Labour-sponsored funds: are they such a good option for an RRSP?

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What do you think about labour sponsored funds like Fondaction or Fonds de solidarité FTQ? My only RRSP is in Fondaction. Although the last few years have given interesting results (with the tax credits), I’m having doubts as to how flexible they are. They also have high management fees (2,93% according to their 2020 prospectus).

Fondaction is really picky when you want to withdraw your money. In fact, I don’t even think there’s a way to “get out” of the fund unless some precise conditions are met (buying a home, returning to school, early retirement (not possible before age 45))… My understanding is that for other RRSPs, it is possible to withdraw at any moment, without some of those restrictions. I don’t plan on touching my RRSP before my retirement unless I use the Home Buyer’s Plan (HBP), but labour-sponsored funds seem more complicated in general. Plus, they require the investor to withdraw every other RRSP before beign allowed to touch theirs.

When my TFSA will be maxed out, would it be interesting to open a regular RRSP and contribute to the max deductible amount in Fondaction (5000$) first, then contribute any remaining money in the second RRSP? Should I forget about Fondaction, leave it untouched until retirement (25+ years) and contribute in a regular RRSP only?

I’m feeling like I might have made a bad decision when I first contributed nearly 3 years ago. Earlier this year, I stopped contributing to Fondaction altogether to start thinking about my options. I would very much appreciate your input. Thanks!

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Asked on November 3, 2021 11:24 pm
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Hey there,

Took a bit as we didn't know much about these funds and had to do some reading. From what I have read up on yes, they are highly illiquid. I can't speak to performance or anything like that but a 2.93% management fee is very high and being so limited in what you can do is quite unattractive.

I can't really guide you on what is best but personally, I would not be buying this type of product. It sounds like the main benefit is the additional tax credit - which would be great in your higher income years. It really boils down to it being a tax question first and foremost. Something which will be highly dependent on your own personal situation which is why we always defer those types of questions to a tax expert.

I'm not knocking the funds, but that is a high fee and personally i'd rather flexibility than be locked in a product like that. Maybe if they were some of the best performing funds in the country it might be worth it, but if you strip out that annual fee, the returns have been underwhelming.

To me it all comes down to if the additional tax benefit outweighs the liquidity and fees aspects.

Mat

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Posted by Mathieu Litalien
Answered on November 5, 2021 4:52 am