Planning for a long, fulfilling life

Whether you’re bound for a dream home or planning to stay put, housing likely will be your biggest expense in retirement. While aging in the comfort of your own home would be ideal, modifications to the home – or your plan – could be necessary as mobility and transportation challenges arise.

Let’s talk about:

• Do you want to stay in your home? Will it need to be modified?
• What housing options are available to you, and what will they cost?
• Would you want to downsize? Relocate to a pedestrian-friendly neighbourhood?

Being mobile means being independent. And retirement life brings more opportunity to go where you want whenever you want. That may help explain why transportation is the second largest expense for individuals older than 65 and accounts for about 13% of their annual expenditures, according to Statistics Canada. That’s why we make sure to account for it as part of your long-term financial plan.

Let's talk about:

• How will you get to your favourite places in retirement?
• Who will assist you if you can't drive yourself somewhere?
• What transportation options are available in your area?

Your health and your finances are intertwined in complex ways. Most expect government medical benefits to pay for their healthcare expenses in retirement. But, in reality, government benefits may only pay a portion of healthcare costs - you may still have premiums, copays, and deductibles. As you age, healthcare costs can add up.

Let's talk about:

• Do you have an existing condition? What will treatment cost over the long term?
• Do you know what costs provincial benefits will cover?
• How will you pay for what the provincial plan doesn't cover?
• Have you considered private medical insurance?

As we all live longer, chances are you may, at some point, provide care for a loved one or receive care yourself. Becoming a caregiver can be not only stressful, but also can have financial consequences if it requires taking time away from work. And long-term care may not be fully covered by your provincial government.

Let's talk about:

• Do you understand the full impact of being a caregiver?
• How will you get the care you need as you age?
• Should you consider long-term care insurance?

Giving yourself every opportunity to save enough for a long, fulfilling life requires careful, detailed longevity planning - strategies for saving, investing and taking withdrawals. Making the right pension, CPP/QPP and OAS claiming decisions is vital to optimizing your retirement income strategy.

Let's talk about:

• When are you planning to retire?
• What sources of income will you have in retirement?
• How much income you will need in retirement?