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Retirement questions.
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Retirement questions
Build your retirement picture
Start with the life you want, rough monthly estimates and a useful planning horizon.
- How do I make my first retirement forecast?Read answer · 5 min read
- How much money do I need to retire in Canada?Read answer · 8 min read
- When might I be able to retire?Quick Forecast
- How much might I spend each month in retirement?Quick Forecast
- How much should I save each month?Quick Forecast
- How long should I plan for retirement to last?Longevity Planning Guide
- How does inflation affect my retirement plan?Read answer · 7 min read
Retirement questions
CPP, OAS and pensions
Understand public benefits, workplace pensions and the choices that affect when income begins.
- What are CPP, OAS and GIS? How are they different?Read answer · 5 min read
- What is GIS and who may qualify?Read answer · 6 min read
- When should I start OAS?Read answer · 7 min read
- When should I start CPP?Read answer · 7 min read
- What is the OAS recovery tax?Read answer · 8 min read
- Where can I find reliable CPP and OAS estimates?Read the CPP guide
More questions coming6 planned answers
- What are the Allowance and Allowance for the Survivor?Coming soon
- Can I work while receiving CPP or OAS?Coming soon
- How are CPP and OAS adjusted for inflation?Coming soon
- How does a workplace pension fit into retirement income?Coming soon
- Is my workplace pension indexed?Coming soon
- What changes if I receive QPP rather than CPP?Coming soon
Retirement questions
RRSPs, RRIFs, TFSAs and tax
Learn how Canadian accounts change over time and where tax questions enter the plan.
- Which accounts have tax benefits while I save for retirement?Read answer · 8 min read
- What happens to my RRSP when I turn 71?Read answer · 8 min read
- What is a RRIF and when do I need one?Read answer · 8 min read
- How do RRIF minimum withdrawals work?Read the RRIF guide
- How is retirement income taxed in Canada?Read answer · 9 min read
- How do TFSA withdrawals fit into retirement income?Read the retirement-income tax guide
- How do RRSP and RRIF withdrawals affect taxable income?Read the retirement-income tax guide
- What is the difference between withholding tax and my final tax bill?Read the retirement-income tax guide
More questions coming4 planned answers
- Which account might I draw from first?Coming soon
- How can withdrawals affect OAS or GIS?Coming soon
- What is pension-income splitting?Coming soon
- What can happen to an RRSP or RRIF at death?Coming soon
Retirement questions
Turn savings into retirement income
Explore how pensions, benefits and savings could become a retirement paycheque.
- How do I turn retirement savings into monthly income?Read answer · 8 min read
- How much can I withdraw from my savings each year?Read answer · 8 min read
- Could an annuity provide part of my retirement income?Read answer · 7 min read
- How might spending change through retirement?Read answer · 7 min read
- How often should I review my retirement income?Read the annual plan review guide
More questions coming4 planned answers
- Should I rely on dividends and interest or sell investments?Coming soon
- What happens if markets fall early in retirement?Coming soon
- How much cash or stable investments should I keep?Coming soon
- What is a retirement bucket strategy?Coming soon
Retirement questions
Invest for retirement
Build enough knowledge to understand investment choices without turning retirement planning into a full-time job.
- Should I invest on my own?Read answer · 6 min read
- Why should I start with the plan rather than the product?Read answer · 6 min read
- How do my investments support my retirement plan?Read answer · 7 min read
- What investment decisions should I understand first?Read answer · 7 min read
- How can a simple diversified portfolio work?Read answer · 8 min read
- How does investing change when withdrawals begin?Read answer · 8 min read
- How can I review a portfolio without reacting to headlines?Read answer · 7 min read
- How can I judge investing information and verify it?Read answer · 7 min read
More questions coming1 planned answers
- How much do investment fees matter?Coming soon
Retirement questions
Work, housing and life changes
Consider the larger events that can change spending, income or the people a plan needs to support.
- What retirement documents should I review?Read answer · 7 min read
- How might staying, downsizing or renting affect my plan?Read answer · 7 min read
More questions coming8 planned answers
- What changes if I keep working in retirement?Coming soon
- What changes if one spouse or partner dies?Coming soon
- Should I pay off my mortgage before retiring?Coming soon
- What could increasing care costs do to my plan?Coming soon
- What should I consider before retiring outside Canada?Coming soon
- How might supporting family or leaving an estate affect the plan?Coming soon
- When might qualified professional help be useful?Coming soon
- How can I protect retirement savings from fraud and scams?Coming soon