Trusted Regina’s Financial experts share their tip on Do not do RRSP's:

What are your other choices?

RRSPs are not always the right thing to do. Sure they have benefits, you can Google RRSP’s and find 1000’s of articles on why you should be using them, but what are your other options?

Everyone’s situation is different for an unbiased perspective on your unique situation look up at fee-only financial planner. Hint hint that’s what we do

I am going to make some broad statements here that will have exceptions but generally this is the case. If you are in debt, young, lower income, have TFSA room, have maxed out your RRSPs, or are self employed then RRSPs are should not be your first choice in your grand plan of financial action.

So what are your other options?

Pay down your mortgage…yuck, I know but it has some merit. Mainly you reduce future interest payments and take one step closer to protecting your home. As your home increases in value the gain is tax sheltered so long-term the bang for your buck is quite good. The tax-free nature of it is the equivalent of tax-free growth provided in an RRSP or TFSA.

In times of unstable stock markets, “investing” in your home is a great, more conservative option for investors. And FYI, if you’ve had a rough year and cannot contribute to your RRSP, don’t worry, you’ve been investing in your home all year.

Other investments: TFSA’s can be rolled into an RRSP later for the same deduction. So if you are not sure if you will need to funds later or your taxable income is very low you can park it in your TFSA and get the deduction later. Other investment options are non-registered accounts in which returns are taxed by CRA.

Although we already mentioned paying off your mortgage, you may have other debt that should be attended to first. You’ve heard it before and you’ll hear it again…get rid of that credit card debt.

Do Nothing…

• If you’re a public servant with a government pension you are pretty set up
• If you have an big fat company pension you do not need an RRSP
• Old Auntie Phillis leaving you $1,000,000 in inheritance? You do not need an RRSP.
• OVERWORKED? Need a vacation? Take one. Do not let yourself get burnt out or injured and damage your future earning potential 

Trusted Regina’s Finance Experts -give them a call to see how they can work for you!

Finding the shortest and safest route to any of your dreams requires planning and only with a carefully thought out financial plan can you be sure to make the most of your resources and to protect against risks along the way. At Worby Wealth Management, Chris will do his best to help you achieve those dreams with a financial plan that is tailored to your specific needs and based on your individual situation.

Let TRUSTED REGINA's FINANCIAL ADVISOR Chris Worby from Worby Wealth Management help you live your dream!

Here Chris Explains what an RRSP is!

Call Chris Worby at (306) 757-4747 ext 226 or on his Cell: (306) 737-2909. Check out his listing on the Regina Directory in the REGINA FINANCIAL SERVICES category . Chris is a Trusted REGINA FINANCIAL EXPERT

 The Price That Sells a Home: 

As much as we all have an emotional attachment to our own homes and there is an inherent value to us because of the history created in there and maybe the blood sweat and tears that we put into creating a home, not just a house, unfortunately, that doesn't add value to a buyer when it comes time to sell. Selling your home can be an emotional process but when it actually comes to negotiating the sale the emotion has to be removed and it becomes simply a business transaction that is about dollars and cents....or actually hundreds of thousands of dollars! 

There are many factors that affect a sale price including specifics about location, floorplan, curb appeal, interior decor, etc.....but as it is well said in this article, at the end of the day it's about the price and value. Market Value quite simply stated is what someone is willing to pay for your property on any given day.

You've heard the old saying - "Location, location, location."

The real truth is "Location, condition, and price." And price trumps every other factor.

Location affects the value of a home, but it's price that sells a home.

Oceanfront, mountainside, or penthouse, the most desirable location in the world won't sell at the wrong price.

Every property has a potential buyer, but like rock, paper, scissors, it's sometimes hard to know which factor is going to win the showdown.

A good location will sell at a fair price. A bad location will sell at a fair price, too. It just won't be as high as it would be for a good location.  

A home in good condition will sell for a fair price. A home in poor condition will also sell at a fair price. Again, it won't be as high as a comparable home in better condition.

But neither location or condition will sell any house. Only one thing does that - price.

So if you're a seller waiting for that "special buyer" who will appreciate your faded pink and black bathroom tile, your vintage orange shag carpet and is willing to help you put your kids through college because of your real estate prowess, you're going to have a long wait.

