The Financial Power Play

Brett Cranson
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  • Investing
  • Updated Biweekly

The Financial Power Play with Brett Cranson helps Canadians think clearly when money is in motion. Hosted by Brett Cranson, founder of Uptown Wealth Management, this podcast explores the financial decisions that come with major life transitions — inheritance, job changes, pension decisions, divorce or separation, business sale proceeds, real estate moves, retirement, and loss in the family. With a hockey heartbeat and a practical planning lens, Brett shares conversations and insights to help you slow the play down, see the full ice, and make your next financial move with more clarity.

  1. 1d ago

    The RRSP Mistake That Shows Up 10 years Into Retirement

    Spend your pension first and leave your RRSP alone. That's the advice almost every retiree follows, and it can quietly build a much bigger tax bill for the years CPP, OAS, and mandatory RRIF withdrawals all show up at once. In this video I break down the real order to think about, not spend the pension then the RRSP then the TFSA, but a coordinated plan built around your tax brackets, your CPP timing, and your spouse's income. What's covered: Why leaving the RRSP untouched doesn't avoid tax, it just delays it How pension income splitting can lower your household's combined tax bill When early RRSP withdrawals make sense, and when they backfire The OAS recovery tax, and how to avoid overpaying to dodge it Whether delaying CPP and drawing from your RRSP first is the smarter trade What actually happens to your RRSP at age 71 A 6-step framework for building your own withdrawal order Would you rather pay some tax on your RRSP earlier, or preserve it as long as possible? Let me know in the comments.

  2. Oct 13

    Can You Retire with $500K

    Can you retire comfortably with $500,000 in Canada? The answer depends on how much income you need, when you retire, your government benefits, taxes, investment returns and how long your savings must last. In this video, Brett walks through the key questions behind a $500,000 retirement portfolio: • How much annual income $500,000 may realistically support • Why CPP, OAS and pensions can change the calculation • The impact of taxes, inflation and investment returns • Why your spending—not just your account balance—drives the answer • How retirement timing and longevity affect your plan • Practical ways to close the gap if the numbers are tight Retirement is not one number. It is a coordinated income plan built around your lifestyle, risks and goals. Could you retire on $500,000? Tell me your biggest retirement-planning question in the comments. Subscribe to Money in Motion with Brett for practical Canadian insights on retirement planning, investing, business ownership and family wealth.

  3. Oct 6

    Pension vs Lump Sum: The Retirement Decision You Can’t Afford to Get Wrong

    Should you keep a guaranteed monthly pension—or take the lump sum and invest it yourself? The right answer depends on far more than the headline number. In this video, I break down the pension-versus-lump-sum decision, including: • Why a $3,000 monthly pension can be more valuable than it first appears • Inflation and the real value of future pension payments • Survivor benefits and what your spouse may receive • Longevity risk: what happens if you live much longer than expected • Investment risk, fees and the discipline required to manage a lump sum • Tax considerations and the cost of making an irreversible decision • Why two people with the same numbers may reasonably choose different options Before signing anything, compare the guaranteed income, flexibility, estate goals and risks—not just the size of the cheque. Which would give you more confidence in retirement: dependable lifetime income or control of the lump sum? Share your answer in the comments. Subscribe for practical Canadian insights on retirement planning, investing, business ownership and family wealth.

  4. Sep 29

    $12.5 Billion Sale Exposed a Family Succession Crisis

    The Los Angeles Lakers sold for a record $12.5 billion—but the biggest story may be what the deal reveals about family wealth, trusts, control and succession planning. In this video, I break down: • How the Lakers’ valuation jumped from $10B to $12.5B • Why the Buss family’s 17.8% trust ownership matters • The critical 15% control threshold • How a $67.5M purchase in 1979 became a multibillion-dollar legacy • What business owners and families can learn before a sale, inheritance or generational transfer The lesson is simple: wealth doesn’t create family conflict—it exposes whether the structure was built clearly enough to handle it. What would you prioritize first: keeping control in the family, maximizing the sale price, or protecting relationships? Share your view in the comments. Subscribe for practical insights on wealth, business ownership, real estate and succession planning.

