Services

Registered Savings
Are you looking to save for retirement? We offer several registered savings account types, such as individual Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs), spousal RRSPs and locked-in RRSPs that allow you to transfer any pension money you may have into a policy where you choose your own investments. We also offer RRSP loans that can help you maximize any unused RRSP contribution room.

Non-Registered Savings
If you need to access the money you are saving and are looking to invest outside a registered plan, non-registered savings may be a good option. In addition, if you are looking for help accelerating your investments, an investment loan may help.
Maximizing your registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) contributions is easier than ever with an RRSP loan from the National Bank of Canada.

Investment loans

Canada Life’s investment loan program enables you to apply, through your advisor, for competitive investment loans from National Bank of Canada.

Canada Life’s investment loan program enables you to apply, through us, for competitive investment loans from National Bank of Canada.

A registered retirement income fund (RRIF) is a tax-deferred plan that pays out your accumulated registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) and deferred profit-sharing plan (DPSP) assets over several years. You have control over the payout schedule, you continue to choose your investment options, and the remaining assets in the RRIF continue to grow tax deferred.

Income payment options

A registered retirement income fund (RRIF) gives you the convenience of scheduled income payment options.
RRIFs are tax-deferred plans that pay out your accumulated registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) and deferred profit-sharing plan (DPSP) assets over a number of years. With a RRIF, you have control over the payout schedule, you continue to choose your investment options and the remaining assets in the RRIF continue to grow tax deferred.

Minimum payment calculation

Before age 71, the minimum payment is calculated as:

(value of your RRIF at start of the year) divided by (90 – your age at the start of the year)

After age 71, the minimum RRIF payment is based on a factor provided by the federal government.
Alternatively, the RRIF allows you to calculate the minimum payout based on your spouse’s age. This option must be decided on when the RRIF is set up.

Savings and investment decisions

A registered retirement income fund (RRIF) gives you control of your savings and keeps you involved in all investment decisions. We offer plans with a guaranteed interest accounts and segregated funds like those offered through your group plan.

The characteristic that differentiates segregated funds from guaranteed interest accounts is that segregated funds fluctuate based on the market values and returns of the underlying stocks or bonds. This fluctuation can affect the dollar value of your account and the amount of your payout.

Estate planning and you

You may designate a beneficiary or a successor annuitant. If you designate a beneficiary other than your spouse, the value of your registered retirement income fund (RRIF) will be added to your income for the year of your death and subjected to personal income taxes.

If your spouse is your designated beneficiary, then the lump sum value of your RRIF is passed to your spouse and retains its tax-deferred status. It may then be reinvested in another registered vehicle such as an RRSP (if your spouse is under age 69), annuity or RRIF.

The alternative, if you have a spouse, is to designate your spouse as the successor annuitant. When you die, the RRIF carries on as it was set up, but your spouse becomes the annuitant in your place. There are no new investment choices to make and the RRIF retains all rate guarantees. You can set up this option when the RRIF is set up.

A RRIF is essentially an RRSP in reverse. The contributions you made to your RRSP throughout your working years grew on a tax-deferred basis. Payments received from your RRIF will be taxed as income in the year they are received. A RRIF allows you to receive lump sum payments at any time and these will also be taxed based on your total income in that year.

The Insurance Company is required to deduct and submit appropriate taxes to Canada Revenue Agency and, if applicable, to Revenu Quebec for all RRIF payments that exceed the minimum payout.

Locked-in retirement income funds (LRIFs) pay out the accumulated value of locked-in
RSPs, LIRAs or RPPs.

LRIFs, like LIFs, have minimum and maximum payout levels. The LRIF minimums are
established under Canada Revenue Agency rules. The maximums are dictated by
provincial rules.

Unlike LIFs, your LRIF assets don’t have to be converted to an annuity when you turn
80. Instead you can hold your existing LRIF investments and manage them for the rest
of your life.

Life income funds (LIFs) are tax-deferred plans that pay out your registered pension plan, locked-in RRSP or locked-in retirement account assets over a number of years. With a LIF, you control your investment options, but payments are determined by a government formula. In most provinces, you must buy a life annuity with the assets remaining in the LIF by the end of the year in which you reach age 80. Life income funds are available in all provinces except Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan.

Income payments

The Canada Revenue Agency legislates the minimum annual withdrawal limit. The maximum annual withdrawal limit is determined by the applicable pension legislation. Unlike a RRIF, a LIF cannot be commuted or cashed-out under most circumstances. Income payments may be paid monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually.

Maximum payment

The maximum income payment that can be taken in a year is legislated by applicable pension legislation.

Flexibility

LIFs offer limited flexibility in your stream of income. You may opt for a minimum payment schedule, a maximum payment schedule, or a level stream of payments providing they do not exceed the maximum limit.

Investment Involvement

With a LIF, you retain control of your savings and remain actively involved in all investment decisions. Canada Life offers guaranteed interest accounts and segregated funds similar to those offered through your group plan.

Tax Treatment

All LIF payments are taxed as income in the year in which they are received. Canada Life deducts and remits a withholding tax to Canada Revenue Agency and, if applicable, to Revenu Québec, for any withdrawal above the minimum pay out amount.

Estate planning

A beneficiary is a person who will receive your assets when you die. You can nominate more than one beneficiary. There may be some restrictions on your LIF and LRIF accounts, as pension legislation dictates such funds be provided to your spouse should you have one.

An annuity is the simplest retirement income option. In exchange for a sum of money, an annuity from the Insurance Company provides you with a stream of payments.

The income payments you receive are made up of interest and principal and are determined based on:

• Your age (and in certain cases, your spouse’s age), for life annuities
• Current interest rates
• The length of time the payments are guaranteed
• The amount of money used to purchase the annuity

A steady Stream of Payments to You

Select the life income option and you’ll enjoy a steady retirement income from your pension funds along with the security that you’ll never outlive your money. And since the Insurance Company is managing your money, you won’t have to worry about market fluctuations or other investment management decisions. You can relax while we do the work.

Payments Guaranteed

Your income payments are guaranteed by the Insurance Company regardless of the ongoing economic conditions. The Insurance Company manages the money used to purchase your annuity so you’re not burdened with any investment decisions.

Tax Treatment

Your annuity payments will be taxed as income in the year that they are received, for
registered funds. For non-registered funds, only a portion of each payment is taxed
each year.

Life annuities
A life annuity provides you with income payments for as long as you live.

Joint and last survivor annuities
A joint life and last survivor annuity provides income payments as long as either you or your spouse is living.

Annuity certain
An annuity certain provides you with a pre-determined number of income payments.