Your Retirement Planning Simplified

Most people worry about running out of money in retirement. But for many careful savers, the bigger risk is the opposite: reaching the end of life having never spent what you worked so hard to build. In this episode, Joe explains why the habits that made you a great saver can quietly stop you from enjoying your retirement income, and what it actually takes to give yourself permission to spend. Joe...

For Episode 200, Joe pulls back the curtain on how Matthews and Associates actually works with clients, and more importantly, why they built their process the way they did. If you've ever felt nervous about talking to a financial advisor, or put off getting advice because you weren't sure what to expect, this episode is worth your time. One of the most common things Joe hears from new clients is s...

You saved carefully for decades, but what if that same caution is quietly costing you your best years in retirement? Many Canadians retire with more than enough and still can't bring themselves to spend it. In this episode, Joe names the pattern nobody talks about: the underspending trap, and how to break free from it. The same discipline that builds a healthy retirement nest egg can quietly preve...

Most people treat the Old Age Security (OAS) clawback like a cliff you fall off the moment your income crosses the line. It isn't. In this episode we reframe the clawback as one number among many, and look at when fighting to avoid it quietly costs you more than it saves. A listener wrote in about friends who organize their whole retirement around protecting OAS. Joe walks through what the clawbac...

In this episode of Your Retirement Planning Simplified, Joe Curry explains the real value of a one-time retirement plan and why retirement planning should never be viewed as a one-and-done exercise. Learn how retirement income planning, tax-efficient withdrawal strategies, CPP and OAS decisions, and ongoing financial guidance work together to help Canadians adapt to life's inevitable changes.   Th...

What should Canadians do when they turn 60 and start thinking seriously about retirement? In this episode, Joe Curry walks through the exact retirement income planning framework he would use if he were turning 60 today, covering CPP timing, RRSP and RRIF withdrawal strategies, tax-efficient investing, and portfolio design. Learn how to use your 60s as a powerful planning decade to reduce lifetime...

In this episode of Your Retirement Planning Simplified , Joe Curry explains how pension income splitting works in Canada and why it can be one of the most effective tax-saving strategies for retirees. Learn how RRIF withdrawals, defined benefit pensions, and strategic retirement income planning can help couples reduce taxes, protect OAS benefits, and create more tax-efficient retirement income.  ...

When should you convert your RRSP to a RRIF? In this episode of Your Retirement Planning Simplified , Joe Curry explains the key differences between RRSPs and RRIFs, how RRIF minimum withdrawals work, and why the right timing depends on your retirement income plan, tax strategy, and estate goals. Learn how RRSP meltdown strategies, pension income splitting, and OAS clawback planning can impact you...

In this episode of Your Retirement Planning Simplified , Joe Curry explores the most overlooked retirement planning risk: your health. While many Canadians focus on RRSPs, CPP timing, and investment returns, Joe explains why your health span - not just your lifespan - may determine whether you truly enjoy retirement. He breaks down the importance of strength, cardiovascular fitness, nutrition, rou...

In this rebroadcast of one of our most-listened-to episodes, Joe Curry sits down with Fritz Gilbert, founder of The Retirement Manifesto, to explore the emotional and practical realities of retirement. From retirement income planning to finding purpose after work, this conversation offers valuable insights into how Canadians can prepare for a more fulfilling and intentional retirement. Joe and Fri...

In this episode, Joe Curry breaks down a common misunderstanding in retirement income planning: why your withdrawals don't equal taxable income. Learn how non-registered accounts, capital gains, and tax-efficient withdrawal strategies can help you stay in a lower tax bracket and avoid OAS clawbacks.   Thank you for listening! You can get a full breakdown of each episode on our blog:   https://www....

In this episode, Joe Curry breaks down three essential steps to take immediately after retiring in Canada to avoid costly mistakes. Learn how to optimize your RRSP withdrawal strategy, properly time CPP and OAS, and build a sustainable retirement income plan.   Thank you for listening! You can get a full breakdown of each episode on our blog:   https://www.retirementplanningsimplified.ca/blog   Do...

