Retirement guides & tips
Plain-English articles to help you make the big Canadian retirement decisions — then run the numbers in the free calculator.
Can you retire at 60 in Canada?
Retiring at 60 means five years before OAS and a real decision about when to start CPP. Here's what it actually takes — the savings, the gap years, and the risks to plan around.
PlanningHow much CPP will you actually get?
Most Canadians assume they'll get the maximum CPP. Most won't. Here's what really drives your amount, the gap between average and maximum, and how to find your own number.
CPPWhen should you take OAS — at 65 or defer to 70?
Like CPP, OAS can be deferred for a bigger cheque — up to 36% more at 70. But the maths, and the clawback, work differently. Here's how to decide.
OASThe Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), explained
GIS can add over $1,000 a month for lower-income seniors — but it's income-tested and surprisingly easy to lose by accident. Here's who qualifies and how to protect it.
GISHow much do you need to retire in Canada?
There's no single magic number. Here's how to work out your own Canadian retirement target using spending, CPP, OAS and a safe withdrawal rate.
PlanningThe order to draw down your accounts in retirement
RRSP, TFSA or non-registered first? The sequence you withdraw from can change your lifetime tax bill and how long your money lasts.
StrategySequence-of-returns risk: why the first five years matter most
Two retirees can earn the same average return and get very different outcomes. Here's why the order of returns matters, and how to defend against it.
RiskThe bridging strategy: living off savings to delay CPP to 70
Delaying CPP to 70 boosts it 42% for life. Here's how to bridge the gap with your own savings — and when it's worth it.
CPPSeven ways to cut your tax bill in retirement
From pension income splitting to avoiding the OAS clawback, here are seven practical, legal ways Canadians reduce tax in retirement.
Tax