In this episode of Ask TMFG, Carlo Cansino and John Iaconetti break down one of the most misunderstood, and costly, decisions in Canadian retirement planning: When to start CPP? They explain why the CRA’s calculators and standard guidance don’t tell the full story, and how CPP timing can quietly affect your taxes, Old Age Security, and overall retirement income for decades. You’ll learn the real trade-offs between taking CPP early, waiting until 65, or delaying to 70, including permanent benefit reductions, opportunity costs, tax bracket creep, and OAS clawbacks. They also discuss why government “break-even” math can be misleading, how lifestyle and health factor into the decision, and why average life expectancy doesn’t apply to individual planning. Most importantly, they show why CPP should never be looked at in isolation. Instead, it needs to be coordinated with your RRSPs, RRIFs, TFSAs, pensions, and tax strategy to maximize your total lifetime after-tax income, not just one benefit. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re leaving money on the table or making a CPP decision that could cost you later, this episode brings clarity to a decision most Canadians are forced to make with incomplete information. Question for our listeners: Have you already chosen when to take CPP, and are you confident it fits into your overall retirement and tax plan? If you’re questioning whether you’re starting CPP at the right time and want clarity on how it affects your long-term retirement income, please schedule a meeting here: Schedule your meeting. Follow us on our social channels:LinkedIn: The McClelland Financial Group Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tmfg.ca Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themcclellandfinancialgroup_/