Effective May 1, 2012, owners of Old LIFs and LRIFs will no longer be able to withdraw or transfer 50% of the assets in their account.

It is very difficult to time the markets but many of us end up trying to doing so based on our emotions.

Are you a conservative investor who is tired of seeing the returns generated by GIC’s reduced by inflation and taxes? Or are you a small business owner who wants to make sure your personal savings remain protected in the event of bankruptcy? Perhaps you are in poor health and want to make sure your savings are there for your loved ones should you pass on. In all of these cases, you could benefit from investing in Segregated funds this RRSP season.

Remember the deadline for RRSP contributions for fiscal year 2011 is Wednesday, February 29th, 2012.

Good credit is valuable. Having the ability to borrow funds allows us to buy things we would otherwise have to save for years to afford: homes, cars, a college education. Credit is an important financial tool, but it can also be dangerous, leading people into debt far beyond their ability to repay. That is why learning how to use credit wisely is one of the most valuable financial skills anyone can learn. Begin by opening individual savings and checking accounts in your name.

Here are some good reasons why you may want to consider joining your Group RRSP plan at work;

It seems as if it is next to impossible not to be stressed in today’s world. With the state of the economy, plummeting valuation of our investment portfolios and job loss, most of us do not have to think too hard for a reason to be stressed. Stress is simply a fact of nature—forces from the outside world affecting the individual. Although we normally associate stress with negative events, stress comes from both the negative and the positive things that happen to us.

Stress becomes a problem when we are not sure how to handle an event or a situation. Then worry sets in, and we feel "stressed." Our reaction to stress can affect our mental and physical health; so it is important for us to learn how to deal effectively with stress as it occurs. When we find an event stressful, our bodies undergoes a series of changes, called the stress response. There are three stages to this response. First our bodies’ releases adrenaline, which makes our hearts beat faster, and we start to breathe more quickly. Then our bodies’ begins to release stored sugars and fats from its resources. At this stage, you will feel driven, pressured and tired. As a result, the body's need for energy will become greater than its ability to produce it, and we will become chronically stressed.