Retirement Unpacked

Parallel Wealth

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.

  1. 19 hrs ago

    Ep 44 | The Exact Retirement Income System Every Retiree Needs

    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 Intro0:30 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 implications29:56 Should couples retirement plan together?33:57 When non-registered accounts become a tax problem40:41 Shifting from wealth building to wealth distribution (case study)46:26 The smith manoeuvre in retirement: Keep it or unwind it?

    55 min

  2. Jul 4

    043 | Your Retirement "Go-Go" Years Are Limited (Spend Them Wisely)

    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?

    59 min

  3. Jun 27

    042 | It's Boring, But It Will Decide Your Entire Retirement

    In episode 42 of Retirement Unpacked, Brett and Paul break down the importance of using conservative assumptions in your retirement plan, the CPP child-rearing provision, retiring with an age gap, if it makes sense to start CPP early and invest into your RRSP, how non-registered accounts are taxed, and much more.Later in the episode, Mathieu Huneault     joins to discuss two client planning scenarios: one involving a client who received a severance payment and needed to consider if RRSP contributions could lead to overcontribution issues due to how the income is classified, and another where a client regretted starting CPP and learned they were still within the window to cancel it by repaying the benefits received.Chapters 0:00 Intro0:47 The importance of assumptions in retirement planning 7:39 The CPP child-rearing provision, explained 15:01 Should you pay into CPP if you have a corporation? 21:35 Planning around unique retirement situations 27:12 Start CPP early and invest into your RRSP 33:06 Can you use your cash wedge to buy the dip? 38:54 Retiring with an age gap 44:56 Tax implications of loaning money to your kids 50:15 How are non-registered accounts taxed? 56:36 Should I work one more year? 1:01:03 Contributing severance payment to an RRSP (case study) 1:08:24 Canceling your CPP (case study) 1:13:25 Cashflow is more important than growth in retirement

    1h 22m

  4. Jun 20

    041 | Should You Delay CPP If You're Receiving A Survivor Pension?

    In episode 41 of Retirement Unpacked, Jon and Martin break down what happens to your TFSA upon death, whether or not the CRA allows you to take a loan to invest in your TFSA, how income splitting rules differ between defined benefit pensions and RRIFs, the differences between QPP and CPP, if it makes sense to start planning for retirement 20 years out, and much more.Later in the episode, Peter Filippakis     joins to go over a corporate meltdown case study involving a couple in their mid-50s who recently sold their business and are now left with a large corporation to draw down. He goes through how to coordinate dividends, the RRSP meltdown, and government benefits, and how to sequence everything in a tax-efficient way.   Chapters0:00 Intro0:13 What happens to your TFSA upon death 0:55 Does the CRA allow you to take a loan to fund your TFSA? 3:55 Do you need a cashflow wedge if you have a pension? 5:08 Income splitting: RRSP vs. Pension 6:56 How do spousal RRSPs work 10:01 Is the OAS clawback threshold after-tax? 12:22 Differences between QPP and CPP 16:26 CPP timing when receiving the survivor's pension 20:41 Can it ever be too early to start planning for retirement? 26:39 Corporate meltdown case study 37:35 The importance of term insurance

    45 min

  5. Jun 13

    040 | RRSP To RRIF Conversion: Why Most Retirees Shouldn’t Wait Until 71

    In episode 40 of Retirement Unpacked, Michael and Mathieu   break down why you should consider converting your RRSP to a RRIF prior to age 71, the differences between a RRIF and LIF, if it makes sense to meltdown a large RRSP, considerations before purchasing a life insurance policy, tax implications of passing on wealth, and much more.Later in the episode, Gord Manzer   joins to discuss a real life case study and explain why retirement decisions can’t be made in isolation. Many Canadians look at CPP, OAS, pensions, RRSPs, and TFSAs as separate pieces, but in reality, every decision affects taxes, income, and your overall retirement plan.Chapters0:00 Intro0:28 Why convert RRSP before 71 2:52 Differences between a RRIF and LIF 4:41 Can you buy and sell stocks in a TFSA the same year? 5:48 Can investment firms limit how much tax is withheld? 8:49 Consolidating non-reg accounts into a life insurance policy 15:00 Does it make sense to meltdown large RRSP? 20:14 Single and 65: Is there a benefit to start drawing down RRSP? 23:22 If I move money from RRIF to TFSA, is it taxable? 24:12 How do RRIF withdrawals affect OAS clawback? 26:07 How to use a whole life policy for retirement income 28:59 Tax implications of passing on wealth 32:11 Why retirement decisions shouldn't happen in isolation 36:33 Beneficiary vs. successor holder for TFSAs

    41 min

  6. Jun 6

    039 | What Happens If The Market Breaks Your RRSP Meltdown Plan?

