Should You Take the Commuted Value? Interest Rates, Taxes & Retirement Flexibility

What to Do With "Excess Wealth" (7 Smart Moves for High-Net-Worth Families)

What happens when you realize you've saved more money than you actually need for retirement? In this episode of The Upside with Eli, Eli sits down with CPA Brandon Murphy to unpack one of the most overlooked financial planning conversations for affluent Canadians: how to strategically manage "excess wealth." From helping adult children with down payments and business capital to estate planning, tax-efficient gifting, and structuring long-term family wealth, Eli and Brandon break down the real decisions wealthy families face once retirement is already secure. They discuss: * What "excess wealth" actually means * The most common ways affluent families support their children * Real estate vs. invested assets * Tax considerations around gifting and wealth transfer * How retirees think differently once they know they have enough * Why intentional planning matters more than ever Whether you're building wealth, approaching retirement, or thinking about your legacy, this episode offers practical insight into how high-net-worth families make smart financial decisions beyond retirement income planning.

The Retirement Planning Mistakes Costing Canadians Millions

Most retirement plans fail for one reason: they were never actually planned. In this episode of The Up Side with Eli, Eli sits down with portfolio manager and retirement specialist Dylan Rieberer to break down the most common (and costly) retirement mistakes Canadians make. From CPP and OAS timing mistakes to poor RRSP/RRIF drawdown strategies, sequence of returns risk, tax traps, LIRA/LIF planning, income splitting, and retirement portfolio construction, this episode dives deep into the financial decisions that can quietly cost retirees hundreds of thousands...or even millions...over their lifetime. You'll learn: • Why generic retirement advice can be dangerous • How poor drawdown strategies destroy wealth • The biggest CPP & OAS timing mistakes • Why many retirees overpay tax unnecessarily • How sequence of returns risk can derail retirement • The difference between accumulating wealth and drawing it down properly • Why retirement investing is completely different from growth investing If you're approaching retirement, or already retired, this episode could save you from some very expensive mistakes.

How to Transition from Accounting to Wealth Management (& Build a Real Brand)

In this episode, Eli sits down with Brandon Murphy to unpack a career path that more people in finance are starting to consider, but few talk about openly. If you've ever felt stuck in a technical role or wondered what it actually takes to move beyond "just doing the numbers," this conversation is for you. Eli and Brandon break down the transition from accounting into wealth management, including the mindset shifts, skill changes, and real-world challenges that come with stepping into a more client-facing, advisory role. They also get into: * Why many professionals in finance feel stuck (even when they're successful on paper) * The difference between being an expert and being a trusted advisor * How personal brand plays a bigger role than most people think * What to consider before making a move into wealth management Whether you're early in your career or already established and looking for something more, this episode will give you a clearer perspective on what's possible—and what it actually takes to get there. If you enjoy the episode, don't forget to follow the show and share it with someone who's thinking about their next move in finance. Work with Eli / Up Financial Book a call: https://upfinancial.ca/book/ Email: up@upfinancial.ca Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elithemoneyguy/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elithemoneyguy Connect with Brandon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/murphonmoney/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@murphonmoney Subscribe for weekly episodes!

Tax Loss Harvesting Explained: How to Turn Market Losses Into Tax Savings

Markets down? That doesn't mean your portfolio has to lose. In this episode of The Upside with Eli, Eli and portfolio manager Dylan break down how to actually use investment losses strategically — not just take them. They cover: * What tax loss selling actually is * How to use losses to offset capital gains * What "tax loss crystallization" means (and when to use it) * The superficial loss rules (and how to avoid them) * Strategies to stay invested while still capturing tax benefits * Advanced approaches like transferring losses and tax loss purification If you're holding losses or just want to be more tax-efficient — this episode shows how to make the most of a bad market

Should You Take the Commuted Value? Interest Rates, Taxes & Retirement Flexibility

Tens of thousands of federal employees are facing job uncertainty — and many have a defined benefit (DB) pension with an option most people don't realize exists: taking the commuted value (a lump sum) instead of lifetime monthly payments. In this episode of The Upside, Eli sits down with Dylan Reber (Portfolio Manager + CFP®) to break down what a commuted value actually is, how it's calculated, and the biggest decision factors to consider — including interest-rate timing, tax implications (maximum transfer value), locked-in accounts (LIRA), longevity, estate planning, inflation indexing, and investing discipline. If you're approaching age 55, considering early retirement, or navigating a job transition, this conversation will help you ask the right questions before making an irreversible pension decision.