Access Money From Your LIRA

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What is a Manitoba LIRA?

Locked-in Retirement Account (LIRA) is a type of registered pension plan.

If you worked for a company that had a pension plan and subsequently left that company for any number of reasons, you were likely to transfer your pension into a LIRA.

 

How do I access the funds in my LIRA?

If you want to access money from your LIRA, your only option before age 55 is to convert your LIRA into a Life Income Fund (LIF).

The LIF, however, does have withdrawal restrictions in place. There is a minimum withdrawal that must occur every year. There is also a maximum withdrawal that cannot be exceeded.

The minimum and maximum withdrawals are based on your age. If you’re interested to know how much you would be able to withdraw, click here.

 

After age 55

At the age of 55, you do have an additional option. At that point, you can transfer 50% of your LIF into a prescribed RRIF or a PRIF.

With a PRIF, there’s also a minimum amount that you’re forced to withdraw every year, but there is no maximum withdrawal.

In theory, you could take out 50% of your locked-in funds at 55.

The other 50% would remain in a LIF.

 

New Changes at 65

Recent pension legislation has been updated in Manitoba to provide further withdrawal options at 65. At that point, you can convert the remainder of your LIF into a RRIF.

A RRIF will also have a minimum withdrawal, but no maximum, providing access to all your locked-in funds.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Retirement Planning Toolkit

Apply These Ideas to Your Own Retirement

If this article raised questions about when to retire, how to create income, or how taxes fit into your plan, our Retirement Planning Toolkit will help you think through your next steps with clarity.

It includes the same practical checklists and planning frameworks we use with clients to help create steady, tax-efficient income in retirement.

Trans Canada Wealth Management is a Winnipeg-based wealth management firm specializing in retirement planning for pre-retirees and retirees. The firm focuses on helping Canadians navigate retirement, investment, and tax decisions with clarity and confidence.

Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of Trans Canada Wealth Management and are provided for informational purposes only. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Harbourfront Wealth Management Inc., a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.