Financial Planning for Pre-Retirees & Retirees

Investment Services

Asset Management is a vital component of retirement planning.  Due to changing time horizons, investor risk typically reduces come retirement or pre-retirement. Our job is to ensure your investments align with the evolving needs that retirement presents.

Our investment services include the initial setup and administration, where we determine the most appropriate investment product and assist with getting the account(s) opened and structured properly.  We then provide ongoing service and review, ensuring the investment account(s) continues to be aligned with overall financial goals.

We specialize in the following investment accounts for retirees and pre-retirees:

• Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP)
• Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA)
• Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF) and Spousal RRIF
• Locked-in pension accounts (LIRA, LIF, LRIF, etc.)
• Non-Registered Accounts
• NEW: Advanced Life Deferred Annuity

We offer our clients access to the following investment products:

• Guaranteed Investment Funds (GIFs)
• Mutual Funds
• Annuities – life & term
• GICs
• ETFs

Lifestyle & Cash-Flow Planning

Is your retirement nest egg enough? What life expectancy was used in your retirement projections? Gone are the days of only needing to plan until age 80 or even age 85 – lifespans are steadily increasing for seniors. We focus on ways to combat longevity risk (outliving one’s money) and offering the peace of mind needed for an enjoyable retirement. We illustrate various scenarios and find the ideal balance between financial security and lifestyle. We will also evaluate the role of government programs in your retirement plan and look at situations in which deferring these programs could be beneficial.

As Certified Financial Planners, we have the expertise to provide holistic planning services, taking into account the financial, tax and estate considerations.

Legacy Planning

Legacy planning is not simply for someone on their death bed or nearing their latter years – it is about having tax-efficient arrangements in place for your assets in the event something were to happen.

Assets on death can go to three different places: Canada Revenue Agency, loved ones, and/or a charity.  Our job is to ensure our client’s wishes are met while saving the maximum amount possible on taxes. Legacy planning is an opportunity to leave an impact for generations to come. We specialize in incorporating specific financial products into our client’s plan that leaves more to the people they love and less to the CRA or tied up in the lengthy probate process.

Pension Planning

Pre-retirees who have company pensions have important decisions to make.

Defined Benefit Pension Plans (DBPP) pay a pre-determined amount each month, but the pensioner can choose from single life or joint life, with various guarantee periods. We provide an unbiased assessment of pension options for those nearing retirement.

Are you a member of a Defined Contribution Pension Plan (DCPP) or Group RRSP? We will go through your options for converting this into a payout vehicle.

CPP & OAS Planning

The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old-Age Security (OAS) are integral components to many Canadians’ retirement plans. CPP is based on contributions during working years, while OAS is based on residency and age.

Canadians are eligible to take CPP as early as age 60, or as late as age 70. There are also options for your OAS timing and risks of earning too much income while receiving it.

We specialize in providing advice to our clients as it pertains to their CPP & OAS, presenting all options and aligning these government plans with the rest of your retirement goals.

Life & Health Insurance

Life Insurance

Whole life insurance can play a significant role in a retirement and/or estate plan. As the name suggests, whole life insurance covers the insured for the entirety of their life, regardless if they live until age 80, 90, or 120. When a beneficiary is named on an insurance policy, the death benefit will pass outside the will, and in most circumstances, the beneficiary will receive the tax-free cheque in two weeks or less. This is a tax-effective way to transfer wealth, fund final expenses/funeral costs, or reduce income taxes on death.

Health Insurance

If you lost your health & dental coverage in retirement, or never had any in the first place, we will work with you to find suitable coverage. This could include physio and massage appointments, dentist, travel insurance, or vision care. These are highly customized plans and we have access to a variety of different insurers.