Retirement planning getting you down? There are always smart ways to plan the financial aspects of your retirement.
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How to calculate the taxable amount for a cashed-in whole life insurance policy + MORE Apr 19th
Ask MoneySense
I cashed in my whole life insurance policy last year and received a T5 suggesting I have to pay tax on the full amount of my cash value. Is this correct? The cash surrender value was $27,000, I paid $28,000 in premiums, and they told me my pure cost of net insurance was $30,000, whate.... More »
Where should working retirees put extra income: A TFSA or an RRSP? Jan 11th
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I will be receiving CPP and OAS as of June 2024. I intend on working one more year until I reach 66. My question is: Should I put all my CPP money into an RRSP to shelter it from tax? Or should I pay the tax on it and invest in a tax-free savings account?
–Gary
Where to put r.... More »
How to confirm your CPP pension + MORE Apr 11th
How do I know if I’m receiving the correct amount of CPP?
—Flora
Most people who work in Canada between ages 18 and 65 will have some entitlement to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). Employees and their employers make payroll contributions to the pension. Self-employed people contribute the.... More »
How annuities work in Canada + MORE Apr 18th
Annuities are life insurance products that pay a regular income to a purchaser. When you buy an annuity, it’s like buying a pension plan with a lump sum premium paid from your savings. The payments you receive include a return of your original capital and interest income on that capital. It ma.... More »
CPP and disability: When should you retire and start your pension? Sep 28th
Ask MoneySense
I have a brain injury and I’m collecting CPP disability of $15,000 a year, along with a workplace disability income of $16,000 a year. I am 61 years old, married, and I can’t figure out if I should retire now and start my pension or wait until I turn 65. My pension projectio.... More »

I’ve realized that my large RRSP would generate a very large income tax bill if I die in the near future. I don’t have a spouse, or anyone who qualifies as a beneficiary to my RRSP on a tax-deferred basis. How can my executor pay my income taxes if it takes a year to get probated?—Carol
Probate and the impacts on estate expenses
Thank you for your question, Carol. This is something I’ve seen many executors face when administering an estate. Let’s start with reviewing what probate is, what the process looks like, and the effects on the estate’s cash flow for paying taxes or other estate expenses, which can include taxes on income from registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs).
What is probate?
Probate is a term that most of us have heard before; however, the official name in Ontario is Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee with (or without) a will. How’s that for a tongue twister?
Since the terminology eats up most of my word count for this article (joking of course), I will continue to reference it as probate…


