Retirement planning
Independent financial planning · Alberta & Yukon
Retirement is a transition, not a date on the calendar.
The question isn't only "do I have enough?" It's when to stop, how to turn savings into a paycheque, which accounts to draw from first, when to start government benefits, what happens if one of you needs care — and how to keep all of it working for decades.
Who's around the table
You and your partner — what you want this next chapter to look like
Me — the plan, the portfolio and the income strategy
Your tax preparer — how retirement income is taxed year to year
Your pension or benefits administrator — options and deadlines at work
Your lawyer — wills and powers of attorney kept up to date
Many sources of income
Pensions, government benefits, RRSPs and RRIFs, TFSAs, non-registered savings, perhaps a company or rental property. Each works differently, and they need to be coordinated.
Some choices are hard to undo
When to start government benefits, how to take a pension, when to convert savings into income. These decisions deserve careful thought before they're made.
Taxes don't retire
How and when you draw money affects your tax bill and can affect some of your benefits. The order matters.
Nobody knows how long it lasts
A plan has to work whether retirement is short or very long, and whether your health stays good or changes.
Market feels more stressful
A bad year while you're drawing income hits differently than a bad year while you're saving. The plan needs to account for that.
Two people, two timelines
Couples often have different ages, health, pensions and ideas about what retirement looks like. The plan has to work for both of you.
How we work through it
The conversations that shape your retirement
What does retirement actually look like for you?
Travel? A cabin? More time with grandkids? Part-time work you enjoy? We start with the life you want, because that's what the numbers need to support — not the other way around.
How will you make the transition?
Few people go from full-time to fully retired overnight anymore. Phasing out, consulting, or bridging the years before benefits begin all need planning. We look at the options and what each means for you.
How do we build your retirement paycheque?
We work out which accounts to draw from, in what order, and when to start each benefit.
What if something unexpected happens?
Health changes, the need for care, the loss of a spouse, an adult child who needs help. We talk about these openly so the plan — and the insurance behind it — is ready if they happen.
How do we keep it on track?
Retirement can last decades. We review together regularly, adjust as markets and life move, and make sure your will, powers of attorney and beneficiaries stay aligned with the plan.
Own a business?
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When your company is your retirement plan, the conversation looks different. See exit planning for how we approach it.
Why a team
Nobody should figure this out alone
Retirement decisions touch your investments, your taxes, your pension, your insurance and your estate all at once. Getting them right means the people advising you need to be talking to each other.
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My role is to bring those pieces together into one plan you understand, and to keep it current as your retirement unfolds.
What you can expect
A written plan built around the life you want
Decisions explained before they're made
Coordination with your accountant and lawyer
Regular check-ins for the long run, not just the first year
Retirement planning FAQ
Questions worth asking
Earlier is better, but it's never too late. The years just before retiring are when many of the most important decisions get made, so that's a great time to start if you haven't yet.
Often more than you'd think. Pensions come with choices, and they need to be coordinated with your other savings, your spouse's situation and government benefits.
We'd encourage it. Retirement is a household decision, and the plan works best when both of you are part of the conversation.
Why it's complicated
Saving was simpler than spending will be
For decades the job was to put money away. Retirement flips that around, and the decisions get more connected, not less.