Game Plans
Regardless of how old you are when you start planning your retirement, think it through thoroughly and don’t wing it! You don't plan for retirement the same way at age 25 as you do at age 35 or 45.
To successfully plan your retirement, there are three things you need to know:
- the kind of retirement you wish to have
- the income you will need at retirement
- how much you are going to get from pension plans
Then, all that’s left is to set a concrete financial goal in order to make up the shortfall in funds between the income from pension plans and the income needed to live your golden years to the fullest!
Don't panic! All it takes is a solid game plan: good savings discipline, willingness and, if necessary, a bright advisor. And most importantly—start saving NOW!
Retirement Savings: The Sooner, the Better!
Here are a few figures to give you an idea of the amounts to save at various stages of life according to the following scenario:
- $0 in your piggy bank
- no pension fund
- RRSP investments made at the beginning of the year
- 6% annual return
- retirement at age 65
- life expectancy of 90 years
- maximum pension from the QPP
| Current Income | Retirement Income (70% of Current Income) | Annual Savings Required Starting at Age 20 | Annual Savings Required Starting at Age 30 | Annual Savings Required Starting at Age 40 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
$45,000 |
$31,500 |
$3,800 |
$6,000 |
$10,000 |
|
$65,000 |
$45,500 |
$6,300 |
$9,900 |
$16,400 |
|
$85,000 |
$59,500 |
$8,800 |
$13,700 |
$22,900 |
Is there a better way to show you how much you gain by starting early? Now that we've convinced you to start right away, it's time for you to take stock of your situation.
Assess your own situation quickly with our calculator and find out how much you need to save to maintain your standard of living when you retire.
