In this episode of the Ask TMFG Podcast, Carlo Cansino and John Iaconetti expose the often-overlooked reality of RRSP withdrawals in retirement and why they can create major tax surprises for Canadians. They explain that many retirees who diligently saved for decades are shocked to learn that every RRSP and RRIF withdrawal is fully taxable as income, often leaving them in higher tax brackets than expected.

Using a Canadian-specific lens, they walk through the biggest RRSP withdrawal traps, including Old Age Security clawbacks, mandatory RRIF withdrawals at age 71, and limited income-splitting options between spouses. These rules can quietly erode retirement income, force unnecessary withdrawals, and increase lifetime taxes, even for disciplined savers.

The discussion then shifts to solutions, outlining how early, strategic RRSP withdrawals, careful timing during lower-income years, and gradual TFSA conversions can significantly reduce taxes and protect government benefits. The key takeaway is clear: retirement success isn’t determined by how much you saved in your RRSP, but by how intelligently you withdraw it. Proper planning can mean the difference between losing thousands to taxes and keeping more of your retirement income working for you.

👉 Watch the full video episode on YouTube to understand the hidden RRSP traps and learn how to build a tax-efficient retirement withdrawal strategy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dva6raI850I 

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If you’d like help stress-testing your withdrawal strategy and identifying hidden tax risks, we’re offering a free portfolio analysis 👉 https://tmfg.ca/portfolio-analysis/

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In this episode of the Ask TMFG Podcast, Carlo Cansino and John Iaconetti provide straightforward, practical guidance for Canadians who have saved past $1.5 million but still feel uncertain about retirement. They explain why having a large portfolio doesn’t automatically translate into security, and how, in many cases, higher savings actually introduce new and often overlooked risks.

Using a Canadian-specific lens, they unpack the biggest traps facing high-net-worth retirees, including Old Age Security (OAS) clawbacks, inefficient asset placement, poorly timed RRSP and RRIF withdrawals, and unnecessary tax leakage. The discussion highlights how these issues can quietly erode income and benefits, even for disciplined savers, if withdrawals and accounts are not coordinated properly.

They also address longer-term risks such as inflation and estate planning, explaining how purchasing power can shrink over a 25-year retirement and how deemed disposition at death can result in significant taxes without proper planning. The key takeaway from this episode is that retirement confidence after $1.5 million doesn’t come from saving more, but from understanding how income, taxes, benefits, and legacy planning work together.

👉 Watch the full video episode on YouTube to see how these strategies fit together and why smart planning makes the difference between feeling wealthy and actually staying wealthy in retirement. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWpH_VU-k40

Question for our listeners:

If you’d like help stress-testing your retirement plan and identifying hidden risks, we’re offering a free portfolio analysis 👉 https://tmfg.ca/portfolio-analysis/

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In this episode of the Ask TMFG Podcast, Carlo Cansino and John Iaconetti unpack a striking statistic: 61% of Canadians worry about running out of money in retirement! They explain why this anxiety isn’t always driven by a lack of savings, but by a lack of understanding, planning, and financial literacy, and why viewers of this episode may already be in a very different position.

Using a Canadian-specific lens, they explore how rising retirement “magic numbers” (from $700,000 to $900,000 and beyond) fuel anxiety without providing clarity. The conversation highlights how focusing solely on a savings target misses the bigger picture, especially when inflation, housing costs, and longevity continue to shift the goalposts.

They dive into the role of CPP and government benefits, showing how guaranteed, inflation-adjusted income, when coordinated with personal savings and smart withdrawal strategies, can dramatically improve retirement clarity. This episode's key takeaway is that retirement confidence comes from knowledge, planning, and ongoing financial literacy, not from chasing an arbitrary number.

👉 Watch the full video episode on YouTube to see how these strategies come together and why they separate confident retirees from the anxious majority.

Question for our listeners:

If you’d like help building your own retirement confidence plan, we’re offering a free portfolio analysis 👉 https://tmfg.ca/portfolio-analysis/

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In this episode of the Ask TMFG Podcast, Carlo Cansino and John Iaconetti tackle a question many Canadians ask as they approach early retirement: Is $1.7 million at age 57 enough to retire while spending $9,000 per month? Using a Canadian-specific lens, they move beyond simple rules of thumb, such as the 4% rule, and stress-test this scenario against real-world variables, including taxes, inflation, market volatility, and government benefits.

They break down why early retirement with higher spending creates unique challenges in Canada, explaining how withdrawal rates, account sequencing (RRSP, TFSA, non-registered), CPP and OAS timing, healthcare costs before age 65, and mandatory RRIF withdrawals can all dramatically affect sustainability. The discussion highlights how a 6.3% withdrawal rate raises red flags, and why strategy, not just savings, determines success.

