Codie Russell, CFP, CLU, CHS

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Codie Russell, CFP, CLU, CHS

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Helping people turn financial uncertainty into a clear plan. CFP® at Prairie Wealth Planning Consultants. We love to travel and explore new places.

Retirement, estate, tax, and financial planning tailored to your goals. As a dedicated financial planner based in Manitoba, I specialize in helping clients build secure futures through holistic financial planning. This includes all financial pillars stated by FP Canada, which include Regulation, Financial Analysis, Tax, Investment, Retirement, Estate Planning, Risk Management, and Financial Counselling. With my CFP, CLU, and CHS designations, along with mutual fund and life insurance licenses, I bring comprehensive expertise to every conversation. I enjoy my time away from the office with my wife Halle, and my daughters Ellery and Isabel. My time is often spent learning more about the financial industry, reading, and spending time with family and friends. Mutual Fund Disclaimer: Mutual funds are provided through Investia Financial Services Inc. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Educational Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. Please consult with a qualified professional for advice tailored to your specific situation. All thoughts are my own, and do not represent Sunrise Wealth Management or Investia Financial Services.

10/29/2026

Grandparents often ask me: "Should I open an RESP for my grandchildren?"

Maybe.

RESPs can be excellent planning tools.

But before setting one up, it helps to ask a bigger question:

Are you specifically saving for education, or do you simply want to help your grandchildren in the future?

Those are two different goals.

The best solution depends on what you want the money to accomplish.

Sometimes the popular option isn't necessarily the best option.

If you were helping a grandchild financially, would you want the money restricted to education or available for any future opportunity?

10/28/2026

One of the hardest questions in estate planning: What is fair?

Imagine one child is financially secure.

Another has ongoing financial challenges.

Should they receive the exact same inheritance?

There is no right answer.

Every family is different.

The important part is making the decision intentionally rather than leaving it for your family to sort out later.

Good estate planning isn't just about money.

It's about people, relationships, and values.

What does "fair" mean in your family?

10/27/2026

Could your estate owe taxes on money someone else receives?

Many people are surprised by this.

When an RRSP or RRIF passes to a beneficiary, the money may flow directly to that person.

However, the tax bill doesn't always disappear.

Without proper planning, one family member could receive the asset while the estate is left dealing with the taxes.

This is why beneficiary designations and your will should never be looked at in isolation.

Everything should work together.

Looking at the whole picture should never be ignored.

When was the last time you reviewed your will with your beneficiary designations?

10/22/2026

When is a simple will no longer enough?

For many families, a basic will is all that's needed.

But if you have young beneficiaries, blended families, a family business, a child with special needs, or concerns about how someone may handle money, a simple will may not accomplish what you intend.

Just because a will exists doesn't mean it addresses every situation.

Sometimes additional planning can help protect both your beneficiaries and your wishes.

If something happened tomorrow, are you confident your current will would achieve exactly what you want?

10/21/2026

Should every child receive their inheritance the same way?

Most parents naturally say, "I want everything split equally."

But what if one child is financially independent and another is struggling financially, receiving disability benefits, or dealing with other challenges?

Sometimes treating children fairly and treating them equally are not the same thing.

Estate planning isn't just deciding who gets what.

It's deciding how they receive it, when they receive it, and whether additional protections should be in place.

These conversations can be uncomfortable, but they are often some of the most important planning discussions a family can have.

When it comes to an inheritance, do you think fair always means equal?

10/20/2026

Have you had to gather information from one professional to send to another?

I’m always surprised to hear this.

We reach out to our client’s accountants and lawyers directly.

Why?

Less running around for you

Less likely something gets missed in translation

Quicker answers to your professionals’ questions.

Your financial situation is better when your professionals are a team.

Not when they work in silos.

10/19/2026

What difference can 0.40% really make?

Quite a bit when you're planning decades ahead.

On a $500,000 portfolio earning 6% annually before fees, reducing annual costs from 1.90% to 1.50% would result in approximately $89,000 more remaining after 20 years.

That's the power of compounding working both ways.

The goal isn't simply to find the lowest cost. The question I think is more important is:

Do you understand what you're paying, what you're receiving for it, and how those costs affect your long-term financial plan?

That's a conversation worth having when planning for retirement.

10/15/2026

The most valuable financial conversations I’ve had this year weren’t about investments.

In fact they hardly ever do.

Reviewing a will with outdated language

Having power of attorneys nearby

Conversations with accountants and lawyers

If we only focused on investment returns, what else would be missed?

Financial planning is holistic, not just numbers on your investment statement.

10/14/2026

Have you used AI to evaluate your finances?

AI can be a great tool.

It can educate and make great explanations.

It also is great at making calculations and projections.

What does AI struggle with?

Understanding your goals.
Family dynamics
Your values
And tradeoffs you are willing to make.

AI understands optimization.

However most clients are looking for optimal.

They are looking for piece of mind.

10/13/2026

When someone tells me they want to retire at 55, my first question isn’t how much money you have.

I have seen clients retire with almost nothing saved, and people that cannot afford to retire with over a million dollars.

The difference?

What do you want your retirement to look like?

Travel
Gifting
New vehicles
Helping children
Retirement Job

All these variables affect a retirement plan more than the money in your accounts.

Retirement is more than just numbers, it is determining the lifestyle you want.

Address

927 A 26th Street
Brandon, MB

Telephone

+12047612750

Website

http://calendly.com/codier-prairiewealth, https://www.prairiewealth.ca/

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