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The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, February 17, 2004--21 LU ------ YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE A better way to shop for your mortgage You mighs ask yourself why you need a mortgage broker to arrange your mortgage. You can easily walk into your hank and arrange it yourself, right? -Wrong. A lot has changed in today's financial landscape, and îust as an insurance broker finds you the boss insurance rates, a morsgage broker iinds you the hest deal on a mortgage. Mortgage hrokers are independent and won't steer you tnwvards one product. Dealing with several financial institutions allows mortgage brokers to not only offer the boss rates, but a much wider range of mnrtgage prod- ucts than one institution alone can offer. Linda Myronyk, cws Financiat Planner AWDhOTM Mortgage hrnkers work for you - the consumer, but get paid "finders fees" by the financial institu- tion which means no cost to, the consumer. Very rarely a mortgage hroker will charge a fee directly to the consumer, hut this is most oison in excep- tional cases not involving traditional mortgage funding sources. A mortgage broker is a certiiied, registered, pro- fessional. They don't want to seli you RSP's, or a new hank card, or travel insurance. Mortgage bru- kers are specialists in their field and what better place to gos gond quality information from than from the 5sO( ialists. Your 2004 RRSP checklist Do... 1. Croate or update your financial plan with the help ni a professional investment advisor. 2. lnvest early and oison. lnvosting today will lot you roap more tomorrow. Bocauso your invost- monts are allowed to compound tax-froe, thero are significant advansages to investing early in the yoar or on a monthly basis. 3. Maximize your RRSP contribution to take advansage ni your single greatoss opportunity to save for retirement and doler taxes. 4. Diversify your RRSP investments and robaI- ance to reilect your needs considering asset mix, performance and risk. 5. Think long-termn instead ni letting short-term market volatilîty sway your investment decisions. 6. Consolidate your investmnents in one place instead ni trying to track a numbor ni retirement portfolios with different advisors. 7. Tako advansageofn dollar-cost avoraging with a monthly deduction plan that sproads your mutual fond purchases over time and givos you greator long-termn returns. 8. Consider a spousal RRSP which can provide significans tax bonofits to couples with diverse incomo lovols. 9. Think RRSP first, mortgago second, by using the sax refund irom your RRSP contribution to pay down your mortgage. 10. Choose mutual iunds and put your money in the hands ni profossionals who have the investment know-how to help you reach your retiremont dreams. Don't... 1 . Think it is ton lato to start. It is nover ton late to invost in your future. 2. Neglect to contributo so your RRSP bocauso you're short on cash. If this is the case, talk to your advisor about the advantages ni an RRSP boan. 3. Wait until the last minute to meet the February deadline - investment decisions shouldn't ho rushed. 4. Chase the hottest funds since using short-termn performance history to predict which funds will nus poriorm is unreliable. 5. Withdraw from your RIRSP without advice irom a proiessional who cao counsel ýiou on your ability to repay it. 6. Expect ton much from your portfolio over the short-term when retiremens investments have been made to meot your long-termn goals. 7. Be son causinus and choose low risk invost- monts only. A diversified portfolio should includo a variety ni assets to minimizo risk and maximizo roturo. 8. Emphasize resuros only instead ni factoring in risk. A balance ni high risk and low risk investmont is important. 9. Expect presons conditions to continue and choose only those invostmont thas capitalize on today's markets. lnstoad, croate a portfolio with a mix ni investments and market stylos. 10. Forges to reinvost yoor tax refunds which cao give you a jump start on next year's contributions. Brought to you by [ou Mulligan, CFP, CLU, RHU ni Money Concepts/AEGON Dealer Services Canada lnc., 420 Main St. E., Suite 204, Milton. 905-876-0940. Monday-Friday (Feb 23-Mar 1)........gam-7pm Saturday (Feb 21 & 28)............ 11am-3pmr Sunday (Feb 29)...............2noon-4pmn Appointments also available. Cail (905)876-0940 420 Main St. E., Suite 204, Milton ~MONEY SCONCEPTS& %EàFGON. Dealer Services Canada Inc Lou Mulligan cFP, cLU, RHU Franchise Fresident -p LUE AVAILADI. Affiliated with N.F. Insurancê Agency Inc. Because nf the range of lenders that mortgage brokers deal with they can often say "yes" when your bank has said "no". Mortgage brokers have access to high quai- ity broker only lenders that most consumers simply do flot have access to. A "no" at one bank can offen ho turned into a 'yes" at another institution when the mort- gage application is presented in the correct Iight. Mortgage brokers save you money. How? Did you know that a 0.25% lower interest-rate on a $200,000 mortgage over 25 years would save you $8586. You simply cannot afford ot to contact your mortgage broker! Tom Hickey, Mortgage Consultant, MoneyConnect Home Mortgages 905-877-2426 ext 3, thickey@moneyconnect.ca M à ' CONCERNED ABOUTINTT YOUR *4 _5ý $50OFF REASONABLE RATES with this ad- wu:f~ «W M MILTON MALL MM19 EIAr 905-876-3726 _________________________GEORGETOWN MARKET PLACE OVER 10 LOCATIONS TO SERV O 905-877-5884 MISSISSAUGA: Head Office 905-949-2222 or 1-866-TAXWIDE FILE ON LINE - GO TO: TAXWIDE.NET NOT INVESTING IN YOUR RSP THIS YEAR? NOW THAT'S RISKY. ,. You don't have to worry about contributing to your retiremnent saving when you have the right solutions working for you. To find out about Money Master for RSPs- account, The Ultimnatel GIC and Scotia Partners Portfolio" Funds, drop by your local branch location. Milton Main Branch Sharon Coffen 905-875-3058 Manager Personal Banking Laurie Centre Lucie Tomaz 905-876-4191 Manager Personal Banking Campbellville Christine Klucsartis 905-854-5560 Life. Money. Balance both7. - Trademark oTh Bank of Nova Scotia. 0 Registered trademarks of The Bank of Nova Scoia. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses ail may be associated with mutual fund investments. Please read the prospects before investing. Mutual fonds are not guaranteed, their value changes frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Material supplied by Mackenzie Financial Corporation luid o knw. No al R SParth me Your source for mutual & segregated funds & GIC's SPECIAL RRSP HOURS mI