Millions of Canadians have workplace pension plans — yet many have never sat down to truly understand what income they'll receive, when they can access it, how it interacts with CPP and OAS, and what happens if they leave their employer before retirement. A pension review with Carrie can answer all of these questions and help you plan your retirement income with confidence.
加拿大職場退休金的類型
Your employer promises a specific monthly income in retirement based on your salary and years of service. The investment risk is on the employer.
You and your employer contribute a set amount; your retirement income depends on your investment returns. The investment risk is on you.
Similar to an RRSP but with employer matching. More like a personal savings plan than a traditional pension.
Employer contributions based on company profits. Vesting schedules and restrictions vary widely.
了解您的固定福利退休金
If you have a DB pension, your annual benefit is typically calculated as:
DB pension formula
年份s of service × Benefit accrual rate × Best average salary
Example: 25 years × 2% × $75,000 average salary = $37,500/year = $3,125/month before tax.
Key things to understand about your DB pension:
- Early retirement penalties: Most DB pensions have reduced benefits if you retire before the 'unreduced' retirement age (often 60 or 65)
- Survivor benefits: Does your spouse receive a portion of your pension if you die first? At what percentage?
- Indexation: Is your pension indexed to inflation? Even partial indexation makes a significant long-term difference
- Integration with CPP: Some DB pensions are 'integrated' with CPP — meaning they pay a higher amount before you receive CPP and reduce when CPP starts
- Portability: What happens to your pension if you leave before retirement?
了解您的固定供款退休金
DC pensions require more active management than DB plans. Key considerations:
- The investment choices inside your DC plan determine your eventual retirement income — review them carefully
- Vesting schedules determine when employer contributions become yours permanently
- At retirement, you typically have the option to convert to an annuity (guaranteed income), transfer to a LIRA/LIF, or take a lump-sum transfer
- Carrie can help you model what your DC balance might generate in retirement income under different scenarios
退休金與 CPP 和 OAS 的整合
Many DB pensions are structured to 'bridge' retirement income before government benefits start. Understanding this integration is critical for timing decisions.
- Some pensions pay a 'bridge benefit' before age 65 that stops when OAS begins — this affects your income planning significantly
- Integrated pensions reduce your pension income when you start CPP — meaning the timing of your CPP start date affects your total income
- Carrie will map out your exact income from all sources (pension + CPP + OAS + RRSP/TFSA) at different retirement ages to find the optimal combination
退休金審查涵蓋的內容
了解您的退休金權益
Reading your pension statement, understanding the formula, and calculating your projected income at different retirement ages.
遺屬及身故賠付分析
What your spouse will receive and whether additional life insurance coverage is needed to protect them.
整合模擬
Building a complete income map showing how your pension, CPP, OAS, RRSP, and TFSA work together over time.
提前退休與標準退休分析
Quantifying the cost of retiring early versus at the unreduced date — and whether the lifestyle benefit is worth the income trade-off.
缺口分析
Identifying any shortfall between your projected pension income and your retirement income target — and building a savings strategy to close it.
Carrie's advice: Bring your pension statement to your next consultation. Many clients are surprised by what they find — both opportunities they hadn't considered and risks they didn't know existed. Understanding your pension fully is one of the most valuable things we can do together.
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。