  5. Sep 22

    Laid Off? 6 Severance Mistakes That Could Cost You

    If you’ve received a severance package in Canada, don’t let the size of the cheque distract you from what you may be giving up when you sign. In this video, Brett explains six expensive severance mistakes Canadians make after being laid off—and the practical steps to protect their legal rights, taxes, benefits, Employment Insurance and long-term finances. YOU’LL LEARN: • Why signing a severance release too quickly can be costly • Why the first offer may not reflect your full entitlement • How bonuses, commissions, benefits, pensions and stock options affect value • The tax difference between a lump sum, instalments and salary continuance • How RRSP transfers and cash-flow planning can work together • Why you should apply for EI promptly and report severance accurately • How to build a conservative transition budget before making permanent money decisions • What to review before choosing a pension or commuted-value option CHAPTERS 00:00 Don’t sign before you understand the offer 00:54 Mistake 1: Signing the release too quickly 03:18 Mistake 2: Assuming the first offer is fair 05:28 Mistake 3: Looking only at salary 07:48 Mistake 4: Taking the money without a tax plan 10:34 Mistake 5: Waiting to apply for EI 12:00 Mistake 6: Making permanent decisions in shock 15:10 What to do before you sign 16:12 Final takeaway Which part of a severance package would you find most confusing—the legal agreement, taxes, Employment Insurance or the pension decision? Share your answer in the comments. Subscribe to Money in Motion with Brett for practical Canadian guidance on severance, retirement, inheritance, career changes and major financial decisions.

  6. Sep 15

    Inheritance Tax Surprise Nobody Warns You About

    Canada doesn’t have an inheritance tax—but death can still trigger a major tax bill before your family receives the estate. In this video, Brett explains how Canadian estates are taxed, including deemed disposition, RRSP and RRIF taxation, cottage capital gains, principal residences, non-registered investments, TFSAs, life insurance and executor liability. You’ll learn: • Why an inheritance can be tax-free to the beneficiary while the estate still owes tax • How a $400,000 RRIF can become final-year income • Why keeping a family cottage can still trigger capital gains • The difference between asset value and net inheritance • How beneficiary designations can create an unfair result • Why executors should consider a CRA clearance certificate • Five practical steps families can take now CHAPTERS 00:00 The inheritance-tax surprise 01:02 No inheritance tax doesn’t mean no tax at death 02:19 RRSP and RRIF tax 04:20 The cottage tax trap 06:07 Is the family home tax-free? 07:05 Non-registered investments 08:10 TFSAs and life insurance 09:10 The $1.525-million estate example 11:00 The executor mistake 11:55 Five steps families should take 13:02 Final takeaway What asset concerns you most in an estate plan—a cottage, RRSP/RRIF, investment account or the family home? Share your answer in the comments. Subscribe to Money in Motion with Brett for clear, practical strategies for protecting and building wealth in Canada.

  7. Sep 8

    $250K Inhertiance? Pay the Mortgage or Invest?

    You inherited $250,000—but you still have a $400,000 mortgage. Should you pay down the mortgage, invest the money, or split it between both? In this video, I break down the decision for Canadians using more than a simple “mortgage rate versus investment return” comparison. You’ll learn how to evaluate: • Your mortgage rate, renewal date, prepayment privileges and remaining amortization • The guaranteed return from paying down debt versus the expected—but uncertain—return from investing • TFSA and RRSP opportunities • Liquidity, emergency savings and income stability • Your comfort with debt, risk tolerance and time horizon • When a blended mortgage-and-investing strategy may make the most sense The right decision is not always the one with the highest projected return. It is the one that fits your complete financial plan and that you can stick with without flinching when markets become volatile. Subscribe for clear Canadian financial strategies without hype.

  8. Sep 1

    You Inherited $250K - Do These 5 Things First

    Receiving a $250,000 inheritance in Canada can change your financial future—but the decisions you make in the first 90 days matter. In this video, Brett explains the five moves to make before paying off debt, investing, gifting money, or making a major purchase. You’ll learn: • Where to keep inherited money while you make a plan • Which legal and tax documents to collect • How to avoid rushed, emotional decisions • How to set boundaries with family and friends • How to turn a windfall into a written long-term strategy The goal isn’t to make the fastest decision. It’s to protect your options and make the inheritance serve the life you actually want.

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About

The Financial Power Play with Brett Cranson helps Canadians think clearly when money is in motion. Hosted by Brett Cranson, founder of Uptown Wealth Management, this podcast explores the financial decisions that come with major life transitions — inheritance, job changes, pension decisions, divorce or separation, business sale proceeds, real estate moves, retirement, and loss in the family. With a hockey heartbeat and a practical planning lens, Brett shares conversations and insights to help you slow the play down, see the full ice, and make your next financial move with more clarity.

Information

  • Creator
    Brett Cranson
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    31
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Brett Cranson
  • Show Website
    The Financial Power Play