Tax- efficient Asset Location
When you’re building an investment plan, you’ve probably heard about the importance of “asset allocation.” That simply means choosing the right mix of different types of investments —such as fixed income, equities, and cash or cash equivalents—that match your goals, time frame and risk tolerance.
But have you considered asset location?
While asset allocation focuses on what you invest in, asset location looks at where you hold those investments. Asset location refers to how your investments are distributed across various account types, such as registered accounts (like RRSPs and TFSAs), regular (taxable) non-registered account, and in some cases, corporate accounts.
Why does this matter?
This is important because different types of investment income are taxed differently, depending on both the type of income and the type of account in which the investment is held. For example:
- If you earn interest in a regular (non-registered) account, you may have to pay more tax on it.
- But if you hold that same investment in an RRSP or TFSA, you could reduce or even avoid paying tax on that income.
- Capital gains are taxed more favorably than interest.
- Canadian dividends may benefit from the dividend tax credit when held in a non-registered account.
By carefully considering asset location, you can improve your after-tax returns and keep more of your money working for you. Paying attention to the type of income each investment generates—and ensuring those investments are held in the most tax-efficient accounts—can have a meaningful impact on your long-term investment success.
Are you holding the right investments in the right accounts?

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