AskTMFG The Podcast

In this episode of the AskTMFG Podcast, Senior Financial Advisor Carlo Cansino breaks down the estate tax trap many Canadian retirees unknowingly build over time.

He explains how RRSPs, RRIFs, cottages, and investment accounts can eventually create a large future tax bill if there’s no long-term withdrawal and estate strategy behind them.

He explores how retirement income, RRIF withdrawals, and unrealized capital gains can stack together later in life or on a final tax return, often leaving families surprised by how much may go to the CRA. 

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In this episode of the AskTMFG Podcast, Financial Advisors Carlo Cansino and John Iaconetti break down why blindly maximizing your RRSP every year may actually work against your long-term financial plan.

They explain how high-interest debt, lower retirement tax brackets, RRSP loans, and poor contribution timing can quietly create opportunity costs that many Canadians never account for.

The conversation also explores how debt elimination can sometimes provide a stronger guaranteed financial return than investing, and why optimizing your overall financial position matters more than simply growing your RRSP balance.

👉  https://youtu.be/8nCeSDOlanQ  

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In this episode of the AskTMFG Podcast, Senior Financial Advisor Carlo Cansino breaks down how enhanced CPP is quietly changing retirement planning for Canadians approaching retirement between now and 2027. He explains how larger CPP payments may eventually interact with RRIF withdrawals, Old Age Security (OAS), and taxable investment income, creating retirement tax and clawback issues many retirees never see coming.

The conversation also explores why enhanced CPP changes the importance of income sequencing, retirement tax planning, and coordinating when different income sources begin during retirement.

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In this episode of the AskTMFG Podcast, Carlo Cansino and John Iaconetti break down 9 strategic purchases that can help create a stronger retirement plan.

They discuss how guaranteed income sources like annuities, dividend-paying investments, and rental properties can help support long-term cash flow, while protection strategies such as insurance and diversified assets can help reduce financial risks during retirement.

The conversation also explores the importance of tax planning, timing, diversification, and coordinating financial decisions in a way that supports both retirement income and long-term legacy goals.

👉 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/coCsum6DwYM 

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In this episode of the AskTMFG Podcast, Carlo Cansino and John Iaconetti break down what a $1 million RRSP at age 65 could realistically provide in monthly retirement income, and why the answer depends on far more than just the account balance.

They discuss how taxes, RRIF withdrawals, inflation, investment returns, and retirement timing all affect how long your money lasts and how much income you can comfortably generate over time.

The focus isn’t on whether $1 million is enough, but on how to turn retirement savings into a sustainable and tax-efficient income strategy that fits your lifestyle and long-term goals.

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In this episode of the AskTMFG Podcast, Carlo Cansino and John Iaconetti break down how the order you claim CPP, RRSP withdrawals, and Old Age Security can significantly impact your lifetime retirement income.

They walk through the key factors behind each decision, from how life expectancy and health influence CPP timing, to how RRSP withdrawals can be used strategically in low-income years, and how OAS fits into the picture with its fixed start age and potential clawbacks.

The focus isn’t on choosing one benefit over another, but on coordinating all three in a way that reduces taxes, improves income efficiency, and protects long-term outcomes, especially for couples navigating survivor benefits and changing circumstances.

👉 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/onKp9ET0R8w 

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In this episode of the AskTMFG Podcast, Carlo Cansino and John Iaconetti break down retirement into five distinct levels for 2026, showing that where you stand isn’t just about how much you’ve saved, but how your income, taxes, housing, and benefits all work together.

They walk through each level, from relying primarily on government benefits to having fully self-directed income, and explain what each stage looks like in terms of stability, flexibility, and control.

The focus isn’t on hitting a specific number, but on understanding how your retirement is structured, and how small changes in income planning, tax efficiency, and withdrawal strategy can move you into a stronger position over time.

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In this episode of the AskTMFG Podcast, Carlo Cansino and John Iaconetti challenge the idea that a pension alone is the safest path to retirement.

They walk through seven different assets, from TFSAs and RRIFs to real estate, GICs, annuities, life insurance, and dividend-paying stocks, and explain how each one can offer more control, flexibility, and in some cases, even more security than relying on a single pension source.

The focus isn’t on replacing pensions entirely, but on building a mix of income sources you actually control, so your retirement isn’t dependent on one promise.

👉 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJuh18-uTPE 

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In this episode of the AskTMFG Podcast, Carlo Cansino and John Iaconetti focus on a reality that’s becoming more common: retiring on your own.

They walk through why it can quietly cost more in taxes, how income from RRIFs, CPP, OAS, and investments can pile up faster than expected, and where OAS clawbacks can start to creep in.

More importantly, they show how small changes in how you draw income and structure your accounts can make a real difference over time.

Because in retirement, it’s not just what you’ve built, it’s how you make it work.

👉 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/klc7bebs39A 

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In this episode of the AskTMFG Podcast, Financial Advisors Carlo Cansino and John Iaconetti explore a shift that’s happening quietly among Canadian retirees:

Why many are moving away from relying solely on RRSPs.

While RRSPs have long been a cornerstone of retirement planning, the reality is that they’re built on tax deferral, not tax elimination. And for many retirees, that can lead to higher taxable income later in life, including the risk of triggering OAS clawbacks.

The conversation breaks down why this is becoming a growing concern, and how alternative accounts like TFSAs, group RRSPs (VRSPs), and even FHSAs are being used to create more flexibility and better tax outcomes in retirement.

They also introduce the concept of tax diversification, using multiple account types strategically, to help manage income, reduce lifetime taxes, and adapt to changing financial conditions over time.

Ultimately, the episode highlights that retirement planning isn’t about replacing one account with another, but about building a structure that gives you more control over how and when you draw income.

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