Canada Pension Plan – How stable is it?

Author: Vince Olfert, MBA, CIM, CFP® – Certified Financial Planner®

Canadian workers rightly assume that the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) will be there for them when they reach retirement. In honor of this expectation we thought we would dig a little deeper into this national program. Here is what we found:

Interesting Facts:

  • It is the 10th largest pension in the world ($392 Billion as of March 31st)
  • It is run as an independent entity (not government run)
  • 10.2% of an employee’s income (up to $57,400 (2019)) goes to CPP (split equally between employee and employer)
  • There are five (5) departments that oversee 25 mandates
  • It currently has projected pension stability for the next 75 years
  • There is a lot of great information on this web-site http://www.cppib.com/en/ such as:
    • Investment Philosophy
    • Investment Performance

How much will you receive when you retire?

  • The CPP is a contributory plan. This means, it depends on how much you have put into the plan during your working career
  • The maximum CPP (2019) is $1154/mo
  • This amount adjusts annually for inflation

When should you start taking your CPP?

  • There are several factors to consider:
    • Your life expectancy
    • Your marginal tax rate when you start taking CPP
    • Your current age
    • The penalty or bonus from CPP
      • If you are below age 65 and start CPP you are penalized at a rate of 0.6% per month (7.2% per year)
      • If you are over age 65 you get bonused at a rate of 0.72% per month (8.4% per year)
      • In other words, it can pay to wait
  • If you would like to run some “what-if” scenarios, check out our web-site. https://connectwealthp.wpengine.com/resources/#cpp-calculator

CPP is currently a well-run, stable pension plan that will provide pension income for Canadian workers for a long time to come.

Connect Wealth is an independent financial planning firm that offers holistic advice to clients based on their current goals and future aspirations. We use well-established workflows and cutting edge technology to maximize financial efficiencies while simplifying the process for clients. Learn how you can maximize your financial opportunities at connectwealthp.wpengine.com

BC Budget 2018

 

BC’s 2018 budget was announced on February 20th. Its focus was to provide lower income households with tax relief. It provides some parents with reduced child care fees while also reassuring parents that spaces in child care and in schools would become more adequate.

There are numerous articles that focus on the many highlights (some are listed below) that will work to assist the many varied interests of middle and lower income households in BC. Less reported however is that in order to provide the tax relief outlined within the budget, the BC Government will undertake a record-breaking capital spend and increase overall taxes to the tune of $4.4 billion over three years.
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As some of you may know, there have been some imposed changes that will decrease our borrowing power when it comes to purchasing a home.  As of January 1, 2018, you will need to qualify under more stringent rules in order to get the mortgage you desire.

Assuming all other factors remain unchanged, once the new changes are in effect you would qualify for an amount 18% less than you would under the current mortgage rules.   Read more

In the competitive market we face today, purchasing a home can be a daunting task. There are a few things to be aware of that can help make it a little less daunting.  The First Time Home Buyers Plan and some new advantages that were recently introduced by the Provincial Government help soften the blow.

To help make this overwhelming transaction a little less arduous, the federal government allows first time home buyers to withdraw $25,000 from their hard earned RRSPs, tax free.  These funds do need to repaid back into the RRSP over a 15 year period or the portion due could become taxable.  An eligible couple could potentially withdraw a total of $50,000 between the two of them towards the purchase of a First Time Home.  For more information on HBP eligibility and repayment schedules click here.

Due to increased home prices in BC (specifically Lower Mainland), the Provincial Government has responded and provided a few additional advantages to those wishing to purchase a home for the first time.   These additional advantages are: Read more