Is One Million Dollars Enough To Retire In Canada? | SmartWealth Financial Incorporated (2024)

Is one million dollars enough to retire in Canada?

The short answer to this question is, of course, a resounding “yes”, but it may not be the kind of retirement that you’re thinking.

Whether or not one million dollars is enough to retire in Canada all depends on your lifestyle, spending habits, and health at retirement.

One million dollars is a huge chunk of money to retire on but in contrast, it isn’t as big of an amount as most Canadians would think.

While not all Canadians possess a million-dollar retirement portfolio, such an amount may not be sufficient for a lavish retirement lifestyle. When managed properly, a million dollars can yield approximately $40,000 annually or around $3,000 monthly in retirement income, excluding other potential income sources like government or company pensions. Without further investment and with a $40,000 annual withdrawal rate, a million-dollar retirement fund would last for 25 years, lasting until the age of 85 if one retires at 65. However, the risk lies in potential outliving the funds if withdrawals are too high on a yearly basis.

According to Statistics Canada, the median after-tax income for senior households is $64,300 ($32,150 each), while unattached retirees after the age of 65 have a median income of $29,500.00 a year.

To retire with one million dollars, you would need to aggressively fund your retirement nest egg during the accumulation phase of your retirement planning. For example, if you’re 30 years old today, and you want to have at least $1 million dollars by age 65. You have to save $1,500 a month. This can be invested in traditional market portfolios, or a dividend-earning insurance wealth plan.

Projecting your average rate of return when invested in the market should be done conservatively to make sure that you will achieve your $1 million dollar target by retirement age. An average rate of return of 4% is a safe assumption since you don’t really know how much your average rate of return will be in the next 20 or 30 years.

During the decumulation phase, it’s important to move retirement funds out of market portfolios to protect against market downtrends. It’s recommended to transition funds into high-interest savings accounts or guaranteed investment accounts 2 to 3 years before retirement, reducing the impact of market crashes on early withdrawals.

Traditional investments like mutual funds and stocks carry a risk of outliving funds, particularly given the potential for a longer life expectancy beyond the typical 20 to 25 years post-retirement. The primary goal is to avoid running out of money, as traditional savings and investments may diminish during fund withdrawals. Careful planning is crucial to prevent depleting a $1,000,000 retirement savings prematurely if withdrawals exceed necessary amounts.

The best way to NOT run out of retirement funds at retirement is to save more than enough during the accumulation phase and to put yourself in a position where you need not erode your retirement nest egg to fund your retirement.Learn more about this by chatting with u

As of this writing (2021), the maximum monthly income you can receive from the Canadian Pension Plan, starting your pension at the age of 65 is $1,203.75, while the average is $619.44. How much Canada Pension Plan benefits you’ll receive at retirement depends on your specific situation.

The maximum monthly OAS (Old Age Security) that you can receive, on the other hand, is $626.49, provided that your annual income does not exceed $129,581.

Most Canadians, 59 years of age and older, who have made at least 1 CPP contribution will qualify to receive monthly CPP payments, the amount of which depends on one’s contribution.

The OAS pension amount, on the other hand, is determined by how long you’ve worked in Canada after the age of 18 years old. Most immigrants who have moved here mid-age will receive a lesser amount, based on how many years they’ve worked before retiring.

You can log in to your My Service Canada account to get an estimate on how much you can receive from government pensions.

Are you younger than 65 and are you retirement ready?

If you have one million dollars and are looking to retire early, perhaps you’re part of the FIRE movement (Financial Independence, Retire Early), then know that you will not qualify for any government pensions just as yet, well, at least not until after age 59 when you can start receiving CPP payments if one so chooses.

Retiring young, without any government pensions means that you’re going to solely depend on your own retirement money. No government or company pensions, to supplement your retirement income. That said, your retirement funds should last longer compared to conventional retirement.

If you’re young, and already researching the internet as to whether or not one million dollars is enough to retire on, then you’re in luck.

As they say, the best time to start saving for retirement is the moment you earn your first paycheck. Of course, almost every Canadian misses this, as financial literacy is oftentimes not part of the Canadian education system. Hence, the second best time is now!

The younger you are, the longer your wealth-building time horizon is. With that said, you have to take advantage of this time horizon.While not every 25-year-old Canadian can afford to save $1,125 a month for retirement due to income restraint, you may be able to afford to put away this amount if you prioritize wealth building over material things and mindless spending.

