49 episodes
- In episode 47 of Retirement Unpacked, Brett Martinson and Matthew Dennis discuss whether you should make your spouse a joint owner of your non-registered account, the key considerations before downsizing your home and renting, LIRA unlocking rules and how they vary by province, tax loopholes versus legitimate tax planning, and much more.
Later in the episode, Gord Manzer joins the show to discuss what to expect from a retirement plan when you're still 10+ years away from retiring, why plans change over time, and how to use that information to make better financial decisions today.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:22 Non-registered accounts: should you make them joint?
10:28 Selling house: should I downsize or rent?
18:19 Can you transfer investments in-kind from RRIF to TFSA?
23:44 Should I name my estate the beneficiary on my RRSP?
32:25 LIRA unlocking rules: every province is different
40:36 RRSP meltdown strategies for high-income earners
46:32 Tax loopholes: what's legal vs. what's risky
1:01:03 Can the FHSA be used as a tool for retirement
1:05:36 Planning for retirement 10+ years away
1:19:07 CPP survivor benefits explained: does delaying CPP hurt you? - In episode 46 of Retirement Unpacked, Adam Bornn and Kyle Martins discuss how CPP adjusts for inflation, the risk of delaying to 70, how to manage and replenish your cashflow wedge as you walk through retirement, the trade-offs of selling your home to rent, where to save after maxing out your RRSP and TFSA, and much more.
Later in the episode, Paul Grenier joins the show to discuss a unique client situation where a 65 year old used the Home Buyers’ Plan to withdraw from her RRSP and purchase a home. He explains why she was eligible, how the strategy fit into her retirement plan, and why you shouldn’t assume you don’t qualify for certain government programs.
Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:24 CPP inflation adjustments explained
3:11 How the CPP survivor benefit works
5:52 The risk of delaying CPP to 70
8:27 Should my holding company be out of the market?
11:47 How to manage your cashflow wedge during strong markets
14:41 How to replenish your cashflow wedge
17:03 Can bonds be used as your cashflow wedge?
20:59 Spousal RRSP strategy before retiring
24:15 The trade-offs of selling your home to rent
29:01 Where to save after maxing out your RRSP and TFSA
32:10 Using the Home Buyers' Plan at age 65 (case study)
38:50 The tax benefits of donating investments in-kind - In episode 45 of Retirement Unpacked, Kyle and Michael discuss the pros and cons of DIY retirement planning and DIY retirement planning software, whether it makes sense to carry a mortgage into retirement when you have a defined benefit pension, when spousal loans can be a useful tax strategy, how to coordinate retirement withdrawals between pensions and RRSPs, and much more.
Later in the episode, Mathieu joins the show to go over a client case study and discuss the benefits of updating your retirement plan, including how changes to QPP and locked-in account rules allowed the client to make adjustments that improved their plan.
0:00 Intro
0:30 Pros and cons of DIY retirement plans
4:13 Which year’s income determines your OAS clawback?
7:28 Should you pay off your mortgage before retirement?
12:05 How is the RRIF minimum calculated?
15:13 Spousal loans explained
21:01 Advantages of converting your RRSP at 55
24:57 Considerations when your pension is not indexed to inflation
29:19 Potential changes to Ontario LIRA unlocking rules
31:54 Coordinating a pension and RRSP in retirement
34:15 How changing legislation impacts retirement plans
38:16 RRSP strategies for one time high income years - In episode 44 of Retirement Unpacked, Matthew and Gord discuss when you should actually use your cashflow wedge and how to structure it, whether you need RRSP contribution room to unlock a LIRA, if it makes sense to structure your income in a way to qualify for GIS, when non-registered accounts can become a tax problem, and much more.
Later in the episode, Adam and Martin join the episode to discuss the importance for high net worth retirees to shift from wealth building to wealth distribution. They talk about the tax problems that can come from holding too much in taxable accounts, why delaying decisions can lead to larger tax bills later, and how strategies like gifting, charitable giving, and intentional estate planning can help make a bigger impact with your wealth.Chapters0:00 Intro
0:30 When should you use your cashflow wedge?
5:55 Can you unlock your LIRA if you have no RRSP contribution room?
8:08 Do spousal RRSP contributions use my contribution room?
10:12 Should you structure your income to qualify for GIS?
15:22 Can you unlock a LIRA more than once?
19:22 What happens to locked-in accounts when a spouse dies?
21:52 How should a cashflow wedge be structured?
25:48 Selling a rental property and OAS clawback implications
29:56 Should couples retirement plan together?
33:57 When non-registered accounts become a tax problem
40:41 Shifting from wealth building to wealth distribution (case study)
46:26 The smith manoeuvre in retirement: Keep it or unwind it? - In episode 43 of Retirement Unpacked, Adam and Brett discuss the laddered income strategy and whether it makes sense to use inflation as your “ladder,” what your options are if your TFSA is maxed and you still have excess funds, whether RRSPs make sense if you have a pension, if you only need a cashflow wedge in the accounts you’re actually withdrawing from, and much more.
Later in the episode, Paul Grenier joins to discuss a case study involving a couple who recently refinanced their mortgage, invested the proceeds in the markets, and are now looking at retiring early. The case looks at how shifting assumptions and expectations can impact the planning process, and why it’s important for both partners to be aligned and prepared before starting to plan for retirement.
Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:18 Can you let inflation 'ladder' your retirement spending?
5:57 RRIF to non-registered strategy
9:05 Maxed TFSA in retirement, where should excess funds go?
14:20 Attribution rules when you have 2 spousal RRSPs
18:06 Do RRSPs make sense if you have a pension?
26:02 Does TFSA go to spouse if you list them as beneficiary?
30:16 Can you partially convert your RRSP?
35:37 Do you only need cashflow wedge in the accounts you're withdrawing from?
41:19 Tax implications when passing on assets to next generation
47:26 What does our retirement planning process look like?
50:20 Expectations vs reality in retirement planning (case study)
55:05 Will it ever make sense to defer OAS but not CPP?
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About Retirement Unpacked
Retirement Unpacked is a weekly podcast by Parallel Wealth Financial Group. Our planners break down key retirement topics for Canadians—income strategies, tax planning, CPP, OAS, TFSAs, RRSPs, RRIFs, lifestyle choices, and estate planning. We answer real questions from YouTube, emails, and client conversations, giving you practical insights and strategies to retire with confidence, clarity, and peace of mind.
Join us each week as we unpack retirement together.
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