Retirement planning getting you down? There are always smart ways to plan the financial aspects of your retirement.
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The best RRSPs in Canada for 2023 + MORE Jan 4th
Registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs) are often described as “tax-advantaged,” meaning they offer tax-efficient ways for savers and investors to build wealth for the future, usually for retirement. To maximize their potential, you must understand how RRSPs work compared to other registered.... More »
How to model retirement income in Canada Feb 15th
Ask MoneySense
I am retired early at 58 years old. My wife is 56 years old. We live on a Christmas tree farm, which was paid for years ago.
I have a work pension, and my wife was bought out for her pension.
We have considerable RRSPs, farm income, and farm property. Where do w.... More »
Stock news for investors: Goeasy shares plunge nearly 60% after lender suspends dividend + MORE Mar 14th
Here’s a round-up of news for Canadian investors this week.
Goeasy
Algoma Steel
Transat
RBC
MDA Space
Empire
Featured RRSP Accounts
featured
EQ Bank
Build your retirem.... More »
The best RRSPs in Canada for 2026 + MORE Jan 31st
Why should you open a registered retirement savings plan (RRSP)? This account type is often described as “tax-advantaged,” meaning it offers a tax-efficient way for savers and investors to build wealth for the future, usually for retirement. To maximize its potential, it helps to know the differ.... More »
Why GICs might be a better investment than stocks and bonds Aug 17th
Financial markets have fallen quite dramatically in 2022, and that has made choosing investments even more difficult than usual. The turmoil has made many investors nervous about investing in stocks. The Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) was down nearly 10% for the first half of 2022, and the S&P 500.... 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…


