Build a retirement plan that matches how you want to live. This free Canadian tool turns your dream retirement lifestyle into real numbers – itemized expenses, projected income, and a clear monthly gap or surplus. If there’s a shortfall, you’ll see practical strategies to help close it.
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- Retirement Lifestyle Planner & Cash Flow Calculator
Retirement Lifestyle Planner & Cash Flow Calculator
Retirement Lifestyle Planner
Design your retirement lifestyle, estimate monthly expenses, and compare to projected income. If there is a shortfall, we will show strategies to help cover the gap.
Your Details
Tap a chip for quick entry. Amounts are in CAD and auto-format to show currency.
I own my home
Lifestyle Presets
Choose a preset and we will toggle activities automatically. You can fine tune below.
Retirement Planning in Canada: Guide
A practical overview to help you refine numbers and decisions in your plan.
Building a useful monthly budget
Start with essentials like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, insurance and basic healthcare. Then layer in discretionary items you value most such as travel, dining, hobbies, entertainment and gifts. Add a cushion for surprise costs so a leaking roof or new eyeglasses does not force cuts somewhere else.
Price both a great month and a lean month. Your target can sit between those so it flexes with markets or life changes. Many households like to separate fixed essentials from fun money. This makes trimming easier if markets are soft for a while.
CPP, OAS and GIS in your cash flow
CPP is based on your contributions and start age. OAS is based on residency. Deferring either raises payments, which can help if you have savings to bridge the early years. Lower income retirees may qualify for GIS. Pull your estimates from My Service Canada Account and enter the monthly amounts in the planner so the income table reflects your choices.
If you expect to keep working part time, add an Other Income line so the plan shows the impact. Small earnings early in retirement can let you delay CPP or OAS for higher payments later.
Drawing down investments
A four percent safe withdrawal rate is a common baseline, but it is not a rule. Some people prefer variable spending rules that trim withdrawals after weak markets and relax after strong ones. Sequence withdrawals to manage taxes, often using non-registered and TFSA first, then RRSP or RRIF later to control brackets and OAS clawback risk.
Keep one to two years of essential expenses in cash-like accounts. This helps you avoid selling investments during a downturn. Automate a monthly transfer to your spending account so the plan runs on rails and is easy to review once a quarter.
Housing choices
Compare staying in place, downsizing or renting seasonally by converting each option into a monthly cost. Seasonal snowbird months add travel and medical insurance, so model those explicitly. If ownership costs feel heavy, test a rental scenario and see how that affects your monthly target and flexibility.
Consider accessibility, proximity to healthcare and community, and the cost of maintenance over the next decade. A smaller place with lower utilities can free up room for travel or family support. Revisit the decision every couple of years as life changes.
Healthcare and surprise costs
Budget for dental, vision, prescriptions, hearing aids and paramedical care. A small sinking fund for home and auto repairs smooths irregular bills like appliances, tires and roof work. If you plan long trips, add travel medical insurance for out-of-province periods.
Review insurance annually. Prices change and bundling home and auto can sometimes improve the deal. Track recurring prescriptions and consider generic options after consulting your pharmacist or doctor.
Inflation and taxes
Inflation hits categories differently. Groceries, utilities and insurance often move faster than other lines. Nudge those up first each year. Taxes matter too. RRSP and RRIF withdrawals are taxable, TFSA withdrawals are tax free, and capital gains and eligible dividends have preferred rates. Good sequencing can lower lifetime taxes without complicated investing.
If you have a professional corporation or rental income, coordinate withdrawals so you do not accidentally trigger higher brackets. A simple annual checklist can prevent most surprises and keeps your plan aligned with real prices.
When your plan shows a shortfall
Start with discretionary trims. Switch dining and entertainment to value options, plan travel in shoulder seasons and rethink a second vehicle. If you expect part time work, add it to the income table so you can see its effect. Homeowners who meet age and location criteria may also consider options that unlock equity while staying in the home and without required monthly mortgage payments.
Shortfalls are not failures, they are signals. Small changes across several categories often close the gap with minimal impact on lifestyle. Use this planner to test versions of your month until the numbers feel calm and sustainable.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate are these estimates+
They are planning estimates based on your inputs, preset multipliers and simple rules of thumb for withdrawals and category costs. Refine with your own bills, tax situation and goals. Review the plan at least once a year.
Do I need to be debt free before retiring+
Not necessarily. High interest debt can strain cash flow so prioritize paying it down. The planner allocates a line for minimum servicing and shows how it affects your monthly gap.
What investment return should I assume+
A conservative range for balanced portfolios is often three to five percent after fees in real terms. Using a lower number builds resilience. You can always test higher and see the impact.
How do snowbird months affect the plan+
Seasonal living adds rental or carrying costs, flights and travel medical insurance. Toggle the Snowbird activity to include these amounts and watch how your monthly target changes.
How often should I update this plan+
Quarterly is a good rhythm. Update when large bills, market moves or life events occur. Small frequent tweaks keep the plan realistic without big swings.
What inflation rate should I use+
Inflation is uneven. Instead of a single global rate, bump the categories that dominate your spending. Groceries and insurance often deserve the first increases each year.
Should I hire a financial planner+
Many Canadians benefit from advice on taxes, decumulation sequencing and estate planning. Use this tool to gather your numbers, then bring it to a professional for a second opinion.
How big should my emergency fund be+
Aim for six to twelve months of essential expenses in cash-like accounts. This helps you avoid selling investments at the wrong time and makes spending more predictable.
What if I rent instead of own+
Uncheck Homeowner and the planner increases the housing line to reflect typical rents. Strategies will focus on spending and income adjustments rather than home equity solutions.
Can home equity help without selling+
For eligible homeowners in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta age 55 plus, there are options that unlock a portion of equity while you continue living in your home with no required monthly mortgage payments. Eligibility rules and approvals apply.
Education only. Not financial, tax or legal advice.