If you really can’t afford to save toward a million dollars of retirement funds, start where you are. Can you set aside between 10% and 25% of your annual income? Maybe, there are some things that are eating up the cash flow that prevents you from doing so. I can help you identify these, cut unnecessary spending, and be on your way to a better financial future. Book an appointment here to become a client.

The required retirement fund depends on your planned annual retirement income or expenses. If your annual retirement income goal is $40,000 and you already have a million dollars, you can comfortably retire with that portfolio. Money from CPP and OAS is considered a bonus and supplements your retirement fund.

If you don’t have a million dollars, it’s not necessary; with $700,000, you can expect an annual retirement income of $21,000 to $28,000 from your nest egg. Additional income from CPP and OAS would contribute to a satisfactory retirement.

Most Canadians will receive Between $14,000.00 to $15,000.00 of annual retirement income from social security such as CPP and OAS, while most migrants who moved here middle-aged, will receive less due to pro-rated calculation of OAS, which is based on residency from age 18.

If you’re born in Canada, or you moved here before 18 years old, conservatively, you’re going to have around $14,400.00 a year from government pensions.

This is a good basis for planning and building your own retirement fund.

Experts suggest that the typical Canadian retiree needs about 75% of their current income, assuming a reduced cost of living in retirement. However, retirement challenges the traditional rule because every day becomes a leisure day, potentially impacting spending habits.

Factors like staying home more or having an active lifestyle influence the amount needed in retirement. Considering inflation, where $2,000 today might require $4,000 in the future, is essential in retirement income calculations.

Starting to invest for retirement early is advised, with those in their 20s recommended to invest at least 10% of their gross income. Middle-aged Canadians (35 and up) should aim for at least 25%, although this can be challenging due to financial obligations prioritized over savings.

If you plan to retire with at least one million dollars, your personal accounting formula should be:

Income – Savings/Investments = Expenses.

If given a choice, what is your desired annual retirement income?

Knowing this will help you proactively plan your wealth during the accumulation phase.

Say you plan to have an annual income of $50,000.00 a year from your own investments. You’re going to need $1,250,000.00 of retirement funds.

$1,250,000.00 x .04 = $50,000.00

At a 4% retirement withdrawal rate, your retirement fund should last you a good 25-years, if not further invested.

The time before your target retirement age significantly affects your retirement plan. Starting to invest at 20 with $250 bi-weekly and an annual increase of 2.25% can result in a $1,116,443.01 retirement portfolio at a 5% average return.

In contrast, starting at 40 with the same investment strategy yields a $398,156.80 portfolio. While not a million, $400,000 is a substantial amount if starting late. Starting in your 20s is emphasized for the time value of money and compounded growth. The person who built the larger portfolio saved only $414,610, while the one with the smaller portfolio saved $214,976, with the rest being compounded growth from investment income. Person A (20-year old) gained $701,833, while Person B (40-year old) gained $183,181.

• At least 10% if you're starting in your 20s
• At least 25% if you're stating in your 30s (catching-up strategy)

In this method, you calculate how much annual retirement income you need, depending on your specific situation, you may or may not include government pensions in the calculation.

Say, you’re planning to retire on a $60,000.00 annual income. First, you have to determine how much capital you’re going to need to fund your desired retirement income.

The rule of thumb in retirement withdrawal is only withdrawing 4% of your fund, and remain invested (conservatively at retirement).

Knowing this, you know that you’re going to need $1,500,000.00 of retirement capital ($60,000.00 / 4% = $1,500,000.00).

Now that you know how much retirement capital that you’re going to need to achieve financial independence, you can work back how much you need to invest on a bi-weekly, monthly, or annual basis.

You have two options here, either you contribute a level amount or apply annual indexation.

Considering you’re making a good living, and you’re okay cutting down on your monthly spending. Starting at 30-year old, and investing $850 bi-weekly will help you build your desired freedom capital at age 65.

If on the other hand, you plan to index your retirement contribution, you can start investing $655 bi-weekly in your first year and increase at a rate of 2.25% annually.

Again, these amounts are a tall order for most working Canadians but it’s a matter of priority, really.

You may play around with the financial calculator here to calculate your retirement saving rate.

If you want to keep things simple, shoot for investing a percentage of your income.

As mentioned above, the average government pension income is around $14,000.00 to $15,000.00 a year. This of course is a vague estimate.

If you want to calculate your specific government pension (both CPP and OAS), you can calculate them using the Canadian Retirement Income Calculator.

