Ferguson Financial Planning of CI Assante Wealth Management Ltd.

“Probably fine” is not a retirement number.

It usually means you haven’t measured the real gap.

Here's a tip: Your plan gets clear when you calculate the after-tax gap, then gross it up for taxes.

Next time you’re about to ask, “Do I have enough?”, you should ask, “What’s my after-tax spending target, and what’s the gap after CPP and OAS?”

“Taking the minimum” from your RRSP can create a bigger tax problem later.

It feels safe because nothing hurts today. But the calendar eventually forces withdrawals anyway.

What's happening is you’re not avoiding tax. You’re choosing the year it shows up.

Next time you’re about to leave your RRSP untouched, ask: “Am I in a quiet-income year where I can withdraw on purpose before RRIF minimums force it later?”

“Probably fine” is not a retirement number.

It usually means you haven’t measured the real gap.

Here's a tip: Your plan gets clear when you calculate the after-tax gap, then gross it up for taxes.

Next time you’re about to ask “Do I have enough?”, you should ask, “What’s my after-tax spending target, and what’s the gap after CPP and OAS?”

🎥 Watch on YouTube: How to Find Your REAL Retirement Number
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“$2,000,000 to retire” is a clean idea… and a weak plan.

Retirement doesn’t work like a price tag. It works like a paycheque.

Next time you’re about to anchor on a big savings number, ask, “What after-tax income can this actually create, based on where the money is held?”

🎥 Watch on YouTube: How to Find Your REAL Retirement Number
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Stop planning retirement with gross numbers.

Start planning with the after-tax gap you actually need to fund.

Why it matters: people plan with after-tax spending (“I want $65,000 net”), then withdraw pre-tax money (often RRSP/RRIF) and are surprised when the withdrawals have to be higher.

RRSP/RRIF withdrawals are fully taxable and stack on top of CPP, OAS, work, rental income, measured person-by-person, not household-by-household.

🎥 Watch now: How to Find Your REAL Retirement Number
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Taking less from your RRSP can lead to more tax later.

You’re choosing the year it shows up early 60s, you can accidentally build a bigger problem in your 70s, because RRIF minimums will eventually force income whether you need it or not, and CPP/OAS can stack on top.

Try this instead:
• Use “quiet years” (retired, but CPP/OAS not started yet) to take planned withdrawals.
• Choose a yearly withdrawal target based on bracket edges (not “whatever feels safe”).
• If you don’t need the cash, redeploy it: TFSA first (if you have room), then non-registered.

🎥 Watch on YouTube: Why “Taking the Minimum” Can Backfire on Your RRSP Drawdown
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