Retirement isn't an age — it's a number. Many Canadians don't know theirs, don't have a plan to reach it, and find themselves working longer than they intended. We calculate your target, build the shortest path to it, and optimize every decision along the way. All projections are illustrative — individual outcomes vary.
This is where the greatest leverage exists. Decisions made here — contribution rate, fee structure, tax efficiency — compound for 20–30 years. The gap between an optimized and unoptimized accumulation phase is measured in hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The 10 years before retirement carry the most consequential decisions of your financial life. RRSP meltdown strategy, CPP timing, asset allocation shift, and drawdown sequencing all need to be planned well before retirement — not at it.
Retirement income planning is a different discipline than accumulation. Sequence of returns risk, the optimal account withdrawal order, OAS clawback avoidance, and estate planning all become active priorities. Getting this phase right can mean additional decades of comfortable income.
Most retirement "rules of thumb" — save 10% of income, need $1M to retire, the 4% rule — are generalizations built for average Americans in the 1990s. Your number is specific to your income, spending, province, CPP entitlement, lifestyle, and health. We calculate it precisely.
The 4% rule — withdrawing 4% of your portfolio annually — has held through a large majority of historical 30-year periods studied. For Canadians with CPP and OAS supplementing portfolio income, the required portfolio size is often lower than most assume.
Taking CPP at 60 means a permanent 36% reduction from your age-65 benefit. The break-even age vs. waiting until 65 is approximately 74. If you have significant health concerns or need income immediately, early CPP can make sense. For most healthy individuals, it is typically the most expensive option over a lifetime.
Deferring CPP to age 70 produces a 42% higher monthly benefit than taking at 65. The break-even vs. age 65 is approximately 82 — which most healthy 70-year-olds will reach. For individuals with a healthy investment portfolio who don't need CPP income immediately, deferral to 70 is frequently the highest-return financial decision available.
CPP amounts above are illustrative examples based on a hypothetical $15,000 age-65 benefit — not a guarantee or typical entitlement. Your actual CPP amount depends on your full contribution history. Check your My Service Canada Account for your personal CPP projection. OAS begins at 65 ($727.67/month maximum in 2025) and can also be deferred to age 70 for a 36% increase. Consult a licensed advisor and CPA before making CPP or OAS timing decisions.
Capital gains in non-registered accounts are taxed at only a 50% inclusion rate — often at a lower effective rate than RRSP withdrawals at your full marginal rate. Clearing non-registered assets first may also allow for tax-credit optimization on Canadian dividend income in lower-income early retirement years. The optimal approach depends on your specific income composition and province — consult a CPA.
RRSP withdrawals are taxed as income. The general approach: withdraw enough each year to fill lower tax brackets before forced RRIF withdrawals begin at 72 — and before OAS adds to your taxable income. Done carefully, this can meaningfully reduce your lifetime tax burden (illustratively, tens of thousands of dollars in the right circumstances). Consult a licensed advisor and CPA for a strategy specific to your income, province, and RRIF balance.
The TFSA is the most tax-efficient vehicle in Canada — withdrawals are completely tax-free and don't count as income for GIS, OAS clawback, or any income-tested benefit calculations. Preserving TFSA until last maximizes the duration of tax-free compounding and gives maximum flexibility for large unexpected expenses in late retirement.
We calculate your illustrative retirement target using your actual spending, CPP entitlement, province, and timeline — not a generic formula. Results are for planning purposes only.
We design the shortest path to your number: contribution amounts, account priority, investment allocation, and CPP/OAS timing — all considered together for your specific situation.
A complete written plan: your illustrative number, your timeline, drawdown sequence, CPP strategy, and year-by-year milestones. For planning purposes only — consult a CPA for tax projections.
Life changes — income, relationships, health, market returns. We update your plan every year to keep the runway accurate and the timeline intact.
Book a free session and we'll walk through an illustrative calculation using your actual income, CPP entitlement, and lifestyle numbers — then show you the path to it. Consult a CPA for tax-specific projections.