Joe answers the most common questions about Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIFs) to demystify how they work and their role in retirement planning. He explains the differences between RRSPs and RRIFs, minimum withdrawal rules, tax implications, beneficiary designations, and strategies to minimize taxes while maximizing retirement income. With practical tips on income splitting, leveraging the pension tax credit, and aligning your RRIF investments with your retirement income style, this episode provides actionable insights for anyone preparing for or navigating retirement.

A Trusted Contact can be contacted by your advisor in an urgent situation. A Trusted Contact gives your advisor someone to contact if they are concerned about your well-being. However, they can only be approached in limited circumstances.

Joe Curry dives into advanced strategies to optimize your Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF) withdrawals, focusing on minimizing taxes, avoiding OAS clawbacks, and aligning withdrawals with your broader retirement income plan. Discover actionable tips on pension income splitting, using TFSAs to shelter withdrawals, and making early or strategic withdrawals to maximize tax efficiency.

Joe and Regan examine the essentials of long-term care planning in retirement. They emphasize the importance of proactive strategies to manage future healthcare expenses. They look at the "retirement expense smile," covering the go-go, slow-go, and no-go years, and explore options like funding care through investments, leveraging home equity, or using long-term care insurance. They highlight the critical role of accessible home modifications, clear communication with family, and securing essential estate planning documents such as wills and powers of attorney. The episode also touches on preserving legacy goals with life insurance strategies, making it a must-listen for anyone focused on comprehensive retirement and financial planning.

Start 2025 with Confidence in Your Retirement Plan. On this episode of Your Retirement Planning Simplified, Joe and LIndsay share inspiring client stories that highlight the power of clear, actionable retirement plans. Learn how addressing gaps, aligning goals, and working with a professional can transform uncertainty into confidence.

In this special year-end episode of Your Retirement Planning Simplified, Joe and Lindsay reflect on the most popular episodes of 2024, covering essential retirement planning insights and strategies. From avoiding critical retirement mistakes—both financial and non-financial—to optimizing tax strategies, calculating your retirement number, and understanding TFSA rules, this roundup delivers actionable advice for pre-retirees and retirees.

Joe tackles the psychology of retirement spending, offering actionable strategies to overcome the common fear of depleting savings. He discusses how retirees can transition from saving to spending confidently by addressing loss aversion, leveraging tools like retirement income guardrails, and aligning spending with their financial goals. Listeners will discover tips for managing cash flow, understanding their retirement income style, and creating a spending plan that ensures a fulfilling retirement without financial stress.

In this episode of Your Retirement Planning Simplified, Joe uncovers the hidden costs of retirement that often catch retirees off guard, leading to financial stress. From healthcare expenses, long-term care, and inflation to home maintenance, travel, and family support, Joe dives deep into overlooked budget items and offers actionable tips to prepare for them.

Here is our “Sleighing Your Spending” framework for the holiday season.

This week we explore the critical topic of inflation and its long-term impact on retirement planning. We define inflation, distinguish it from deflation and disinflation, and explain why prices continue to rise even when inflation rates decrease. We examine how rising costs, particularly in healthcare, can erode purchasing power over time, and why retirees need a plan that accounts for inflation-adjusted spending.

In this episode of Fireside Financial, Joe Curry and Regan Schiller share their journeys in the financial planning industry, highlighting key transitions to independent wealth management. They discuss the challenges of starting in a sales-driven culture, the benefits of prioritizing client-centric retirement planning, and the importance of independence in offering customized financial solutions.

Joe and Lindsay explore why good portfolio management can’t compensate for bad financial planning, drawing insights from FP Canada’s Financial Planning Conference and Benjamin Felix’s investment lessons. They emphasize the importance of goal-oriented financial planning over stock-picking, highlighting Warren Buffett’s advocacy for index investing as evidence. Key topics include tax-efficient strategies, retirement income styles, account optimization (RRSPs, TFSAs, CPP, OAS), and estate planning.

In this episode of Your Retirement Planning Simplified, Lindsay welcomes Red Keating, a supportive care counselor at Hospice Peterborough and co-host of the What Now? podcast, to discuss the profound importance of hospice and palliative care in Ontario. Highlighting the compassionate, holistic approach to end-of-life support, Red shares insights on caregiver support, emotional and spiritual guidance, and the significance of being present during a loved one’s final days. Listeners gain valuable knowledge on the structure and services of hospice care, the benefits of community involvement, and the variety of support groups offered for patients and their families.

Retirement signifies a shift in our personal and financial lives. As our lives shift, so do our budget and its requirements. Many struggle to envision what life after retirement will look like without their previous career. Instead of relying on a paycheck, retirees often depend on other avenues such as savings, investments, pensions, and government benefits. Creating and maintaining a solid budget becomes crucial to navigating the transition into retirement. Let's inspect the key considerations and steps of creating an effective retirement budget.

Joe sits down with Lois Tuffin from Volunteer Peterborough to explore the transformative benefits of volunteering for retirees. Lois shares inspiring stories of retirees who have found renewed purpose and fulfillment through volunteer roles in organizations like Habitat for Humanity, Elder Dog, and the Peterborough Folk Festival. Listeners are encouraged to visit Volunteer Peterborough or Volunteer Canada to discover local opportunities and make a difference in their retirement journey.

Joe and Lindsay conclude their RISA framework series with a look at the final quadrant: time segmentation. It is also known as the "bucket strategy" in retirement planning. Joe explains how this approach divides retirement assets into short-term, mid-term, and long-term buckets, allowing for a balanced retirement income strategy. Retirees can reduce anxiety from market fluctuations by segmenting assets while still achieving growth over time. Joe and Lindsay also discuss the pros and cons of the bucket strategy compared to the total return approach and suggest listeners take the RISA assessment to determine their best retirement income style.

Your advisor tells you not to worry, that you're in a good position for retirement. However, you still feel uncertain and lost about where you stand financially. The struggle to get clear answers and guidance on retirement planning can leave you feeling anxious and overwhelmed. If this resonates with you, it's time to take a different approach to retirement planning and seek the clarity you genuinely deserve.

Joe and Lindsay continue their exploration of the RISA. This week we examine the Risk Wrap quadrant, focusing on balancing growth potential with income protection in retirement. We explain how Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefits (GMWB) work, allowing retirees to invest in the market with the security of a guaranteed income floor. Topics covered include variable annuities, investment strategies, and the pros and cons of GMWBs. Listeners can learn more about retirement income styles and access their personalized RISA assessment for better retirement planning.

In this episode of Your Retirement Planning Simplified, Joe and Lindsay examine the Income Protection Quadrant of the RISA framework, focusing on strategies to secure guaranteed income in retirement.

Joe and Lindsay explore the Total Return quadrant of the RISA framework(Retirement Income Style Awareness), emphasizing the importance of understanding retirement income styles.