Investing in an RRSP is a tax-efficient way to help you save for your retirement.

An MRS self-directed RRSP allows you to make tax-deferred contributions towards your retirement savings. By contributing to an RRSP, you can defer your tax payments on the money you invest until you have retired, at which time you will likely be in a lower tax bracket. Your RRSP must be collapsed in the year in which you turn 71. At that time, you must withdraw your savings or transfer them to a RRIF or an annuity.

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

Diversification. A diversified portfolio is one that contains a variety investments from Canada and around the world including equities and fixed-income products from different industries and asset classes. Diversifying your investments across geographic regions and asset classes will help to ensure that you get safe returns. Your financial advisor can help you find the right balance to meet your personal needs and financial goals.

Dollar-cost averaging requires investors to take a disciplined approach to their savings, by making contributions on a regular basis (e.g. monthly) directly into an RRSP, the average cost of the units that you accumulate over time will be reduced. With a dollar-cost averaging strategy, if the price of a unit drops, your regularly scheduled investment amount will buy more units than it will in times when the price is higher. The result: you own more units at a lower average price. Therefore, the positive impact of a subsequent rebound in price would be magnified in your portfolio.

Value averaging requires investors to buy and sell assets in order to maintain an overall asset mix that can be easily predetermined with the help of your advisor. This strategy allows investors to stay within an acceptable level of risk despite market fluctuations.

Investing for the long-term is a good strategy as market fluctuations are a reality regardless of the type of investments you hold. Reactionary investors often sell their investments at the worst time. It is nearly impossible to time the market to your advantage. Investors who are in for the long term create a diversified plan and stick with it.

Maximizing growth in your RRSP can be easy when you focus on two things: your RRSP-contribution level and your foreign-content allowance. Your maximum contribution each year is 18% of your previous year's earned income to a maximum of $21,000, and the maximum foreign content allowed in your RRSP is 30% of the book value. By maximizing your contributions and allowable foreign content, your savings will likely grow at an accelerated rate.

An MRS self-directed RRSP offers many advantages:

MRS offers access to 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.
• MRS RRSP loans at competitive rates.
• Residential mortgages with rates and features that rival the banks.

Consolidation of financial assets: Eliminate multiple RRSPs with different financial institutions by consolidating all of your assets in one convenient location - an MRS self-directed RRSP. This strategy will allow you to truly maximize your RRSP's foreign content.

A wide selection of RRSP self-directed accounts: MRS offers individual, spousal, group, locked-in RRSP and locked-in retirement account self-directed plans.

Consolidated reporting: MRS keeps you informed about your self-directed RRSP with quarterly consolidated account statement and a monthly account statement whenever there is activity in your 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 RRSP at MRS, contact your financial advisor.