Retirement - My Own Advisor

Welcome to my retirement page. On this page you’ll find information, stories and essays from others who achieved financial independence and retirement income security. Read on and learn from them – how you can tailor your own retirement success story from their lessons learned.

How much do you need to retire?

I have no idea – for you 🙂

I know with a great deal of confidence with a $1 M personal portfolio (beyond our workplace pensions, beyond any Canada Pension Plan or Old Age Security government payments) as long as we have NO DEBT (!) we should be able to semi-retire in our 50s.

However, even if I have no idea about your financial goals, spending patterns, or estate plans, I can offer some guidance thanks to various online calculators and other knowledge I’ve acquired over the years. Read on.

Case Study #1 = $1 million saved

Let’s assume you have a paid off home and no debt when you retire.

Let’s also assume you have $1 million saved in various investment accounts by age 60 including your RRSP.

For most Canadians this is likely “enough”. Excluding government benefits in your 60s like Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS), you could easily spend $40,000-$50,000 per year (pre-tax) or up to $4,000 per month for life from your personal portfolio without outliving your money (age 100).

For most Canadians that have modest spending needs $1 million is enough to retire on.

Here’s how to build a million dollar portfolio – or something very close to it!

Here is an article about our desired Crossover Point.

Case Study #2 = $750,000 saved

Don’t have $1 million saved up by the time you are age 60? No problem. Even with $750,000 invested, by age 60, assuming no debt, you should be able to spend up to $40,000 per year (pre-tax) or up to $3,200 per month for life from your personal portfolio.

You can play with this calculator here.

Case Study #3 = $500,000 saved

With $500,000 invested, by age 60, assuming no debt, you should be able to spend up to $30,000 per year (pre-tax) or up to $2,500 per month until about age 82.

Sell your home in your mid-80s for a few hundred thousand bucks and enjoy the retirement home! 🙂

My other favourite calculator is here – Variable Percentage Withdrawal (VPW).

Heard of the 4% rule? I intend to use some form of it for my retirement planning.

Here is the actual article from 1994!