- After years of hard work, will I have enough money to live comfortably?
- Will I outlive my money?
- Will I be able to maintain my lifestyle?
- What can I do to prepare for unexpected expenses?
- How do I position myself for a confident retirement?
This guide highlights ten retirement planning mistakes people make when planning for retirement and how you can avoid them.
At TMFG, we believe you shouldn’t have to face retirement with worry and confusion instead, you should feel excited about life during retirement.
01 | Not knowing your desired lifestyle.
Ensure you have enough income to continue living your retired life as you imagined. Not knowing/planning your retirement income.
- What is the ideal retirement for you?
- What do you want to achieve in retirement?
- What kind of life do you want to live?
Understanding what you want first and then developing a plan for your retirement income to achieve that goal.
Did you know?
More than half (53 percent) of Canadians don’t know how much they will need to retire. Source.
02 | Taking government benefits too early or too late.
Government pensions provide flexibility to Canadians in different retirement situations.
It also incentivizes pensions that are taken after the age of 65.
- Are you willing and able to work past 65?
- If so, you can get a boost to your government pensions if you elect to take them after 65.
- If you retire before 65, can you supplement the decrease in CPP & OAS?
Did you know?
According to the National Institute on Aging, 95 percent of Canadians take CPP at the age of 65 or earlier, with only one percent deferring until the maximum age of 70. Source.
03 | Not knowing the Tax Implications of withdrawing your retirement income.
Ensure you have enough income to continue living your retired life as you imagined.
- What is the ideal retirement for you?
- What do you want to achieve in retirement?
- What kind of life do you want to live?
This is one of the main retirement mistakes that surprises people. Understanding what you want first and then developing a plan for your retirement income to achieve that goal.
DID YOU KNOW?
74% of respondents said they worry about having enough income in retirement. Yet the majority of respondents didn’t know how retirement income is taxed. Source.
04 | Not setting up your registered accounts in the right way.
Registered assets provide many tax benefits to Canadians, one benefit being taxation upon your estate.
Have you taken full advantage of these benefits and used them in collaboration with your will to minimize your estate tax implications and probate fees?
DID YOU KNOW?
One-third (34%) of Canadians initiated a conversation about end-of-life plans in 2020, including making or updating their will, deciding on end-of-life wishes and estate planning. Source.
05 | Not having a grasp of your legacy. What do you want this to look like?
Do you want to leave your mark on future generations?
- Will you do that through charitable donations?
- Gifts to family members and friends?
Utilizing different tools like a Will, beneficiaries and life insurance policies can help make your legacy even more impactful for the people or organizations you choose.
DID YOU KNOW?
Most Canadian adults (56%) do not have a signed will. Source.
06 | Not having a retirement budget.
Another common retirement planning mistake is not having a retirement budget.
Unlike working, you will have a fixed income in retirement. Therefore, it will be even more important to review your budget.
If physically healthy, your retirement could last for decades, and spending in the first decade of retirement will be very different than spending in the last decade.
Are you prepared to budget for the retirement you want?
DID YOU KNOW?
48% of retirees don’t have a monthly budget for their retirement spending. Source.
07 | Having too much wealth in cash.
It is good to have an emergency fund for any unforeseen expenses. However, too much of an emergency fund can mean falling behind.
Do you know how much you should keep in your bank account?
DID YOU KNOW?
Among Canadians investing, 62 percent have cash in their TFSAs, representing over 40 percent of their account holdings. Similarly, RRSPs have 22 percent of assets in cash. Source.
08 | Having a portfolio not built to last.
When someone enters retirement, a common belief is that their portfolio should become conservative. However, it is important to develop a portfolio that invests responsibly to ensure that your portfolio can keep up with the increasingly rising cost of living. One effective method to safeguard your retirement savings is by diversifying with assets like a Gold IRA, which can provide a hedge against inflation and market volatility
Are you confident your portfolio can keep up with rising prices?
DID YOU KNOW?
As Canada’s inflation rate soared to an 18-year high, increased living costs are a source of financial stress for two out of three (67%) Canadians — more than double that of any other financial stressor. Source.
09 | DIY investing.
Thanks to technology, every investor can invest on their own, but should you? Investing on your own can be difficult, time-consuming and lead to bad results.
Can you afford to invest on your own without the help of a professional?
DID YOU KNOW?
Advice Based Confidence: 79 percent of Canadians rely on a financial advisor, a nine percent increase from 2020. Those with a financial advisor are more likely to feel confident they will have the money they need to retire (53 percent). Source.
10 | Not having a plan or creating it too late.
A goal without a plan is just a wish. Put yourself in a better position by creating a plan to follow.
If you’re not confident that you can retire without a plan, then speak with a financial planner now.
DID YOU KNOW?
80% of Canadians who had sought advice from a financial professional expressed confidence, compared with 57% of Canadians who hadn’t. Source.
You Don’t Have to Face Retirement with Worry & Confusion.
You deserve a custom-built plan by a trusted Financial Advisor to unite all of your assets and wealth into a solid strategy for steady retirement income.
Working with our Toronto financial advisors, you’ll know you’re on track.
- Build a strategic plan for an exciting future that gets you to and through retirement with confidence.
- We take the journey with you as a long-term, trusted partner who has your best interest in mind.
- Stay informed through regular meetings, events, weekly podcasts and videos and monthly newsletters.
