This is one of an occasional series on information for advisors intended to help them better understand their clients and possibly open up new niche markets to them.

It is based on data gleaned from surveys conducted by BBM Canada, a Toronto-based not-for-profit, industry-owned and -run broadcast audience research organization. BBM Canada conducts a bi-annual 80-page survey with a sample size of more than 55,000 respondents, providing detailed insight into the consumer preferences of Canadians across a spectrum of industries including financial, banking and e-commerce. Today’s “factoid” is taken from a survey conducted last year.

Many Canadians don’t hold RRSPs, yet still have significant savings, according to a BBM Canada survey. That suggests some potential clients aren’t thinking ahead to retirement.

The survey says that of Canadians between the ages of 35 and 64 with no RRSPs, 51% have $5,000 or more in savings while 36% have $20,000 or more in savings. Moving even a portion of that money into an RRSP would generate a sizable tax break.

Within this age group, 32% have yearly household income of $60,000 or more, while 42% have household income of between $30,000 and $60,000.

Overall, almost half of Canadians (43%) aged 35 to 44 have no RRSP, the survey shows.

“Even though they have the household income to support a modest RRSP, they prefer to spend their money on other investments or the luxuries of life including vacations, jewelry, CDs, and lottery tickets,” BBM Canada says

Eight out of 10 of 35-64 year-olds with no RRSP have shopped at HMV at least once in the past year, 76% shopped at gardening stores, 58% shopped at stereo stores and 35% percent shopped at jewelry stores; 33% spent $2,000 or more in their last vacation.

“Lottery tickets are popular among all Canadians, but you have to wonder about priorities when 31% of Canadians without an RRSP manage to spend $20 or more per month on lotteries – almost half (49%) spend $10 or more,” BBM Canada says.