary Swings” was originally published on MoneySense on October 18, 2017. How to best plan given uncertain income Q: My income fluctuates quite widely from year to year. How do I plan for this and how do I handle the tax implications of such income swings? —David A: Yours is the challenge of many…

The article “The Best Way To Use Your RRSP To Invest In Real Estate” was originally published on MoneySense on October 10, 2017. Avoid the risk of real estate investing by considering these options Q: What investments are eligible inside an RRSP? How do I use the funds in my RRSP to buy an income property?…

The article “RRSP Withdrawals In Your 40’s” was originally published on MoneySense on October 3, 2017. Converting to a RRIF might be more trouble than it’s worth Q: I’m a federal government employee and was thinking about take some time and using my RRSPs to live on during that time (1 year). My bank said I…