One of the most common questions I hear from clients is: "How much do I actually need to retire?" The honest answer: it depends on your lifestyle, your health, where you live, and how long you live. But there are clear frameworks that get you to a number that actually makes sense for your life.
70%法則——及其局限性
You've probably heard it: you'll need 70% of your pre-retirement income to maintain your lifestyle in retirement. It's a starting point, but it can be dangerously misleading. If you have an active retirement — travel, hobbies, helping grandchildren — you may need closer to 90% or more in the early years. If your mortgage is paid off and your lifestyle is modest, 60% might be plenty. The better approach is to build a retirement budget based on what you actually want your life to look like.
您將獲得哪些政府福利？
Most Canadians can count on two main government income sources in retirement.
- Canada Pension Plan (CPP): Based on your lifetime contributions. The maximum in 2025 is approximately $1,364/month at age 65 — but the average is much lower, around $760/month.
- Old Age Security (OAS): A flat benefit available to most Canadians aged 65+. In 2025 it pays approximately $727/month. High earners (over ~$93,000/year) may have it clawed back.
- Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS): An additional benefit for lower-income retirees — worth knowing if your income in retirement will be modest.
Combined, CPP and OAS could provide roughly $2,000–$2,100/month — a helpful foundation, but rarely enough on its own for a comfortable retirement.
Carrie's rule of thumb: If your target retirement income is $6,000/month, government benefits might cover $2,000 of that. Your personal savings need to generate the other $4,000 — requiring roughly $1.2–$1.5 million in savings depending on your investment returns and drawdown strategy.
計算您的儲蓄缺口
Your savings gap is the difference between your target monthly retirement income and what government benefits + any pension income will provide. This is the amount your RRSP, TFSA, and other investments need to generate each month.
確定您的退休生活方式
Write down your expected monthly expenses — housing, food, travel, hobbies, healthcare, and discretionary spending. Be honest and specific.
估計您的政府收入
Use the CRA My Account portal to see your CPP Statement of Contributions and get a realistic estimate of your future CPP benefit.
計算您的儲蓄缺口
Subtract government income (and any pension) from your target monthly income. The remainder is what your personal savings must generate.
預測所需的儲蓄總額
Using a conservative 4% drawdown rate as a starting point, multiply your annual gap by 25 to estimate the portfolio size required.
制定您的儲蓄策略
With a clear target in mind, Carrie will help you set up the right combination of RRSP, TFSA, and investment accounts to reach your goal.
常被忽視的退休費用
- 醫療費用: Drug plans, dental, vision, and potential long-term care costs increase significantly as you age. Budget for these proactively.
- 通貨膨脹: Even at 2% inflation, your purchasing power drops roughly 40% over 25 years. Your retirement income plan must grow to keep pace.
- 房屋維護或換細屋: Major repairs, condo fees, or the costs of moving to a smaller home can be significant one-time expenses.
- 資助家庭成員: Many retirees financially support children, grandchildren, or aging parents. Factor this in honestly.
The bottom line: There's no single number that works for everyone. The best retirement plan is one built specifically around your life. Book a complimentary conversation with Carrie to build your personalized retirement projection.
王羽恬
王羽恬是 Seven Lakes Financial Services Inc. 的創辦人，同時也是服務安大略省及薩斯喀徹溫省客戶的 Sun Life 顧問。她專精退休、遺產及投資規劃，以溫暖且個人化的方式為每位客戶提供服務，並能以英語、普通話及台語流暢溝通。