In this episode of The Financial Rundown (filmed October 7, 2025), CJ welcomes Madeline Stratton, Associate Advisor at Philotimo Wealth, to unpack a whirlwind of headlines: from viral tax horror stories to the truth behind Canada’s rising unemployment.
They start with a look at a Burlington family’s inheritance “wipeout”, a case making waves online for showing how a $700,000 RRSP turned into just $55,000 after taxes and why that headline is more clickbait than cautionary tale. CJ and Madeline break down the real tax rules behind RRSPs, cottages, and capital gains, and how smart planning can help you avoid the RRSP tax bomb.
Next, the team turns to the markets and the economy covering:
- The “political market myth” using new data from Ryan Detrick showing why stocks rise regardless of who’s in office.
- A closer look at Canada’s rising unemployment, the challenges young adults face, and how families can build resilience through budgeting, skill growth, and smart investing.
- What’s really driving the market’s strength in 2025 (with earnings and fundamentals, not speculation) behind the rally.
And as always, we close with a few personal recommendations that CJ and Maddy have been watching, reading, and listening to lately.
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