Jonas, age 66, receives a monthly retirement income of $2,000 that is indexed to the cost of living. His RRSPs consist of the following: $30,000 in an international equity fund and $20,000 in a global bond fund.
To which of the following risks is Jonas most exposed?
Correct Answer: B
Under the LLQP Segregated Funds and Annuities and Investment & Savings curriculum, assessing investment risk requires reviewing both the client's sources of income and the composition of their portfolio.
In Jonas's case, his primary retirement income of $2,000 per month is indexed to the cost of living. This indexing significantly reduces his exposure to inflation risk, as increases in prices are offset by corresponding increases in income. Therefore, inflation risk is not his primary concern.
Jonas's RRSP investments consist entirely of foreign-based assets: an international equity fund and a global bond fund. According to LLQP investment principles, investments that hold securities denominated in foreign currencies are subject to foreign exchange risk. This risk arises because fluctuations in exchange rates can affect the Canadian-dollar value of both investment returns and principal, regardless of the underlying performance of the assets themselves. For example, even if the international equity fund performs well in local markets, a strengthening Canadian dollar could reduce the value of those gains when converted back to Canadian dollars.
Interest rate risk is most relevant to portfolios heavily concentrated in fixed-income securities, particularly long-term bonds. While Jonas does hold a global bond fund, it represents only $20,000 of his $50,000 RRSP portfolio, and it is diversified internationally. As a result, interest rate risk exists but is not his dominant exposure. Liquidity risk is also minimal, as mutual fund investments within RRSPs are generally considered liquid and accessible, subject to normal settlement periods.
The LLQP curriculum emphasizes that international diversification introduces currency exposure, which can increase volatility, particularly for retirees who rely on portfolio stability. Since Jonas's retirement income is already protected against inflation, the most significant remaining risk affecting his RRSP investments is foreign exchange risk.
Therefore, based strictly on LLQP-approved investment risk definitions and client profile analysis, the correct answer is Option B: Foreign exchange risk.
