Since it's losing money, should I cash in my RRSP to pay off my RRSP loan?

Warren Baldwin, vice-president of T.E. Financial Consultants, has the answer.

Warren Baldwin 14 February, 2003 | 2:00PM
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

Dear Expert:

I took out a loan for an RRSP several years ago. I am paying 9% for RRSPs that just keep lowering in value. I am paying $200 a month just to watch the RRSP gain a few pennies then lower several dollars. This amount is small, only $5,000. Should I sell the RRSP to pay off the balance of the loan and then take the $200 a month and start over?

Expert Opinion:

No, I would not recommend cashing in the RRSP to pay out the balance of your loan. First, you should have used your original tax refund to retire a good portion of the loan when you set up this structure. Now, if you cash in the RRSP to retire the loan, you will also incur income tax on the withdrawal; this could amount to around $2,000, so much of your $200 per month would go to paying your tax bill for the first year.

The more obvious problem is that you should deal with the investment structure in the RRSP. If the portfolio is not performing to your satisfaction, you may have the wrong asset mix or weaker funds and you should reassess your approaches here. In addition, as many funds are sold on a deferred sales charge (DSC) basis, you may be facing an exit commission of 4% or 5% if you want to cash in the funds or even move them to a different fund family. Be aware of this BEFORE you undertake any reorganization.


To find out how much an RRSP contribution may save you, try Morningstar's RRSP Calculator

.

Do you have a question?

All Ask the Expert questions are read and considered. Unfortunately we can't provide individual responses or respond to every question. Please note that questions about specific securities cannot be considered. Click here to Ask the Expert.


No statement in this article should be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell securities or to provide investment advice or individual financial planning. Morningstar Canada does not provide specific portfolio advice and recommends the use of a qualified financial planner when appropriate.

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

About Author

Warren Baldwin

Warren Baldwin  

© Copyright 2024 Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved.

Terms of Use        Privacy Policy       Disclosures        Accessibility