Retirement Unpacked

In episode 22 of Retirement Unpacked, Brett and Kyle break down questions you should be asking your financial planner and also how to ask to have your fees reduced. They also touch on factors to consider before setting up a spousal RRSP, should you start CPP early and invest it, and much more. 
Later in the episode, one of our planners, Paul Grenier joins to discuss whether annuities make sense for retirees in 2026. 
Brett's book recommendation from John De Goey
Adam's video on investing your CPP payment
Chapters
00:00 Intro 
1:08 Drawdown with RRIF and corporate holdings 
5:14 Planning after taking CPP and OAS early 
8:54 Factors to consider for spousal RRSPs 
12:28 Questions to ask your financial planner 
18:03 Tax implications of gifting money to children 
21:43 How to ask to reduce your fees 
30:41 Should you start CPP early and invest it? 
37:23 Why are joint investment accounts hard to find? 
40:20 Is OAS clawback based on individual or couple income? 
43:39 How to reduce tax on sale of investment property 
49:40 Discussion on annuities 
56:08 Does delaying OAS increase years of eligibility?

In episode 21 of Retirement Unpacked, Adam and Michael break down a number of questions we have gotten about the cashflow wedge. 
They discuss whether a 75/25 investment can function as a cashflow wedge, whether it makes sense to only withdraw the minimum from your wedge in down markets, and how asset allocation and cashflow wedges should be handled across different accounts like RRIFs, LIFs, TFSAs, and non-registered accounts. The episode also covers the CPP post-retirement benefit, planning for real estate that continues to increase in value during retirement, and much more.  
Later in the episode, one of our planners, Peter Filippakis, joins to discuss planning considerations when there’s an age gap between partners, and the additional factors retirees need to think through in those situations. 

Chapters
00:00 Intro 
00:37 What is the Post Retirement Benefit? 
1:59 How gradual retirement in early 60s affects CPP 
3:34 Should DC pension balance be added to RRSP? 
4:54 Use a 75%/25% investment for cashflow wedge? 
7:29 What happens to DCPP when you retire? 
9:40 Can you reinvest dividends in RRIF? 
10:55 Withdraw minimum from LIF/RIF in down markets? 
15:33 Planning for real estate increasing in value in retirement 
17:43 Asset allocation & cashflow wedge across your accounts 
20:24 Do you still need bonds if you have cashflow wedge? 
23:26 Planning when there's an age gap

In episode 20 of Retirement Unpacked, Brett and Jon dive into CPP survivor benefits and whether delaying CPP can impact your survivor payout, the tax implications of moving investments from a non-registered account to your TFSA or RRSP, whether it makes sense to keep your emergency fund in a chequing account, and much more. 
Later on in the episode, one of our planners, Gord Manzer, joins to discuss car accident benefits in retirement and how upcoming changes in Ontario, including many of the mandatory benefits becoming optional on July 1, could affect retirees. 
Chapters
00:00 Intro 
00:43 Balance a large non-registered and RRSP 
4:50 Understanding CPP survivor benefit 
12:32 Laddered GICs for cash wedge 
15:43 Moving investments from non-registered to TFSA and RRSP 
18:44 PWL CPP estimate vs. Service Canada 
23:43 Why do we always delay CPP to 70? 
27:39 Should your emergency fund sit in a chequing account? 
36:30 Selling rental properties with RRSP meltdown in mind 
40:35 Why delay CPP and OAS when you'll get clawback? 
44:03 Car accident benefits in retirement 
50:27 Jon's favourite song right now 
51:30 Article review: Kevin O'Leary's formula to becoming a millionaire

In episode 19 of Retirement Unpacked, Adam and Brett break down what age your RRIF should be fully depleted by, how to have conversations about generational wealth with your parents, why having a cash wedge and protecting yourself against the market is critical to actually enjoy the retirement you've worked so hard for, and much more. 
Later on in the episode, one of our planners Jon Kutney joins to discuss smart debt and strategies to potentially make your debt tax-deductible. 
Chapters
00:00 Intro 
00:21 Better or worse time to transfer RRSP to RRIF 
3:22 What age should RRIF be fully melted down 
5:20 LIF maximum based on the account's performance 
8:31 Retirement planning for a spouse with dementia 
13:10 What to do when actual returns differ from your plan 
19:38 Talking about generational wealth with your parents 
27:24 Passing wealth to financially irresponsible grandkids 
31:12 Clarifying the cash wedge 
38:07 Drawing down RRIF based on life expectancy 
40:16 Retiring early, how should I drawdown RRIF, TFSA, and non-reg? 
45:14 Smart debt discussion 
50:38 Estate planning with age gap and blended family

In episode 18 of Retirement Unpacked, Brett and Matthew break down how to think about generational wealth, including how much of a buffer to hold before giving money to your children and the smartest ways to share it without waiting until you pass. They also dive into TFSA beneficiary designation planning, whether it makes sense to convert your RRSP to a RRIF before age 65, and much more! 
Later in the episode, one of our planners Mathieu Huneault joins to discuss an article he came across from Aaron Hector about whether you should name a U.S. or dual-citizen spouse as the successor holder or beneficiary of your TFSA. 
Have a question about anything retirement related? Drop a comment, and we’ll try to cover it in a future episode! 
️ Read Aaron Hector's article hereTimestamps 
00:00 Intro 
00:36 Contributing inheritance to spouse's TFSA 
02:31 Buffer to hold before thinking of generational wealth 
07:03 Smart ways to share wealth with children 
10:13 Tax implications of passing principal residence after death 
13:35 Can you name a successor holder and beneficiary? 
16:34 What happens to spouse's TFSA limit when I pass away? 
18:50 How to plan when there's an age gap 
23:47 Any reason to convert RRSP to RRIF before 65? 
28:43 Factors to consider for partial RRSP conversion in early 60s 
34:54 How much should you be saving? 
40:00 Foreign pension income splitting 
43:48 Spending in the go-go, slow-go, and no-go phases 
52:34 Beneficiary designation of U.S. spouse on TFSA 
1:00:29 Keeping employer healthcare plan in retirement