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Common Questions

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What is ECOFLEXTRA?

The ECOFLEXTRA Series is an investment that provides a maturity and death benefit guarantee, estate planning benefits and potential creditor protection, plus a reliable and predictable retirement income with the potential to benefit from market increases.


What Investment Funds are available through ECOFLEXTRA Series?

There are numerous Investment Funds and even complete Portfolio Solutions available through ECOFLEXTRA. The ECOFLEXTRA Funds are managed by a range of Portfolio Advisors from some of Canada’s best known Fund companies.
Click here for more information on the Funds.


What types of plans are available in ECOFLEXTRA?

You can hold ECOFLEXTRA investments in your RRSP, TFSA, LIRA, LRSP, RRIF, LIF and Non-Registered Savings Plans.


What are the primary benefits of ECOFLEXTRA Series?
  • Guaranteed income for LIFE. From as early as age 55.
  • 5% bonus for LIFE*.
  • Flexible income options.
  • Ability to lock-in market gains.
  • Guaranteed protection of your investment if markets go down.
  • Access to a wide variety of investments.
  • Income can increase over time.
  • Estate planning.
  • Creditor protection (certain conditions apply)

*Provided no withdrawals are made


How do the bonuses work in ECOFLEXTRA Series?

Bonuses are available for LIFE. If no withdrawals are made in a year, we will automatically add 5% on December 31st to your Guaranteed Surrender Balance (GSB), which is the amount your future retirement income will be based on.


Is the bonus added to the market value?

The bonus is added to the Guaranteed Surrender Balance (GSB) – not to the market value. The bonuses should not be viewed as cash, but rather as an increase in the amount of future guaranteed income payments.


Can the bonuses increase over time?

Yes, the bonuses can increase if the guaranteed value of your Portfolio has been reset at the higher level through ECOFLEXTRA Series’ automatic tri-annual resets. Future bonuses will be based on this higher level.


How old do I have to be to take the income for life option?

With ECOFLEXTRA Series, you can begin taking income for life from as early as age 55. If a reset occurs when you are in a different income band then you will receive a higher income for life amount.

Age Annual Income as a percentage of the Guaranteed Surrender Balance (GSB)
55-59 4%
60-64 4.5%
65-69 5%
70-74 5.5%
75+ 6%

What is the minimum deposit required to qualify for the Guaranteed Surrender Series (GSS)

The minimum deposit is $25,000. The reason the minimum exists is to make sure investor's future income is meaningful.



What is the maximum age that I can make deposits to ECOFLEXTRA to qualify for Guaranteed Income?

Up to the day before the annuitant turns 80 years old.


What risks does ECOFLEXTRA Series protect against?
  • Longevity Risk - The risk of outliving your money
  • Inflation Risk - Will your income keep up with inflation
  • Sequence of returns - Will your retirement portfolio weather a period of negative returns early on
  • Emotional Risk - Often investors sell their investment at market lows and buy at market highs, with Ecoflextra's guarantees you don't have to worry

Who is Industrial Alliance?

Industrial Alliance is the fourth largest life and health insurance company in Canada. It is at the head of a large financial group, with operations across Canada as well as in the Western United States.
Industrial Alliance contributes to the financial wellbeing of over 3 million Canadians, employs more than 3,500 people and manages and administers over $64 billion in assets. For more details on the size and strength of Industrial Alliance, please click on this link: Why IA?. In addition Industrial Alliance is a member of Assuris, formerly known as CompCorp, a consumer protection organization that provides coverage for all life insurance companies. For more information on the protection offered by Assuris for policy holders of GMWB's please click here.


How does ECOFLEXTRA Series work in RRIF accounts?

ECOFLEXTRA Series can provide advantages for registered retirement income fund (RRIF) investors:

  • Flexibility to withdraw more than the annual guaranteed amount to meet the required RRIF minimum
  • An income floor that is guaranteed to continue through retirement, even if the market value of the investment reduces to zero
  • In years where the RRIF minimum is higher than the guaranteed income amount, you can exceed the guaranteed payout without affecting your future guaranteed stream of income payments
  • ECOFLEXTRA Series resets and bonuses also present opportunities to increase your lifetime income, giving your retirement income a boost