Helping adult children financially is common, but without a plan, it can quietly derail your own retirement. In this episode, Joe Curry walks through a practical framework for balancing generosity with smart retirement income planning, including when to gift, loan, or structure early inheritance.   Resources The Millionaire Next Door   Thank you for listening! You can get a full breakdown of each...

In this episode, Joe Curry breaks down six costly retirement mistakes Canadians make around CPP timing, RRSP withdrawals, TFSA usage, and OAS clawback. Learn how proper retirement income planning can help you reduce taxes, protect benefits, and create a more efficient, coordinated retirement strategy.   Thank you for listening! You can get a full breakdown of each episode on our blog:   https://ww...

What is an RRSP meltdown strategy—and should you use one? In this episode, Joe Curry explains how intentional RRSP and RRIF withdrawals, CPP and OAS timing, and tax-efficient planning can help reduce lifetime tax and create more flexible retirement income in Canada.   Thank you for listening! You can get a full breakdown of each episode on our blog:   https://www.retirementplanningsimplified.ca/bl...

Many pre-retirees underestimate what retirement will actually cost, even when they've carefully tracked their spending. In this episode, Joe Curry walks through practical retirement budgeting basics, showing you how to estimate your true lifestyle spending and avoid the most common optimistic assumptions that can derail a retirement income plan.   Thank you for listening! You can get a full breakd...

In this episode of Your Retirement Planning Simplified , Joe Curry explores five of the most common retirement regrets Canadians experience, from underestimating healthcare costs to not having a written retirement income plan. Learn practical strategies to stress-test your retirement plan, manage inflation, and avoid the financial surprises that can derail retirement confidence.   Resources • Onta...

Many Canadian retirees are surprised when their RRIF minimum withdrawals create more income than they actually need. In this episode, Joe Curry shares five smart strategies for using excess RRIF withdrawals — from boosting tax-free savings with TFSAs to helping family, funding lifestyle upgrades, and supporting charitable causes in a tax-efficient retirement plan. Thank you for listening! You can...

In this episode of Your Retirement Planning Simplified , Joe Curry outlines seven expensive retirement planning mistakes affluent Canadians make in their 60s. From CPP and OAS timing to RRSP and RRIF withdrawal strategies, tax-efficient investing, and purposeful spending, this conversation will help you protect your retirement income plan and avoid costly missteps. Thank you for listening! You can...

Is it risky to hold all your investments with one wealth management company? In this episode of Your Retirement Planning Simplified , Joe Curry explains how CDIC and CIPF protection work in Canada — and whether "advisor diversification" actually reduces risk. If you're focused on retirement income planning, tax-efficient investing, and protecting your legacy - this episode will bring clarity.   Re...

In this episode of Your Retirement Planning Simplified , Joe Curry sits down with estate planning expert Mark Halpern to discuss tax-efficient investing, charitable giving strategies, and how Canadians can reduce estate tax while building a meaningful legacy. If you're approaching retirement and want to protect your wealth, optimize your RRSP and RRIF withdrawal strategies, and explore philanthrop...

When it comes to CPP and OAS timing, most Canadians ask the wrong question: "What if I die early?" In this episode, Joe Curry reframes CPP as longevity insurance -  a core part of retirement income planning designed to protect you from the real financial risk: living longer than expected and running out of money.   Thank you for listening! You can get a full breakdown of each episode on our blog: ...

Most retirement plans look fine - until inflation, markets, taxes, and 'real life' hit. In this episode of Your Retirement Planning Simplified, Joe Curry explains how to stress test your retirement plan in 2026, why Monte Carlo projections can create false confidence, and how guardrails help you make calmer, tax-smart retirement income decisions when markets get volatile.   Thank you for listening...

  Many retirees believe playing it safe means avoiding market risk—but that fear-driven approach can quietly limit your lifestyle in retirement. In this episode, Joe Curry explains why inflation and longevity are often bigger threats than volatility, and how guaranteed income, smart spending clarity, and the RISA framework can help you retire with confidence. Thank you for listening!   You can get...

Many high-net-worth Canadians discover that spending money in retirement is harder than saving it. In this episode, Joe Curry explores the psychology behind underspending, the risks of overspending, and how a personalized retirement income plan can give you the confidence - and permission - to enjoy the life you worked so hard to afford. Thank you for listening! You can get a full breakdown of eac...