The basic rule is well known: if your marginal rate today is higher than in retirement, RRSP wins. Otherwise, TFSA. For a Quebec executive earning $250K, marginal is 53.3%. In retirement, with $120K of typical pension income, you drop to 38%. Difference: 15 points. RRSP almost always wins.
But there are important exceptions. If your retirement income pushes you past the OAS clawback threshold ($94,600 in 2026), each RRSP dollar withdrawn also pulls back OAS — effective marginal of 53%+ once you're there. In that case, the TFSA becomes competitive again.
Another exception: if you anticipate a significant estate. RRSP at death is taxed at full marginal rate — often 53% in Quebec. TFSA passes tax-free. For estates above $3M with adult children, the TFSA / non-registered mix becomes more relevant.
Our default recommendation for an executive 50+ with $1-3M wealth: max the TFSA every year ($7,000 for 2026), then all available RRSP room beyond. For higher wealth or significant estates, we flip the equation.