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034 | When NOT To Delay CPP & OAS

May 2, 2026 · 44 min

Show notes

In episode 34 of Retirement Unpacked, Michael and Paul discuss when it doesn’t make sense to delay your CPP and OAS, strategies to reduce taxes both during your lifetime and at death, estate planning considerations for blended families, and much more.
Later in the episode, Martin Goudreault joins to discuss why the shift from saving to spending can be challenging, and shares practical steps to help make that transition easier.

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Chapters

0:00 Intro
0:33 When should you start CPP & OAS early?
3:40 How to pay less tax while alive
6:26 When is the my CRA TFSA number accurate?
8:57 How to avoid large tax on estate
12:50 Should you use whole life insurance to cover estate taxes?
16:05 Does an RRSP meltdown make sense at the highest tax bracket?
18:44 Why do I still owe taxes?
21:43 How to minimize estate taxes with RRIF drawdown
24:09 Should you draw more out of RRIF to income split?
26:30 Estate planning with a blended family
31:07 How to transition from a saver to a spender
40:43 Helping the next generation save in an FHSA

All episodes of Retirement Unpacked

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