School is in Session: Plan for the Future with Life Insurance for Children

With school back in session what better time is there to start thinking about an education fund for your child’s future? Right now you tell them that they can be anything they want to be when they grow up – but what about when high school graduation rolls around and they have their sights set on post-secondary education…

Here are the facts: the average cost of post-secondary education in Canada rises steadily every year. For the 2011/2012 school year the average cost of tuition for an undergraduate student at a Canadian university was $5366, and at a Canadian college $2600. And that’s just the classes. For most undergraduate (university) programs, the yearly cost of books ranges from $800 to $1000, or a little less for college programs. And these costs don’t factor in the cost of living – which rises when your child goes to school out-of-town. Add on at least a few thousand dollars more if they are not living at home during this period.

Every parent wants to be able to provide for their children, including their education, but when it comes to saving many just don’t see a way to do it. Here is where the benefits of life insurance for children come in. By purchasing a life insurance policy for your child when they are still in grade school, you are essentially providing for their future no matter what they want to do. Low monthly premiums make it easy to set that money aside.

Think about it this way: the average post-secondary education today runs about $25000 for a degree. The average policy, with low monthly premiums, can garner a cash value to be used to pay that entire amount. By taking out life insurance for children, you are effectively securing those funds so that your child can avoid student loans and benefit from an education that gives them a fresh financial start once complete.

What if they choose not to pursue a post-secondary education? The money saved through that life insurance policy can be used for many other things: buying their first car, a down payment on a home, traveling the world, etc. That cushion provides the stability when they first start out that lets them breathe that much easier. With life insurance for children, you can save for your child’s future without stress.

For more information about securing education savings through life insurance for children, please contact Independent Financial Concepts Group today at 416-849-1653 or visit us at www.wecoveryou.ca.

Education Savings To Help You Save For Your Child’s Education

Maximizing education savings

The costs of post-secondary education are rising. A Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP Canada), which is a tax-sheltered education savings account that can help ensure that you and your children cope with those costs. By making the most of an RESP Canada— including smart investing for tax-deferred growth and eligibility for government grants — we can generate investment returns to help ensure you have enough education savings for your children.

What are the current costs and how much are they expected to go up?

Consider this:

• A 2009 study by one of the top five banks in Canada found the total cost of a four-year degree (including living expenses and academic fees) was $77,000.

• For those who lived at home with their parents, the cost was $52,000.

• The study predicted that by 2027 that cost would almost double — to $137,000 for those living away from home and $101,000 for students who stay at home.

• Statistics Canada recently reported that undergraduate students this year paid 4% more in tuition fees than last year and graduate students 6.6% more.

How can I maximize the CESG?

To receive the maximum Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG), you could contribute amounts annually to an RESP rather than a large sum at the outset; the grant is 20% on the first $2,500 contributed each year, to a maximum of $500 per year. However, an RESP strategy isn’t always cut and dried. If you have a large lump sum available (up to maximum lifetime RESP contribution limit of $50,000), we might explore investing it all to begin earning compounding tax-sheltered returns early. You would forgo some government grant money but you would immediately begin earning tax-deferred returns. A best strategy for managing the grant would depend on a discussion of your needs and situation.

Are there any advantages to a self-directed RESP?

Flexibility! There is a lot of flexibility with a self-directed RESP Canada, allowing us to take full advantage of the wide range of investments you can hold in an RESP Canada. We can work with you to make sure your strategy maximizes the savings and investment potential of an RESP Canada, as well as making the most effective use of government grants.

Regardless of what your child’s career direction will be, post secondary education will be one of the key components to his or her success. It’s never too early to start education savings and planning for your children. For more information contact Gary Mandel at Independent Financial Concepts Group by calling 416-849-1653 or visit www.wecoveryou.ca