Investing

Retirement

Retirement

Start saving for retirement today. ATB has RRSPs and RRIFs to fit every portfolio—and experts to help you choose the right one.

How retirement investments can work for you.

Invest now, enjoy rewards later

​Retirement savings offer you a way to put aside money during your high-earning years. You get long-term tax benefits as well as a nest egg.

Pick your products

Choose from a range of mutual funds, investment savings and registered GICs. Profitable over the long term, perfect for retirement savings.

Personalize your plan

ATB Wealth™ can help you build a customized portfolio of Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) or Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF) investments for an investment plan that works for you.

Find the retirement investments that work for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

You are eligible to contribute to an RRSP investment if you meet all of these criteria:

1. You are currently working or have earned income in Canada
2. You're under the age of 71
3. You have contribution room (an amount determined by the Canadian government and based on your age, your past contributions and your income)
4. You file income tax with the Canadian government

You can use part or all of your own RRSP contribution room to contribute to a plan in your spouse's or common-law partner's name. What you can't do is access more contribution room (and thus more tax deductions) by contributing to your spouse's RRSP. 

You also can't own an RRSP jointly with your spouse, or "pool" your contribution room.

In the year you turn 71, you'll have to choose one of the following options for your RRSPs:

  • withdraw them
  • transfer them to a RRIF
  • use them to purchase an annuity

When you withdraw funds from your RRSPs, your RRSP issuer will withhold tax. For more information, see Making Withdrawals.

Your RRSP issuer will not withhold tax on amounts that are transferred directly to a RRIF or that are used to purchase an annuity. You may have to pay tax on the income when you start receiving payments from the RRIF. Enter these payments as income on your income tax and benefit return for the year you receive them.

Absolutely—just keep in mind that, while both RRSPs and TFSAs are registered savings plans, they have different contribution limits and different ways of providing tax advantage.

Your contributions (within your contribution limit) to an RRSP are immediately deducted from your taxable income. The advantage is that, when you withdraw and pay tax on the money later, you're likely to be in a much lower income tax bracket. 

With a TFSA, you pay tax on the contributions you make in the year you make them, but when you withdraw the money, both the interest and principal are exempt from regular income tax.

All other things being equal, contribution limits for an RRSP are usually substantially higher than contribution limits for a TFSA.

While these are the most important distinctions to keep in mind, there are other differences between RRSPs and TFSAs. It's a good idea to talk to your investing advisor before deciding which registered plan works best for your situation. 

  1. Mutual Funds and other securities are offered through ATB Wealth. 

    ATB Wealth® (a registered trade name) consists of a range of financial services provided by ATB Financial and certain of its subsidiaries. ATB Investment Management Inc. and ATB Securities Inc. are individually licensed users of ATB Wealth. ATB Securities Inc. is a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund and the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization.

    The information contained herein has been compiled or arrived at from sources believed to be reliable, but no representation or warranty, expressed or implied, is made as to their accuracy or completeness, and ATB Wealth (this includes all the above legal entities) does not accept any liability or responsibility whatsoever for any loss arising from any use of this document or its contents. This information is subject to change and ATB Wealth does not undertake to provide updated information should a change occur. This document may not be reproduced in whole or in part, or referred to in any manner whatsoever, nor may the information, opinions and conclusions contained in it be referred to without the prior consent of the appropriate legal entity using ATB Wealth. This document is being provided for information purposes only and is not intended to replace or serve as a substitute for professional advice, nor as an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any investment. Professional legal and tax advice should always be obtained when dealing with legal and taxation issues as each individual’s situation is different.