Discover essential retirement planning updates for 2025! Joe and Lindsay break down new RRSP and TFSA contribution limits, updates to CPP and OAS benefits, inflation adjustments, key tax changes, and capital gains rules. Learn how to maximize your retirement savings, minimize taxes, and stay invested for long-term success. With practical tips on budgeting, income planning, and key deadlines like the RRSP contribution deadline and tax filing date, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help Canadians optimize planning for retirement.

Joe and Lindsay answer the most common questions about the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). They explain what CPP is, who qualifies, how to apply, and how to estimate your benefits. You’ll learn about the maximum and average payouts, survivor benefits, tax implications, and whether to take CPP early, at 65, or delay to age 70. With insights on integrating CPP into retirement income planning, this episode is a must-listen for Canadians preparing for a secure and comfortable retirement.

We discuss planning for cognitive decline in retirement and how early financial preparation can protect you and your loved ones. We cover the importance of trusted contacts, power of attorney, estate planning, and financial consolidation to minimize risk and simplify asset management. We also touch on common scams targeting seniors, how to prevent financial fraud, and why working with a trusted financial advisor can ensure long-term security.

Joe interviews David Warren, a retiree with decades of experience in business and personal finance, about his journey through retirement. David shares insights from his phased transition into retirement, emphasizing the importance of staying active, maintaining relationships, and adapting to life’s unexpected challenges, including significant health issues. He reflects on the financial lessons he learned, such as saving early and avoiding debt, and highlights the value of maintaining a balanced approach to work and leisure. With candid anecdotes and practical advice, David offers listeners a unique perspective on navigating the complexities of retirement and finding fulfillment in later life.

Joe sits down with Michael Finke, PhD, from the American College of Financial Services, to explore how retirees can shift their mindset from saving to spending and embrace a fulfilling retirement. They discuss the importance of guaranteed income, social connections, and maintaining health as key pillars of retirement happiness. Michael shares actionable strategies for overcoming emotional barriers to spending, planning for cognitive decline, and creating goal-based retirement plans that maximize enjoyment.

Joe interviews Benjamin Brandt, CFP, the retirement expert behind Retirement Starts Today. Key topics include overcoming spending anxiety, identifying passions, building social connections, and planning purposefully for a no-regrets retirement. With actionable insights and a focus on mindset, this episode is perfect for those looking to simplify and enrich their retirement journey.

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.