Describe your horizon and general objective. Your request is directed to a representative holding the applicable registration, who establishes what matters with you before discussing any product. No recommendation or investor profile is produced on this site.
Start with the horizon, not the product
When will you need this money: that question determines everything else. A two-year project and a twenty-five-year retirement call for neither the same risk tolerance nor the same vehicles. Naming the product before the horizon puts the cart before the horse.
RRSP, TFSA, FHSA: what each one does
An RRSP deducts on contribution and taxes on withdrawal. A TFSA offers no deduction but is not taxed. The FHSA combines both advantages for a first purchase, with its own limits and a finite lifespan. These are tax wrappers, not investments.
The account is not the investment
You can hold a GIC, a fund, or cash inside an RRSP as easily as inside a TFSA. Confusing the wrapper with its contents leads to odd decisions, like “I prefer the TFSA to the fund.” A representative separates the two clearly.
The RESP and the grant
An RESP gives access to federal and Quebec government grants on contributions, within the prescribed limits. It is one of the rare cases where the advantage does not depend on returns, and it is lost if the contributions are not made.
Fees, put another way
A management expense ratio applies every year, whether returns are good or not. Over a long horizon, the cumulative effect is far from negligible. Ask for the fees in dollars for your amount, not only as a percentage.
Risk is not only volatility
There is also the risk of missing your objective by taking too little risk, of being unable to withdraw at the right moment, and of inflation. A suitability assessment covers those dimensions, not just your comfort with fluctuation.
What the authorized person must do
A mutual fund representative is required to assess whether an investment suits your situation before any recommendation: objectives, horizon, tolerance, knowledge, financial situation. That assessment is not a formality, it is an obligation.
Reviewing an existing portfolio
A portfolio built ten years ago reflects ten-year-old objectives. A change of job, family, or horizon justifies a review, as does rebalancing that has become necessary after several uneven years.
Why no return is shown here
Past returns do not predict the future, and a figure shown outside your situation would be misleading. CompareTaux displays no return, ranks no product, and produces no automated recommendation.
What happens after you submit
A mutual fund representative calls you back and carries out the suitability assessment regulation requires: objectives, horizon, tolerance, knowledge. This form collects none of that; enter no financial detail in it.
Frequently asked questions
Will I receive an investment recommendation here?
No. No recommendation is produced online. A mutual fund representative assesses whether an investment suits your situation before any suggestion, as regulation requires.
RRSP or TFSA: which should I choose?
It depends on your current income and the income you expect at withdrawal, as well as the horizon. An RRSP deducts on contribution and taxes on withdrawal; a TFSA does the reverse. The representative compares both for your case.
Does the FHSA replace the HBP?
No, they are two distinct tools, and they can often be combined for the same purchase. Their eligibility conditions and limits differ.
What separates the account from the investment?
The account is a tax wrapper: RRSP, TFSA, FHSA, RESP. The investment is what goes inside: a GIC, a fund, cash. The same investment can sit in two different wrappers.
What fees should I expect?
A management expense ratio applies every year, whether returns are good or not. It is taken from the investment itself, which makes it easy to overlook: it appears on no invoice.
Does an RESP really give access to grants?
Yes. Federal and Quebec grants are added to contributions, within the prescribed limits. It is one of the rare advantages that does not depend on returns, and it is lost if contributions are not made.
Can I lose money?
Depending on the investment, yes. A GIC guarantees principal; a fund does not. Risk tolerance and horizon are part of the suitability assessment the authorized person must do with you.
Do you display returns?
No. Past returns do not predict the future and a figure out of context would be misleading. CompareTaux displays no return and ranks no product.
Can I have an existing portfolio reviewed?
Yes. A change of job, family, or horizon justifies a review, as does rebalancing that has become necessary after several years.