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TD poll finds almost half of Canadians polled were not aware of the new Tax-Free Savings Account

4 minute read
By TD Bank Group
• Nov. 24, 2008
Canadians who want the benefits of tax-free growth of bank deposits, mutual funds and other investments can get more information or pre- register now at TD Canada Trust or TD Waterhouse TORONTO, Nov. 24 /CNW/ - Saving for a new house, car or retirement? Maybe it's for tuition, a vacation or a rainy day. According to a recent TD Canada Trust omnibus poll commissioned by Angus Reid, 45% of Canadians are unaware of the new Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA). "We're thrilled to be able to offer an option like this to our TD Canada Trust and TD Waterhouse customers. This new savings option is a great addition to most financial plans with advantages like tax-free investment growth and withdrawals. Not to mention any unused contribution room can be carried over and withdrawals from the account create additional unused contribution room," said Patricia Lovett-Reid, Senior Vice President, TD Waterhouse. "The ability to make automatic contributions instead of having to come up with a large lump sum all at once, makes long- and short-term saving easier and more manageable, ultimately making personal financial goals more achievable." To ensure Canadians are able to manage their finances in a way that is convenient for them, customers interested in pre-registering now can visit any TD Canada Trust or TD Waterhouse branch or call 1.866.222.3456 (TD Canada Trust) or 1.866.280.2022 (TD Waterhouse) for the following available options: - TD Canada Trust Tax-Free Savings Account - Including a High Interest TFSA Savings Account and full suite of TD Canada Trust Term and GIC products. - TD Mutual Funds Tax-Free Savings Account - Including a full suite of TD Mutual Funds. - TD Waterhouse Tax-Free Savings Account - Including a broad range of investment options from Discount Brokerage to Financial Planning and Private Client Service. For more information on the new account, go to www.tdcanadatrust.com/tfsa or www.tdwaterhouse.ca/tfsa. With a TFSA, Canadians do not pay tax on investment income and growth earned in the account; can withdraw money without a tax penalty; can contribute up to $5,000 a year and have the ability to recontribute any amounts withdrawn and carry forward unused contribution room indefinitely. Of the Canadians polled who are informed about the new savings option, 22% do not plan to take advantage of it. In addition, men, who are more aware of the TFSA (63%) than women (47%), are also more likely to take advantage of the new savings option (38%). When broken down amongst ages, Canadians 55 or older are the most likely group to make use of the TFSA, at 40%, while Canadians between the ages of 18 and 34 are the least likely, at 26%. When compared regionally, the results showed that Alberta and Québec residents have the lowest awareness with 50% and 47% respectively while Atlantic Canadians are the most cognizant at 64%. "The TFSA has been hailed as the 'single most important savings vehicle since the introduction of the RRSP'. Every Canadian is entitled to the benefits of the new account and the good news is that 78% of Canadians who are aware of it plan to sign up," added Sarah Armstrong, Associate Vice President, Retail Products. "At TD Canada Trust and TD Waterhouse, we have the expertise and resources to help Canadians determine how the TFSA fits into their financial plan, as well as help them figure out how to reach their financial goals." About the TD Poll From October 28 to October 29, 2008, Angus Reid Strategies conducted an online survey among a randomly selected, representative sample of 1,006 adult Canadians through the Angus Reid Forum. The results have been statistically weighted according to Statistics Canada's most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a representative sample of the entire adult population of Canada. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding. About TD Bank Financial Group The Toronto-Dominion Bank and its subsidiaries are collectively known as TD Bank Financial Group. TD Bank Financial Group is the seventh largest bank in North America by branches and serves approximately 17 million customers in four key businesses operating in a number of locations in key financial centres around the globe: Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking, including TD Canada Trust and TD Insurance; Wealth Management, including TD Waterhouse and an investment in TD Ameritrade; U.S. Personal and Commercial Banking through TD Banknorth and TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank; and Wholesale Banking, including TD Securities. TD Bank Financial Group also ranks among the world's leading on-line financial services firms, with more than 5.5 million on-line customers. TD Bank Financial Group had CDN$509 billion in assets as of July 31, 2008. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades under the symbol "TD" on the Toronto Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange. For further information: Kelly Hechler, TD Bank Financial Group, (416) 982-2469

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