Common Questions

What is ECOFLEXTRA?
What Investment Funds are available through ECOFLEXTRA Series?
What types of plans are available in ECOFLEXTRA?
What are the primary benefits of ECOFLEXTRA Series?
How do the bonuses work in ECOFLEXTRA Series?
Is the bonus added to the market value?
Can the bonuses increase over time?
How old do I have to be to take the income for life option?
What is the minimum deposit required to qualify for the Guaranteed Surrender Series (GSS)
What is the maximum age that I can make deposits to ECOFLEXTRA to qualify for Guaranteed Income?
How does ECOFLEXTRA Series work in RRIF accounts?
Who is Industrial Alliance?

What is ECOFLEXTRA?

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?

Ecoflextra offers you the choice of 5 low-risk investments including Dan Bastastic's Strategic Corporate Bond Fund, allowing you to convert some of your retirement savings into a source of dependable income that you can't outlive.

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.
  • Guaranteed protection of your investment if markets go down.
  • 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.

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



Who is Industrial Alliance?

www.inalco.com