Consider the interest From page 33 fund which shifts its investment mix or one of the new asset allocation funds which rearrange the mix more actively than the balanced fund.. Virtually all financial institu- tions offer mutual funds. In- surance company funds usually . Zuarantee repayment of a mini- /mum of 75% of your investment. _ Although past performance is no guarantee of future results, it is one indicator to review when .you are choosing a fund. Look closely at how the fund did during sharp rises and falls in the stock ’. market — how it performed com- pared with other funds at those times. Costs are important, too. If” you pay a front-end load‘ (or commis- ‘sion — try to negotiate the lowest amount), you lose a percentage of. » your investment right off, the top. Other funds levy a charge when you sell; often this back-end load decreases the Jonger you keep the fund. There are also no-load funds, usually sold directly by the fund Manager instead of through a salesperson. All funds charge ad- ministration fees based on the value of your units, from around half a per cent to more.than 2% a year. The tax considerations ‘are ‘also important. When you make money with your mutual ‘funds, you receive interest, dividends and/or capital gains; the interest is fully taxed while dividends and capital gains get tax breaks. Although you don’t need to select individual stocks, you still need to manage. the mutual funds to make meney — to know when to sell, as well as when and what to buy. RRSPs still the best break around ; ONCE AGAIN we are in the ‘middle of the RRSP. rush as pco- ple. contribute to .their plans to save’ tax -for - last year. The con- “tribution deadline is March 1, and “many financial institutions will be . open fer extended hours. For the ‘ordinary person, the ‘. registered retirement savings plan is still the best tax break around . i as the-annual promotion at the begining of each year stresses, ‘The principle is simple. When “you! put inoney into; an RRSP, you: reduce: your taxable income - “and: so you save tax. While the Money is in the plan, it grows tax . free — instead of losing up to half . “Of its growth.to Revenue, Canada (which, would ‘be ihe case outside > REVENUE CANADA . SEES YOUR RRSP: an RRSP). You should jook “at putting money into a spousal plan if-that spouse is tikely to be in a iower tax bracket than you were when «the money comes: out again: That- - will save still more tax. But you reed to make these spousal con- - tributions as you go along; you can’t ‘suddenly shift money to your spouse when you retire. Should you borrow if you don’t have the money. for. your RRSP contribution, even though the in- terest is no longer deductible? The answer is probably, provided you ~ don’t have any debt problems and “will repay. the RRSP loan by the end of this year. TEMPLETON Mucri-Funb SEES. It: Increase the foreign content of your RRSP above the new 18% level (effective January 1, 1993) with Tempieton Multi-Fund. By investing almost one-third of “your funds in countries outside Canada you take advantage of global market’ » growth opportunities... hedge against downturns in the Canadian economy... and still enjoy full RRSP benefits. "> Templeton Multi-Fund RRSP increases foreign in investment limit of 32% ' No change.in tax-sheltered status © Transfers may be made among eligible Templeton mutual funds ... without penalty “For the full stary on this remarkable investment opportunity from Templeton, call us. Joe Lappan, CEP 844-5724 c Steve Phillips; BBA 844-5723 Steve Phillipa, BBA, Investment advisors to Canadian enterprise and enterp ing Canadians 500-1066 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, B.C, V6E 3X1 Important information about Templeton furds is contained in their respective simplified prospectuses. Obtain a copy from the above dealer or from Templeton Management Limited and read it carefully before investing. Unit values and rates of investment return will fluctuate. . THAT SUITS YOUR SPECIFIC NEEDS? biG LaimatiaS] Wns Woon SOLGUARD FINANCIAL LTD. Consultant & Brokers since 1974 4205-675 West Hastings Street Vancouver. Planning Soluticns . That Fit * Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIFs) * Annuities, » Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs) * Investment Funds . * Life Insurance * Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GICs) . * Reverse Annuity Mortgages 401- ~Kapilano 100, Park Royal South West Vancouver 925-3101 The North Shore Credit Union has two terrific RRSP options to help you meet your retirement § savings goals.. THE Equity PLAN RRSP... invests your retirement savings in North Shore Credit Union Equity Shares, You're investing in a financial institution that's been serving the community for over haifa century, This strong and stable savings 3s program provides you with a higher rate of return than many of today’s most popular mutual funds. - 3 YEAR TERM RRSP... _makes it so easy to save for your retirement. Open your 3 Year Term RRSP now and receive a 1/2% Interest * Honus over our already high rate. me * past performance of Equity Shares of mutual funds is nota guarantee of future performance. A Sull disclosure statement of Equity Shares is available at your nearest North Shore Credit Union branch, Some redemption restrictions apply. **Bonus offer available through Match 1, 1999, See the branch nearest you fort more details en both of these RRSP options. -