Assessing Tax-Free Savings Accounts


Book Description

Tax-free savings accounts (quot;TFSAsquot;) became available in Canada in January 2009. A TFSA is a quot;tax prepaidquot; or quot;yield-exemptquot; investment account that does not provide any deduction for contributions and allows for tax-free compounding of investment returns in addition to tax-free withdrawals at any time. This article examines the theory surrounding tax-prepaid and tax-postpaid accounts and shows that there are important theoretical and practical differences in how the two types of tax-advantaged savings accounts operate. The paper predicts that the TFSA regime will not provide a significant incentive to save and that most contributions will not be quot;newquot; savings but will be amounts that would have been saved in any event or, equivalently, will be assets shuffled from taxable savings into the tax-free accounts.




Tax-Free Savings Accounts


Book Description

Millions of Canadians have opened a Tax-Free Savings Account, with more doing so every day. First launched in 2009, TFSA plans have become one of the most popular ways to save and invest. Their flexibility and tax-saving potential appeals to everyone, young and old. And you don't have to be wealthy to use them; millions of middle- and modest-income earners have opened plans and contribute to them on a regular basis. In 2015, the federal government announced a big increase in the annual TFSA contribution limit to $10,000, effective immediately. This move makes this popular investment vehicle an even more attractive option for putting money aside for future needs, including retirement, education, a new home, a special vacation, or as an emergency fund. In this completely updated edition, Canada's TFSA expert Gordon Pape explains how you can use the latest rule changes to your advantage and provides a range of strategies for maximizing tax-exempt profits. He also warns of some of the potential dangers in the plans and explains how to avoid them. And he tells readers how to decide whether to invest in TFSAs or put money into RRSPs or pay off debt. For anyone who already has a Tax-Free Savings Account or is thinking of opening one, this book is a must-read. It may be worth many thousands of dollars to you over your lifetime.




Tax-free Savings Accounts


Book Description

This may be of the most important little investment book you'll ever read! Financial expert Gordon Pape explains the new Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA)-the powerful new personal savings vehicle for Canadians - and provides a range of strategies that you can use to add thousands of tax-exempt dollars to your personal wealth. As of January, 2009, everyone 18 and older can contribute to a TFSA and start building your tax-free investments. This indispensible primer will help you get started on meeting your financial goals with the most valuable new savings program since the introduction of RRSPs more than 50 years ago. Pape clearly explains everything you need to know about Tax-Free Savings Accounts including: The advantages of a TFSA Contribution rules and limits The best investments for a TFSA TFSAs or RRSPs? Withdrawing money from a TFSA Using TFSAs for income splitting Tips to maximize tax savings How TFSAs can benefit retirees




The Charles Schwab Guide to Finances After Fifty


Book Description

Here at last are the hard-to-find answers to the dizzying array of financial questions plaguing those who are age fifty and older. The financial world is more complex than ever, and people are struggling to make sense of it all. If you’re like most people moving into the phase of life where protecting—as well as growing-- assets is paramount, you’re faced with a number of financial puzzles. Maybe you’re struggling to get your kids through college without drawing down your life’s savings. Perhaps you sense your nest egg is at risk and want to move into safer investments. Maybe you’re contemplating downsizing to a smaller home, but aren’t sure of the financial implications. Possibly, medical expenses have become a bigger drain than you expected and you need help assessing options. Perhaps you’ll shortly be eligible for social security but want to optimize when and how to take it. Whatever your specific financial issue, one thing is certain—your range of choices is vast. As the financial world becomes increasingly complex, what you need is deeply researched advice from professionals whose credentials are impeccable and who prize clarity and straightforwardness over financial mumbo-jumbo. Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz and the Schwab team have been helping clients tackle their toughest money issues for decades. Through Carrie’s popular “Ask Carrie” columns, her leadership of the Charles Schwab Foundation, and her work across party lines through two White House administrations and with the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability, she has become one of America’s most trusted sources for financial advice. Here, Carrie will not only answer all the questions that keep you up at night, she’ll provide answers to many questions you haven’t considered but should.




Tax-Free Saving Accounts


Book Description

Tax-Free Savings Accounts are the most powerful personal savings vehicle available to Canadians. Although they were first introduced in 2009, TFSAs still haven't been opened by thousands of Canadians, who are passing up the opportunity to add thousands of tax-exampt dollars to their personal wealth Plus, many people who have TFSA accounts don't make regular contributions. One of the the problems is that TFSAs are much more complex than they first appeared to be. This book provides the information Canadians need fo the most effective ways to take advantage of this great investment opportunity. Trusted financial expert Gordon Pape wrote the first and only definitive guide to TFSAs, which became a huge bestseller. In this completely revised and updated edition, Pape provides clear and easy-to-understand advice to help you get the most from your TFSA and how to get started if you haven't yet opened an account. With details of rule changes, investment strategies, and pitfalls to avoid, Tax-Free Savings Accounts shows you how tomaximize your investment, correctly manage withdrawals, successfully understand fees so you won't get hit with unexpected charges, and much more. It's time to take control of your money and make a TFSA a key component of your plan to achieve financial freedom.







Assessing the Effectiveness of Saving Incentives


Book Description

In this paper, we argue that there is more to be learned from recent research on the effectiveness of targeted saving incentives than is suggested by the wide variation in empirical estimates. First, we conclude that characterizations of saving appear to stimulate moderate amounts of new saving. Second, we suggest a cost-benefit approach to ask: What is the incremental gain in capital accumulation per dollar of foregone revenue? We find that for quite conservative measures of the saving impacts of IRAs or 401(k)s, the incremental gains in capital accumulation per dollar of lost revenue are large.




Encouraging Savings Through Tax-preferred Accounts


Book Description

To boost their domestic saving rate, many OECD countries have introduced savings accounts that offer tax advantages, called tax-preferred saving accounts. This report describes and analyses various tax-preferred savings accounts, excluding pension-related accounts, in a cross-section of 11 OECD countries. Based on a comparison of results, the report then answers the following questions: (1) which income groups benefit the most from these accounts; (2) to what extent do these accounts generate additional savings; and (3) how much tax revenue is foregone due to these accounts. Based on the findings, the report also suggests measures on how to improve the effectiveness of tax-preferred savings accounts. For a complete list of titles that have been published in the Tax Policy Studies series, please see www.oecd.org/ctp/taxpolicystudies.




Savings Fitness


Book Description

Many people mistakenly believe that Social Security (SS) will pay for all or most of their retire. needs, but the fact is, since its inception, SS has provided little protection. A comfortable retire. usually requires SS, pensions, personal savings & invest. The key tool for making a secure retire. a reality is financial planning. It will help clarify your retire. goals as well as other financial goals you want to ¿buy¿ along the way. It will show you how to manage your money so you can afford today¿s needs yet still fund tomorrow¿s. You¿ll learn how to save your money to make it work for you & how to protect it so it will be there when you need it. Explains how you can take the best advantage of retire. plans at work, & what to do if you¿re on your own. Illustrations.




Financial Literacy


Book Description

As defined contribution pensions become prevalent, retirees are increasingly responsible for managing their own pension assets and thus their own financial literacy becomes crucial. Based on empirical evidence and new research, the book examines how financial literacy enhances retirement decision-making in ever more complex financial markets.