Ferguson Financial Planning of CI Assante Wealth Management Ltd.

05/26/2026

Estate planning is not only about having a will.

A good starting point is understanding what you own and how each asset is legally owned. Bank accounts, investment accounts, registered plans, real estate, business assets, insurance policies, and trust assets may all be treated differently depending on their ownership structure.

We’ve shared a new CI Assante article on our website that explains why verifying asset ownership is an important first step in estate planning.

Read the article here:

Here’s a look at financial decisions for a couple without children across several components of wealth planning, including investments, insurance and estate planning.

05/22/2026

“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?”

05/20/2026

“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?”

05/15/2026

“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
🔗 Link in bio

05/08/2026

“$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
🔗 Link in bio

05/05/2026

A lot of couples assume the smaller RRSP should be drained first, especially when one spouse has a much larger account.

In this video, we walk through how to think about RRSP and RRIF withdrawals as a sequencing decision, including spousal RRSP rules, the shift that happens after age 65, and why survivor planning and OAS claw back can change the right answer.

A lot of couples assume the smaller RRSP should be drained first, especially when one spouse has a much larger account. In this video, I walk through how to ...

05/01/2026

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
🔗 Link in bio

05/01/2026

Q1 2026 showed just how resilient markets can be.

The S&P/TSX Composite Index started the year at record highs and, despite a volatile March, still outperformed major global indices for the quarter.

Our latest market commentary breaks down the quarter, and what it means for the months ahead.

The first quarter of 2026 began on a positive note for investors, particularly in Canada, with the S&P/TSX Composite Index closing at a record high on January 28th.

04/24/2026

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
🔗 Link in bio

04/24/2026

Decide how much to withdraw from your RRSP/RRIF each year so you’re not forced into higher taxes later.

We’ll walk through a simple Ontario timeline, from the “quiet years” to the RRIF-minimum years, so you can reduce the risk of OAS claw back, bracket jumps, and a nasty final tax return with the CRA. You’ll also see how CPP/OAS start dates and where you park extra cash can change the whole outcome.

Why “Taking the Minimum” Can Backfire on Your RRSP Drawdown