Congratulations: You’re five short years away from retirement! For the last couple of decades, you’ve been saving diligently, but now that you’re so close to the big day, does your financial plan need to change? Here are four steps for plotting a financially smart retirement that you can start in advance of your last work day.
Tidy your finances
You want to enter retirement with your finances in top shape, so rerun the numbers to make sure you have enough to support your ideal lifestyle.
That may mean ensuring you have money for travel and hobbies in the first few years of retirement, but factor in your older senior years, too, when the high cost of care could come into play.
Itemize your income
The timing of your retirement could impact some of your income sources and that should be looked into now, before you stop working. Add up your company pensions based on your retirement date and your RRSPs and TFSAs.
Then, understand the nuances of government programs. For the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) or the Quebec Pension Plan (QPP), you can receive benefits any time between the ages of 60 and 70, but they are reduced by 0.6 of 1 percent for each month prior to age 65. Old Age Security (OAS) is available as of age 65, but it is clawed back when your net income exceeds certain levels. Maybe you don’t feel you need these government income sources, but best to know what you qualify for, in advance, so you can choose.
Consider taxes
You should also be thinking about how to minimize tax in retirement. By age 71, you have to convert RRSPs into Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIF), and withdrawals are fully taxable. Start crunching the numbers so you’re ready to withdraw the ideal amount to keep taxes low while still funding your lifestyle.
Some things to consider: Income splitting with your spouse on your pensions and assets. You may want to use a spousal RRSP, so your money can get taxed in the lower income spouse’s hands come withdrawal time.
If you are likely to have a high income in retirement, but have more money to save now, think about putting as much as possible into a TFSA to avoid a tax burden later. Your financial advisor may have other smart tax strategies that can be set up now.
Review your portfolio
When it comes to investments, now is the time to make any changes based on your close-to-retirement horizon. Consider the possibility of a market correction. Should some of your investments be moved into safer fixed-income securities? Inflation over the next decades can erode the buying power of your savings, so be sure you are still growing your portfolio before retirement and even into your earlier retirement years.
Plan to enjoy life. Your retirement should be years of the adventures you dreamed about – now’s the time to plan them.
Now is the time to work with your IG Consultant who will help you synchronize all the dimensions of your financial plan. They’ll be able to make suggestions that will make the most sense for your unique set of circumstances. If you don’t have an IG Consultant, you can find one here.
