A retiree holds most of her investments in interest-bearing GICs inside a non-registered account while...

Interest income is fully taxable in a non-registered account, so sheltering interest-bearing assets in a TFSA can improve after-tax results without changing the underlying risk profile materially. If the retiree already wants conservative holdings, placing some GIC or high-interest savings exposure inside the TFSA may reduce annual taxable income and preserve capital. Option B changes the risk profile and is not responsive to the client’s objective. Option C may be an estate or family-support decision, but it does not directly improve asset-location efficiency. Option D introduces leverage and repayment risk, which conflicts with the retiree’s conservative profile. The planner should evaluate available TFSA room, maturity dates, liquidity needs, CDIC eligibility where relevant, estate beneficiary designations, and whether non-registered accrued interest will be triggered. The principle is asset location: tax-inefficient income is often better sheltered where possible, provided the recommendation remains suitable. References/topics: asset location, TFSA, interest income taxation, retirement portfolio efficiency.

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