Justis, age 62, and his wife Jen, age 58, are meeting with their financial planner,...

Luke should recommend using Jen's non-registered funds because that option clears the liabilities without triggering registered-plan withdrawal income. The debts total $18,500 and include expensive consumer borrowing: credit cards at 23% and 15%, plus a car loan at 8%. The couple's taxable investments earn 10% interest before tax, so Jen's after-tax return is approximately 6.5% at a 35% marginal rate. Paying the credit cards is equivalent to earning a risk-free after-tax return equal to the interest avoided, which is materially better than leaving the money invested. Using either spouse's RRSP would create taxable income and permanently reduce retirement capital. Using Justis's non-registered funds is less effective because his lower tax rate makes his after-tax investment return higher than Jen's, so Jen's taxable account is the better source. Study Guide focus: debt repayment priority, after-tax returns, registered versus non-registered withdrawals, and household cash-flow planning. The recommendation also preserves retirement accounts for the couple's age-65 objective while eliminating the highest-cost liabilities first.

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