Finally, Carlo and John outline a clear framework for evaluating retirement readiness, which includes building inflation-adjusted cash flow projections, testing different withdrawal strategies, modelling CPP and OAS start dates, accounting for taxes and OAS clawbacks, and stress-testing against poor market conditions. The key takeaway is that retiring confidently isn’t about hitting a magic number; it’s about structuring income, timing benefits, and planning proactively. With the right strategy, $1.7 million may work; without one, it likely won’t.

Question for our listeners: If you’re planning to retire before 65, have you stress-tested your plan against taxes, inflation, and CPP/OAS timing, or are you relying on a simple rule of thumb?

If you’d like help stress testing your own retirement plan under Canadian conditions, we are offering a free portfolio analysis: https: //tmfg.ca/portfolio-analysis/

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In this episode, Carlo Cansino and John Iaconetti break down the 5 levels of Canadian retirement savings in 2025, helping you understand how their savings compare, and what each level means for retirement lifestyle, flexibility, and day-to-day living.

They explain each stage, from those relying mostly on CPP and OAS, to Canadians with full financial independence, highlighting income realities, trade-offs, and planning considerations at every level. You’ll see why uncertainty around savings can make retirement stressful, and how even small changes now can improve your future options.

Finally they introduce the "Advancement Framework", a step-by-step approach to help Canadians move from one level to the next through consistent saving, smart use of accounts, and regular plan adjustments. The takeaway: wherever you are today, you can take steps to improve your retirement situation.

Question for our listeners: Which retirement savings level do you think you’re in today and what would moving up one level mean for your retirement lifestyle?

If you’d like help understanding your current level and planning practical steps for the future, please schedule a meeting here: Schedule your meeting.

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In this episode of Ask TMFG, Carlo Cansino and John Iaconetti break down one of the most misunderstood, and costly, decisions in Canadian retirement planning: When to start CPP?

They explain why the CRA’s calculators and standard guidance don’t tell the full story, and how CPP timing can quietly affect your taxes, Old Age Security, and overall retirement income for decades.

You’ll learn the real trade-offs between taking CPP early, waiting until 65, or delaying to 70, including permanent benefit reductions, opportunity costs, tax bracket creep, and OAS clawbacks. They also discuss why government “break-even” math can be misleading, how lifestyle and health factor into the decision, and why average life expectancy doesn’t apply to individual planning.

Most importantly, they show why CPP should never be looked at in isolation. Instead, it needs to be coordinated with your RRSPs, RRIFs, TFSAs, pensions, and tax strategy to maximize your total lifetime after-tax income, not just one benefit.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re leaving money on the table or making a CPP decision that could cost you later, this episode brings clarity to a decision most Canadians are forced to make with incomplete information.

Question for our listeners: Have you already chosen when to take CPP, and are you confident it fits into your overall retirement and tax plan?

If you’re questioning whether you’re starting CPP at the right time and want clarity on how it affects your long-term retirement income, please schedule a meeting here: Schedule your meeting.

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In this episode, Carlo and John talk about why RRSPs, despite being a core part of retirement planning, often end up causing more stress than peace of mind for many Canadians. They explain how taxes, forced RRIF withdrawals, Old Age Security clawbacks, and estate taxes can catch people off guard and make retirees afraid to spend their own savings.

They share five practical ways to take control of your RRSP, including withdrawing more gradually, converting to a RRIF earlier on your own terms, using contributions strategically in high-income years, splitting income with a spouse, and slowly moving money into a TFSA using an RRSP meltdown strategy.

By the end of the episode you will understand how these ideas work best when used together, helping you pay less tax, protect your benefits, and enjoy retirement with more confidence and less second-guessing.

Question for our listeners: Have you ever looked at your RRSP balance and wondered how much of it is actually yours after tax, and how confident do you feel about turning it into income?

If you would like guidance on building your Canadian retirement plan, please schedule a meeting here: Schedule your meeting.

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In this episode, Carlo and John break down one of the biggest misconceptions in Canadian retirement planning: the idea that you need $1.7 million, or more, to retire. They explain how these headline numbers create unnecessary pressure and often keep people working longer than necessary.

You’ll hear why real retirement needs depend on lifestyle, monthly spending, location, and the income sources you already have. Carlo and John share real Canadian examples of couples retiring comfortably with far less than the media suggests, and explain how factors like CPP, OAS, pensions, a paid-off home, and Canada’s healthcare system significantly reduce the savings required.

They also introduce the 70-80% income replacement rule, explore how different lifestyles lead to very different retirement targets, and outline a simple step-by-step process to calculate your own retirement needs using realistic numbers, not fear-based assumptions.

If you want a clear, practical way to understand what retirement could look like for you in Canada, this episode will walk you through the key elements that matter most.

If you would like guidance on planning for retirement, please schedule a meeting here: Schedule your meeting.

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