In dealing with Workplace Savings Programs, there can be a lot of confusion with the difference acronyms in the financial industry.  One of the common misunderstandings is knowing the difference between LIRAs and RRSPs.

What is an RRSP?

RRSPs are very common.  As a result most people have heard of them, know something about RRSPs or have contributed money to an RRSP.  There is lots of information on RRSPs so here’s a quick summary:

The RRSP is a tax sheltered savings plan designed to help Canadians save for retirement.  Contributions to a RRSP are voluntary and subject to contribution limits.  When you contribute to a RRSP, you save money in taxes because you get a tax deduction.  There is no tax on the growth of the investments inside the RRSP.  Tax is paid when money is withdrawn from the RRSP.

Related article:  Online guide to RRSPs

What is a LIRA?

As long as you are employed by a company or organization with a pension, your money stays in that pension.  There are two kinds of pension plans – defined benefit plans and defined contribution plans.

Related article: Pension Plans are the foundation of Retirement Planning 

A LIRA is a Locked-In Retirement Account and is designed for accumulation of pension money outside a pension plan.  If you do not need income from your pension funds, then a LIRA allows you to manage your pension funds personally.  A LIRA is just another type of registered account much like an RRSP.  Think of them both as ‘buckets’ of money.

Locked in Retirement accounts (LIRAs) are accounts that hold pension funds once you are no longer employed or part of the pension plan.  If you have a LIRA it’s because you were part of a pension plan with a previous employer.

When you leave and employer prior to retirement, you will be given an options package from the pension plan.  You may have the choice to move the money into a personal plan but any locked in portion of the pension must go into a LIRA.

But when you leave that company, Many people assume you can move pension money into a RRSP but that can only happen if it is a relatively small amount of money.

Differences between LIRAs and RRSPs

Here are some of the common differences between LIRAs and RRSPs

• LIRAs hold pension money.  RRSPs hold money that you have directly contributed on your own.  Because Locked-In Retirement Accounts hold pension money, you cannot make direct contributions into a LIRA.  The money has to be transferred in from a pension.
• With RRSPs, you can take money out whenever you want and there are no restrictions on how much money you can take out.  Any withdrawals are subject to taxation.  Although it may not be ideal, you can cash out all of your RRSPs at once.  With LIRAs, you are restricted on withdrawals.  Firstly, you cannot take out lump sum withdrawals out of a Locked-in Retirement Account hence why that are called ‘Locked-in’.  If you want income, you must move the money into a LIF or Life Annuity.
• With RRSPs, you are eligible to participate in the Home Buyers Plan and the Lifelong Learning Plan.  Any funds in a LIRA are not eligible for these programs.
• LIRAs are guided under pension law, which is provincially regulated.  As a result, the rules can differ from province to province.  RRSPs are regulated through the income tax act so the rules are the same across Canada.

Similarities between LIRAs and RRSPs

LIRAs and RRSPs also have some similarities when it comes to tax and investment options:

• The taxation of the plans are essentially the same.  As long as the money stays in the LIRA or RRSP, there is no tax on the growth.  Tax is payable on the withdrawals or income created from these account.  Technically, LIRAs do not allow withdrawals or income so there is no tax.  LIRAs can be converted to a LIF or an annuity if income is desired.
• All of the investment options available in the RRSP are essentially the same as the investment options in the LIRA.  You can invest in many different types of investments like GICs, bonds, mutual funds, stocks, etc.

What is a LIF?

When you eventually need to move from the accumulation phase in life to the income phase, a Life Income Fund (LIF) is one of the options for income.  A LIF is used to convert LIRA money to income just like a RRIF is used to convert RRSPs to income.  Just like the LIRA has similarities to the RRSP, the LIF has a lot of similarities to the RRIF.

• A Life Income Fund is designed to create regular income.  If we used the bucket analogy, the LIF and the RRIF are just buckets with holes in them.
• In both cases, there is a minimum income that must come out of then plan.
• Income is only taxed when you receive income.
• In both the RRIF and the LIF, you can invest in many different types of investments like GICs, bonds, mutual funds, stocks, etc.

The big difference between the LIF and a RRIF is that the LIF not only has a minimum income but also a maximum income that prevents you from spending the money too quickly.