5705 Cancross Court Suite #200, Mississauga, ON L5R 3E9View on Map »

GICs

GIC's are generally one to five-year deposits with a bank or other financial institution like a trust or insurance company.

How they Work

GIC's are issued in your name and can't be sold except to the institution that issued them. You agree to keep the money in the GIC for a set period in return for a set rate of interest. Compound GIC's pay you interest on your interest. Instead of paying the interest to you outside the GIC, the interest is added to your original deposit. This means you'll get more money in subsequent interest periods. A $1,000 deposit in a three-year compound GIC that pays interest of 5% per year will earn you $50 (5% of $1,000) the first year, $52.50 the next year (5% of $1,050) and $55.13 in year three. At the end of the term your money will have grown to $1,158. If you need to get your money before the end of the GIC's term, you will likely be penalized by getting less interest on your money than was initially agreed.

The Risk

GIC's are relatively safe investments. An important risk is that you'll need to access your money before the GIC matures. If this happens, you'll likely lose some of your interest. There's also a risk if you lock in your money in a five-year GIC and interest rates go up two years later. You'll have missed an opportunity to earn more on your money.

The Rewards

GIC's mostly pay higher rates of interest than bank savings accounts, but less than many other investments. Rates are higher for longer term GIC's and for larger deposits.

GIC Alternative

Seniors today are getting discouraged and are seeing their portfolios dwindle with both a low interest rate and low investment return environment. For those seniors who would like to increase their after-tax income and preserve their capital in their estate, there is a simple and guaranteed strategy that will do both.

This strategy is known as an Insured Annuity.


Copyright © 2015 AdvisorNet Communications Inc. All rights reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only and is based on the perspectives and opinions of the owners and writers only. The information provided is not intended to provide specific financial advice. It is strongly recommended that the reader seek qualified professional advice before making any financial decisions based on anything discussed in this article. This article is not to be copied or republished in any format for any reason without the written permission of the AdvisorNet Communications. The publisher does not guarantee the accuracy of the information and is not liable in any way for any error or omission.

This publication and website are intended for Ontario residents only and the information contained is subject to change without notice. Mutual Funds are offered and regulated through Global Maxfin Investments Inc. (GMII). Insurance products (including Segregated Funds) and Income Tax Planning is provided under the name of Ausim Mobeen. GMII does not supervise these activities and will not be accountable, responsible or liable for such activities. This publication contains opinions of the writer and may not reflect opinions of GMII. The information contained herein was obtained from sources believed to reliable, but no representation, or warranty, express or implied, is made by the writer or GMII or any other person as to its accuracy, completeness or correctness. This publication is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities. The securities discussed in this publication may not be eligible for sale in some jurisdictions. If you are not a Canadian resident, this report should not have been delivered to you. This publication is not meant to provide legal or account advice. As each situation is different you should consult your own professional advisors for advice based on your specific circumstances.