    In episode 39 of Retirement Unpacked, Matthew and Peter break down how to gift money early from your non-registered account in a tax-efficient way, where you should invest after maxing out your RRSP and TFSA, how your RRSP meltdown strategy should change when markets overperform or underperform your plan, HOOPP pensions, and much more.Later in the episode, Martin Goudreault  joins to walk through a real-life case study involving a family cottage, joint ownership, and the tax and estate planning implications that come with transferring property between generations.Chapters 0:00 Intro0:20 How to gift money early tax-efficiently 4:56 Trigger capital gains pre-retirement when in a low tax bracket? 8:47 Where should you invest after RRSP & TFSA? 12:25 Should you adjust RRSP meltdown if the market is down? 15:44 Adjusting your drawdown strategy when markets outperform plan 21:24 Does an RRSP meltdown make sense if you have large non-registered account? 25:15 Do you need a cashflow wedge if you have a pension? 30:53 Pension +  RRSP meltdown strategy 33:10 Understanding HOOPP pensions 42:02 Considerations when commuting your pension 45:32 How joint ownership affects cottage taxes (case study) 54:08 Should you withdraw monthly in retirement?

    1h 1m

  7. May 30

    038 | “I’m Paying 1.95% And Getting No Advice. What Should I Do?”

    In episode 38 of Retirement Unpacked, Brett and Gord break down options if you are paying high fees and not getting any advice, the attribution rules around joint non-registered accounts, what age you can split your RRIF income with your spouse, whether it makes sense to ladder your income if you're concerned about long-term care, if it makes sense to start CPP early so you can collect the PRB and invest your payments, and much more.Later in the episode, Mathieu Huneault   joins to discuss a recent client situation where a couple sold their home and moved into their cabin full-time, and the planning considerations that came with it. We break down how the principal residence exemption combined with RRSP contributions were used together to help create a more tax-efficient plan.Chapters 0:00 Intro0:46 Paying high fees and getting no advice 7:10 Joint non-registered attribution rules 12:48 DIY planning software 18:17 CPP disability calculation 21:33 What age can you split RRIF income 24:44 How to dispose of an RESP 32:37 How to calculate probate 35:38 How to plan for long-term care 40:05 Can you move money from LIF to spousal RRSP tax-free? 43:11 Taking CPP early, collecting the PRB and investing it 52:17 Principal Residence Exemption planning 1:01:25 Budgeting for trips

    1h 8m

  8. May 23

    037 | This Simple RRSP Withdrawal Strategy Will Save You Thousands

    In episode 37 of Retirement Unpacked, Adam and Brett break down if it makes sense to withdraw more from your RRIF than you actually need, why your cashflow wedge should not be outside of your registered accounts, how to plan around an inheritance, RRSP and RRIF strategies if you are single, and much more.Later in the episode, Maria Dawes from Capstone Asset Management joins to discuss values-based investing, what it is, how to align your investing with your values and worldview, and the key questions to ask your advisor if this is something that is important to you.Chapters 0:00 Intro0:16 Withdraw more from your RRIF than you need? 3:39 Does income splitting have to be 50/50? 7:10 Use spousal RRSP vs. collecting GIS 11:05 Why can't your cashflow wedge be outside your registered accounts? 15:45 Borrow from home equity to max out TFSA? 19:28 How to plan for inheritances 25:10 What is the benefit to lowering the OAS clawback threshold? 30:34 Should you delay OAS to avoid the clawback? 38:40 RRSP/RRIF strategies for singles 42:45 DB survivor benefit & spousal drawdown timing 48:39 What is values investing with Maria Dawes 56:13 What are you really paying in fees?

    1h 8m
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45 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Parallel Wealth
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    46
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Parallel Wealth
  • Show Website
    Retirement Unpacked

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