• CPP Statement of Contributions or QPP Statement of Participation
• financial information about your employer pension (if applicable)
• financial information about your employer pension (if applicable)
• recent RRSP statement(s) (if applicable)
• statements for other savings that will provide ongoing monthly retirement income (annuities, foreign pensions; survivor pensions, etc.)

The answer to this question is quite different for every person. For some, one million dollars might be enough for others it might not be.

A general rule of thumb is that you will need an annual retirement income of around 70% of your annual pre-retirement income.

If you make $100,000.00 a year, you will need $70,000.00 a year of retirement income for a comfortable retirement. If you make $50,000.00, you will most likely need at least $35,000.00 a year for your retirement.

Retirement experts often suggest the “four percent rule,” advising individuals to live off around four percent of their total cash-flow-generating assets annually during retirement. While considered a guideline, it’s not foolproof, and various factors influence the amount needed for retirement. Generally, $500,000 may suffice for a modest retirement with less spending, but those desiring a more luxurious lifestyle or planning part-time work may find this amount insufficient.

The rule implies withdrawing about $40,000 annually from a $1 million investment portfolio. The “safe” withdrawal rate, ranging from three to six percent, is a common rule of thumb. For instance, a $500,000 retirement account with a five percent annual growth, withdrawing four percent, yields approximately $20,000 annually or $1,667 monthly after 30 years of saving.

Most experts find that an average retiree will need at least between 70% to 80% of their active income.

Personally, I’m gearing toward 80% for most Canadians. So, if you’re earning $75,000.00 a year, you could comfortably live off $60,000.00 a year of retirement income.

While most young Canadians plan to retire early, you may want to retire at 65 to get the maximum government pension benefits. The longer you are in the workforce, the more you can personally save, and the more your company pension (if any).

On average, you have to make your portfolio value last at least 25-years. Retiring at age 65 helps you achieve this.

Retirement planning has two phases:

1. The Accumulation Phase
2. Withdrawal or De-accumulation phase

Depending on your risk profile, and your time horizon, the aim is to maximize your compounded growth during your wealth accumulation phase.

At retirement, however, you would want to reallocate your investment portfolio to more conservative investments so as to avoid market downturns during your retirement years. You may still experience fluctuations if you’re not entirely out of the market but this can be to a minimum.

If you’re young and starting to invest to build wealth for retirement, you may invest more of your capital on a 60% Equity, and 40% fixed income ratio. At retirement, you may want to switch most of your assets on fixed income portfolios, with a small percentage exposed to Equities to still participate in market gains. This is a general suggestion, your specific retirement portfolio is dependent on your risk profile, time horizon, and goals.

While it is possible for a couple to retire on one million dollars, this amount may not be sufficient if they want to retire with a luxurious lifestyle.

Following the 4% rule, a retiree would be able to withdraw $40,000 per year without the risk of running out of money at retirement.

If you’re solely relying on a total retirement fund of 1 million dollars, without any other source of retirement income, a retired couple would have to live off of $20,000 per year each.

On the other hand, if you and your partner qualify for CPP and OAS, as well as have company pensions, you may be looking at a higher annual retirement income, retiring as a couple with 1 million dollars.

Your geographic location can play an important factor as the cost of living differs from one Canadian city to the next.

Vancouver, and Toronto, has a generally higher cost of living compared to most areas in Canada. If you live in an expensive metro, you may want to plan to “downsize”, and move into a smaller suburb or city where your retirement funds can last you longer.

Your lifestyle and spending habits are certainly some of the most important factors that could affect your retirement.

If you’re retiring with a million dollars, you know that you only need to withdraw $40,000.00 a year, and stay conservatively invested to make your money last.

If you’ve worked in Canada for at least 10-years, you’ll qualify for a government pension. If you worked longer, you may get the full amount, so, let’s just say, you’re going to receive $15,000.00 a year on a government pension.

Your total annual income at retirement will then amount to $55,000.00, and depending on where and how you’re withdrawing the $40,000.00 will determine your tax bracket at retirement.

One of the most important things to check when you’re at the brink of retiring is how much you actually have.

When you’re actively working. You earn money when you’re at work. At retirement, you need to make your money do the work, so it earns you money. If you didn’t save enough, and you can barely work to earn a living, that’s a problem.

Most of us would love to live long and healthy lives. If you belong to this group, you have to make it a point that you don’t run out of money.

As per statistics, on average, female Canadians tend to live up to age 87, while their male counterparts will live up to age 85. More and more, we see people live past this age range, with some living well up to their late 90s.

