For Canadian women, freedom from debt means financial success

    -   Twice as many define success as being debt-free than those who say it
        is having enough money for retirement, according to TD Waterhouse
        Female Investor Poll
    -   Taking action is the key to feeling financially successful
    -   Westerners are more likely to have a financial plan than Easterners

    TORONTO, Nov. 13 /CNW/ - How do Canadian women define financial success?
    According to the 2008 TD Waterhouse Female Investor Poll, 37% of Canadian
women say being debt-free is the definition of financial success, while only
half as many define financial success as "having enough money for retirement"
(17%). Short-term achievements such as "having money to buy anything I want"
(23%) also outrank retirement savings as a measure of financial success.
    The most common step that women take to reach their financial goals is to
follow a budget to manage their spending (55%). This compares with only 25%
who have sought investment advice from a professional advisor.
    "The fact that most women concentrate on short-term planning, budgeting
and goal-setting is not surprising, it may be an even more natural response in
times of economic turmoil," says Patricia Lovett-Reid, Senior Vice President,
TD Waterhouse. "While getting your spending under control is important, it's
not enough. Without a long-term investment plan, we cannot achieve a
comfortable, worry-free retirement."
    Over nine in 10 female investors who consider themselves financially
successful are actively engaged in some action to achieve success. Those women
who feel successful are significantly more likely to take each of the
following steps than those who feel unsuccessful:

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      Feel         Feel
                                                   Successful  Unsuccessful
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Pay off your credit cards in full every
     month to avoid paying interest                    58%          20%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Contribute regularly to an RRSP                    50%          21%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Save/invest through a pre-authorized
     automatic savings or investment plan              38%          18%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Seek investment advice from a
     professional advisor                              37%          10%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Contribute the maximum possible
     amount each year to your RRSP                     16%           3%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Read the financial pages of your newspaper         13%           3%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Follow the stock market                            11%           1%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For Lovett-Reid, developing an investment strategy can go a long way in
making women feel more successful about their finances. "Contrary to what some
women might believe, getting more engaged in the world of investing provides a
sense of empowerment and accomplishment. Burying our heads in the sand does
not."

    More Key Findings:

    -   The incidence of women having a formal financial plan declines from
        west to east. 31% of BC and Prairies poll respondents have a
        financial plan compared with 23% for Ontario, 19% for Quebec, and 18%
        for Atlantic Canada. The national average is 24%.

    -   As women age, their attention naturally shifts from debt reduction to
        consumption. More say they see success in such things as "having
        money to buy anything I want or need" (31% of those aged 56-69 vs. a
        23% average for all age categories) and "having money to travel" (18%
        of those aged 56-69 vs. 13% average).

    -   More than three-quarters of women (76%) have their own investment
        assets, and the average value of their personal investment portfolios
        is $73,100.

    -   Three-in-four women think that men invest differently than women:
           -   (41%) believe the difference is explained by women's lower
               risk tolerance;
           -   Nearly one-quarter feel that women are simply more cautious,
               careful, or hesitant.
        The perception that women are more conservative, less comfortable
        investors has consistently dominated women's perceptions of the
        difference between male and female investors since 2005. That said,
        women are increasingly saying that different viewpoints and family
        priorities are what trigger different female and male investment
        behaviour.

    The national online poll was conducted between September 18-25, 2008 by
TNS Canadian Facts among 1,094 Canadian women aged 25-69 who have sole or
shared responsibility for household financial planning or investment
decisions. It is a comprehensive annual study of Canadian women's attitudes
towards investing.

    About TNS

    TNS is one of the world's leading market information groups, providing
market measurement, analysis and insight through its operating companies in 70
countries. Working with national and multi-national organizations, we help our
clients develop effective business strategies and enhance relationships with
their customers. In Canada, TNS Canadian Facts provides full-service, primary
market research. Its mission is to become clients' sixth sense of business(TM)
by giving them a deeper understanding of their customers' behaviour, better
anticipation of their actions and greater insight into what they really want.

    About TD Bank Financial Group

    The Toronto-Dominion Bank and its subsidiaries are collectively known as
TD Bank Financial Group. TD Bank Financial Group is the seventh largest bank
in North America by branches and serves approximately 17 million customers in
four key businesses operating in a number of locations in key financial
centres around the globe: Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking, including
TD Canada Trust; Wealth Management, including TD Waterhouse and an investment
in TD Ameritrade; U.S. Personal and Commercial Banking through TD Banknorth
and Commerce Bank (to be known together as TD Bank); and Wholesale Banking,
including TD Securities. TD Bank Financial Group also ranks among the world's
leading on-line financial services firms, with more than 5.5 million on-line
customers. TD Bank Financial Group had CDN$509 billion in assets as of July
31, 2008. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades on the Toronto and New York Stock
Exchanges under the symbol "TD", as well as on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

For further information: Stephen Ledgley, NATIONAL Public Relations,
(416) 848-1376, sledgley@national.ca. Visit the Fall Investment Newsroom for
information and materials that can assist you with your stories:
http://www.td.com/mediaroom/FIC/