The most cost-effective retention tool most Edmonton employers aren't using. A Group RRSP with employer matching costs less than a raise — and it's tax-deductible the day you make it.
Not every business needs every component. A broker designs the right combination for your team size, industry, and budget.
A plan sponsor umbrella for individual RRSPs. Employees contribute via payroll deduction — no waiting for tax season to reclaim the deduction.
You match a percentage of employee contributions — typically 50% to 100% up to 3–5% of salary. Deductible to the business. Visible to every employee at every paycheque.
Employer-funded, with a vesting schedule you define. Employees earn the match after staying 1–2 years. One of the strongest retention tools in a small business toolkit.
For employees who've maxed their RRSP room, a Group TFSA lets them continue saving tax-sheltered. Common in teams with higher earners or senior staff.
Your carrier provides a curated segregated fund menu — balanced, target-date, and index seg funds. All investment options are insurance products issued by licensed carriers, not mutual funds or securities.
New hire enrolment, termination, contribution changes, annual reporting — handled through the carrier's employer portal. I support your HR on exceptions.
Most Edmonton businesses are surprised how fast this moves once the decision is made.
We agree on the match formula, eligible employees, vesting schedule (if DPSP), and investment menu. I compare proposals from 10+ carriers and present them in plain language — no jargon.
Employees complete digital enrolment, choose their investment allocation, and set their contribution percentage. I handle onboarding communications and answer employee questions directly.
Contributions run through payroll automatically. I monitor the plan annually, review fund performance, and flag any administration issues before they become your problem.
Edmonton's labour market has tightened considerably since 2022. Energy sector recovery, tech sector growth, and record Alberta in-migration have put pressure on compensation packages across every industry. Employers who relied on salary alone are losing people to firms that offer the full package.
A Group RRSP with employer matching doesn't just attract talent — it's tax-efficient in ways a salary increase isn't. Every dollar you match is a business deduction. For the employee, it arrives pre-tax via payroll, compounding faster than post-tax saving. That math is hard to beat as a retention tool.
Alberta has no provincial payroll tax, which makes employer-sponsored retirement savings more cost-effective here than in Ontario or Quebec. That advantage is built into every plan I design for Edmonton businesses.
Banks offer group retirement plans too. Here's what the comparison actually looks like.
| Feature | Broker — AI+Trust | Your bank (single carrier) | DIY (no plan) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carrier comparison | ✓ 10+ carriers | ✗ One institution | ✗ None |
| Broker fee to employer | ✓ $0 | ✓ $0 | — |
| Low-MER fund lineup | ✓ Curated | Varies | ✗ |
| DPSP vesting option | ✓ | Varies | ✗ |
| Ongoing plan advice | ✓ Named advisor | Call centre | ✗ |
| Payroll deduction setup | ✓ Handled | ✓ | ✗ |
A Group RRSP through a broker costs you nothing extra — and changes everything about the advice you get.
Sun Life, Manulife, Canada Life, Desjardins, Empire Life, and more. I'm contracted with all of them. My recommendation is based on your team's profile — not on which institution has a branch near you.
Matching formulas, vesting schedules, eligible employees, contribution limits — these are design decisions that affect your cost significantly. I model them before you commit to anything.
Every year I review your fund lineup, participation rates, and contribution patterns. If something isn't serving your team, I tell you — and I have the carrier leverage to change it.
Enrolment sessions, contribution guidance, RRSP vs. TFSA questions — I handle employee communication directly so your HR isn't doing financial planning on the side.
Tell me about your business and I'll come back within 3–5 business days with options from multiple carriers — match formula, fund lineup, and monthly cost per employee.
✉ alfredo@aitrustadvisory.ca 🌐 aitrustadvisory.ca