MRS offers Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIFs) - the most frequently chosen option for transferring RRSP savings into retirement income.

A Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF) must be established at any time before the end of the year in which you turn 69, by transferring some or all of your savings directly from an RRSP. This can include funds from a company pension plan (provided they are not "locked-in") or a deferred profit sharing plan. No tax is payable as a result of transferring your RRSP or DPSP savings into a RRIF.

When you choose to set up an MRS self-directed RRIF, you have full control over your savings - from income flexibility to a wide range of investments. An MRS self-directed RRIF may include investments from over 80 different mutual fund companies as well as equities, fixed-income products and MRS proprietary products.

There are a number of tried-and-true investing strategies to assist your savings and income efforts that are completely compatible with an MRS RRIF.

Income flexibility and control of your investments: MRS RRIFs offer complete income flexibility while your savings remain tax-sheltered and under your control. Although you must withdraw at least the minimum amount applicable to your RRIF each year, there is no maximum, and you can take out as much as you need.

Maximize growth: By maximizing the allowable 30% foreign content component in your RRIF you ensure diversification; you protect yourself against fluctuations in the value of our Canadian dollar; and you give yourself the chance to earn potentially higher investment returns.

Defer taxes: Tax-sheltered savings maximize the growth of funds that are available for you to withdraw for retirement income, at which time they are taxed as income. Therefore, all interest, dividends and capital gains generated by the funds remaining in your RRIF continue to accumulate tax-free - only your withdrawals are taxable.

An MRS self-directed RRIF offers many advantages:

MRS offers a broad selection of financial products:

• More than 1,800 Canadian mutual funds, segregated funds and labour-sponsored funds.
• MRS proprietary products such as MRS GICs and MRS Money Maximizer.
• Publicly traded securities listed on the TSE, CDNX, NYSE, AMEX, NASDAQ and other markets and exchanges.
• Fixed-income products.
• Venture Capital Corporations.
• Small Business securities.

Consolidation of financial assets: Eliminate multiple RRIFs with different financial institutions by consolidating all of your assets in one convenient location - an MRS self-directed RRIF. This strategy will also allow you to truly maximize the foreign content component in your RRIF.

A choice of self-directed RRIF accounts: MRS offers both individual and spousal RRIF accounts.

Consolidated reporting: MRS self-directed RRIF account holders receive a quarterly consolidated account statement and a monthly account statement whenever there is activity in the account (only M.R.S. Securities Services Inc. registered accounts). MRS also provides applicable tax slips for you to complete your income tax returns.

Excellent service: MRS is a leading provider of top-rated financial and administrative services.

To find out more about opening a RRIF at MRS, contact your financial advisor.