Retirement Unpacked

036 | Stop Avoiding Taxes In Retirement (Do This Instead)

Retirement Unpacked

Show Notes

In episode 36 of Retirement Unpacked, Kyle and Peter break down why having zero tax years in retirement can be detrimental to your plan, how retirees can protect themselves against inflation, how to plan around large capital gains in retirement, the best timeframe to judge your investment returns, and much more. Later in the episode, Matthew Dennis joins to discuss the smith manoeuvre, the dangers of it, and when it makes sense for Canadians.

Chapters 0:00 Intro 0:18 Why are zero tax years bad? 3:39 How to protect against inflation in retirement 12:37 Spousal attribution rules around non-registered accounts 19:57 Should I cash out my entire RRSP? 22:45 How to offset a large capital gain in your 70s 28:35 The best timeframe to judge your investment returns 33:14 Managing inflation in retirement 37:54 Offsetting rental property sale with RRSP 42:21 When should you consider life insurance? 50:52 When does the smith manoeuvre make sense? 57:37 How to free up funds in a LIRA

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Oct 17, 2026

On episode 58 of Retirement Unpacked, Adam Bornn and Kyle Martins discuss whether withdrawal strategy or asset allocation is more important in retirement, when living trusts can make sense, how singles vs. couples are taxed in retirement and why singles are at a disadvantage, when it makes sense to contribute to an RRSP in retirement, and much more. Later in the episode, Aaron Cramer joins the show to discuss a case study of how the timing and duration of your RRSP meltdown can impact your estate and overall flexibility of your retirement plan.

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On episode 57 of Retirement Unpacked, Adam Bornn and Matthew Dennis discuss why we often suggest delaying CPP but not OAS, when you should actually use your income wedge, gifting strategies and which accounts you should consider gifting from, and much more. Later in the episode, Kyle Martins joins the show to discuss some of the planning considerations Canadian retirees need to know as we approach the end of 2026.

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On episode 56 of Retirement Unpacked, Adam Bornn and Gord Manzer discuss if there is a minimum RRSP amount needed to delay your CPP to 70, when CPP sharing can make sense, whether you need an income wedge for your entire retirement, how to manage large capital gains in retirement, moving money from your RRIF to your TFSA, and much more. Later in the episode, Peter Filippakis joins the show to discuss some of the nuances around the principal residence exemption, and some scenarios where you are not eligible to claim it.

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On episode 55 of Retirement Unpacked, Paul Grenier and Michael Barichello discuss how RRSP tax deductions work, why it could make sense to set up a HELOC before retiring, why people keep working when they can financially retire, if it makes sense to withdraw more from your RRIF to fund your TFSA, and much more. Later in the episode, Martin Goudreault joins the show to discuss a unique tax planning opportunity where a client both contributed to his RRSP and withdrew from his RRIF in this same year leading to about $50,000 in tax savings in their plan. Cost of aging calculator: https://coacalculator.ca/

Sep 19, 2026

On episode 54 of Retirement Unpacked, Brett Martinson and Jon Kutney discuss how to utilize additional TFSA contribution room in retirement, how to incorporate dividends into your cashflow (income) wedge, DIY retirement planning software, marginal vs. average tax rates in retirement, in-kind charitable donations, and much more.

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