So if your home is represented by an agent, and it's been on the market for a long time, chances are it's your own fault.

Maybe you didn't listen to your agent when he said you're pricing your home above the market. Maybe you got mad at the first few folks who looked at your home and didn't make offers.

When the showings stopped completely, maybe you accused your agent of not doing a good enough job.

You put the blame on everyone except where it belongs - on you. It's not about you, what you want, or how much you need for your retirement.

It's about the price.

Trusted Regina’s Financial experts share their tip on RRSP season:

RRSP season is a great time of year for commissioned advisors. They are licking their chops waiting for you to run to them at the last minute to be sold another product to avoid tax, and they might sell you some insurance while they are at it...because why not! 

RRSP season rules:

- Be prepared before hand

- Don't let the tax tail wag the dog - do NOT do something you wouldn't do if it wasn't for the tax break

- Remember the deadline - March 3rd 2014

- Remember it can take time to move funds

- If you overcontribute by accident there is a $2,000 cushion (over this CRA hits you with a penalty)

RRSP Considerations & Opportunities:

- Do not forget this is deferring tax...you are going to pay this tax later when you withdraw from your RRSP

- If you have a company pension, farm income, land rental, rental property, or plan to work in retirement you may not actually be saving tax and should be using your TFSA.

- Think about contributing to your RRSP monthly rather than at the end of the year to take advantage of dollar cost averaging and avoid putting it on your line of credit.

- In Saskatchewan you have the choice between a regular RRSP or a Labour Sponsored Investment Fund (LSIF) which gives you an extra 35% tax back.

What is an RRSP? 

A Registered Retirement Savings Plan is a type of account for holding savings/investments in Canada. An RRSP is registered with the Government which allows your funds to grow tax free. Funds you place in your RRSP account are tax deductible when you move funds into the account, meaning you do not have to pay tax on the funds. Tax is charged on your RRSP once you remove it from the account in future years, preferably at a lower tax rate.

The main reasons individuals open RRSP accounts are:

- To save for retirement

- To take advantage of tax free growth in the RRSP

- Tax free contribution to your RRSP

- The ability to convert your RRSP to a Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF) which pays a monthly income like a pension in retirement

- Using a Spousal-RRSP to reduce tax and increase savings

- Savings for a house - utilizing the home-buyers plan (HBP)

- Savings for education - utilizing the Lifelong Learing plan (LLP

Trusted Regina’s Finance Experts -give them a call to see how they can work for you!

Finding the shortest and safest route to any of your dreams requires planning and only with a carefully thought out financial plan can you be sure to make the most of your resources and to protect against risks along the way. At Worby Wealth Management, Chris will do his best to help you achieve those dreams with a financial plan that is tailored to your specific needs and based on your individual situation.

Let TRUSTED REGINA's FINANCIAL ADVISOR Chris Worby from Worby Wealth Management help you live your dream!

Here Chris shares a tip on how to get the most out of your money:

Can your Dollar Multi-task?

In financial planning, we talk a lot about efficiency and finding the best way to achieve your goals. One question that is good is this one:

“What’s the best thing to do with my money? Invest? Pay down the mortgage? Save for a rainy day? Save for the kids’ education?”

Guess what? This is not a ‘yes or no’ question. What if you could do a bit of all of it.

Say you are someone who makes $75,000/yr. And let’s say you do what you’re supposed to and you save 10% - $7,500. What’s the best way to increase your net worth with this $7,500?

Let’s say you put this in your RRSP. That means you would have $7500 invested plus $2925 in tax return.

Let’s say you put this into your Registered Education Savings Plan – it will hold $2500/yr and get matched at 20% or $500 in this case.

You still have $425. You could put this in your TFSA or pay down your mortgage – whatever you like. But here’s the tally of what net worth you have added with this strategy:

$7500+$2925+$500=$10,925

That’s a 46% first year rate of return if you want to think of it that way!

And just a sample of the types of ideas we come up with when you do a financial plan with us. Call us today to get  the ball rolling.

Call Chris Worby at (306) 757-4747 ext 226 or on his Cell: (306) 737-2909. Check out his listing on the Regina Directory in the REGINA FINANCIAL SERVICES category . Chris is a Trusted REGINA FINANCIAL EXPERT