Longevity or life expectancy is one of the most important factors that will affect how much money a retiree needs to retire comfortably. Longevity will be affected by the retiree’s age, health, and family history of longevity. This variable has an impact on the retiree’s savings rate before retirement.

Healthcare is one of the biggest costs that can eat into retirement savings. If you retire in Canada, our universal healthcare can help lower your healthcare expenses at retirement but know that not all healthcare services are covered by our provincial government.

Most health insurance companies provide discounts to new retirees provided they apply within 90 days of retiring, and that they are coming from a group health insurance plan (you can inquire with us here.)

Health insurance covers the cost of dental, vision, prescription, and other services such as physiotherapy, and massage therapy.

For some of us, long-term care may be inevitable, and though there are government-subsidized facilities, you can get into a private facility when you have a long term care plan.

If you’re retiring with one million dollars, you need to make this money work for you as hard as it can that’s why we suggest that you stay invested, albeit conservatively.

It’s vitally important to move your retirement portfolio into conservative funds at retirement to minimize the impact of market volatility, exposing more of your capital to equities may not be a good idea if you’re not prepared to go back to work during market downtrends.

Inflation is a term that describes the increase in the cost of living over time. Inflation refers to a general rise in prices for goods and services. In other words, inflation devalues our dollar, or any other monetary instrument.

Indexing your retirement contributions is an effective way to combat inflation, this means that you’re growing wealth at par with inflation. So instead of simply saving up a fixed amount, it’s a good idea to increase your contributions on an annual basis, this can be automated with most dollar-cost averaging contributions.

The cost of living at retirement is another factor to consider. If you’re retiring with one million dollars, your expected investment income from your funds is more or less around $40,000.00 a year.

This can run out fast if your cost of living requires an annual income of $60,000.00 a year, and you don’t have any other source of funds because you have to withdraw more than 4% of your funds every year.

To build tax-friendly retirement funds, maximizing your TFSA is advised, especially if you’re not in a higher tax bracket. Although there are no tax incentives for TFSA contributions, both the contributed funds and the corresponding growth can be withdrawn tax-free. Government pensions, like active income, are subject to taxes.

For those in higher tax brackets contributing heavily to RRSPs, redirecting tax refunds into tax-friendly investments, like a TFSA, is recommended. Young individuals can explore cash-value generating permanent life insurance policies for tax-free growth. During the retirement withdrawal phase, leveraging funds from within the insurance policy without direct withdrawals is an option.

If you’re working for a large multi-national or a Crown-owned corporation, you may have good employee benefits and pension plan. If not, then this is something that you can’t put your hopes in.

When planning for retirement, I suggest not rely on any company or even government pensions, while it’s good that you have them, think of them as more of supplements than a sole source of income at retirement.

So, is one million dollars enough to retire in Canada?

One million dollars isn’t a small buck of a nest egg but it also isn’t as big as one may think.

While you can successfully retire in Canada with 1 million dollars, it wouldn’t be the type of retirement that you may be eyeing, otherwise, your million bucks may run out in as little as 10-years.

Retiring with a million dollars with on other income sources will realistically equate to $40,000.00 of annual retirement income, without ever having to worry about running out of money at retirement. This of course goes without saying that you should stay invested, albeit conservatively and that you should strictly follow the 4% retirement rule of thumb.

If not further invested, your one million bucks will last you around 25-years provided that you’re only using $40,000.00 a year of your nest egg. So, if you retire at age 65, your money should last you until age 85.

You may however have other sources of retirement income if you’ve lived and worked in Canada for quite a while. Depending on your specific circ*mstance, you may qualify for the Canada Pension Plan and probably receive the full OAS benefit at age 65, or you may not.

If you qualify for the full government pension, you may be looking at an average of $14,400 of annual income from your government pensions. With one million dollars of your own funds, you may have a total of $54,400.00 of annual retirement income.

For many Canadian retirees, $50,000.00 a year of retirement income could provide for a comfortable retirement, so if you’ve been residing in Canada since 18-years old or if you were born here, it’s pretty safe to assume that you would qualify for the full government pension plan.

Government and company pensions may supplement your retirement income but it’s a good idea to plan for retirement as if you’re not going to receive any. Whether or not you’re going to receive these benefits are a bonus. Being able to retire comfortably out of your own funds is the goal.

If you’re building a one million dollar retirement nest egg, know that you have to follow the 4% retirement rule of thumb so as not t run the risk of outliving your retirement. This means that you should be able to live off $40,000.00 a year in the worst-case event that you can’t rely on government and company pensions at retirement.