For many, retirement is synonymous with freedom.  For others, it represents anxiety and questioning. Many factors influence our perceptions of life after work.  Everything from our expectations, planning and preferences. Several common challenges of retirement include: Struggling to switch off from work mode to living at a more relaxed pace Difficulty of filling the extra…

How much money do you need to retire comfortably? Is it $250,000? $500,000? $1 million or more? What is a realistic amount based on your current and visualized lifestyle? Most people feel they need more money than what they have. Ask a person with $500,000 in retirement savings how much they need for retirement and…

Gone are the days of rushing to work, fighting traffic, meeting deadlines, skipping lunch, and working overtime.  Retirement is the time to slow down, relax, and play.  This is your reward for all your years of hard work.  The question for you now is this: What are you going to do with your leisure time?…

So where do you start in planning for retirement? I suggest you start by taking time to consider and visualize what retirement currently means to you. Do whatever you usually do when you want to think things over, whether it’s sitting quietly by yourself, taking a walk, or chatting with a friend over coffee. Don’t…

So you’re thinking about retirement! Sitting at your desk or standing by your machine, you picture waking up in the morning when you’re ready, lounging around the house with a cup of coffee and the paper, calling up friends for tennis or a game of golf and playing cards in the evening. Ah, freedom at…

Government Benefits As part of your financial plan, take a close look at what you might receive from government pensions. Feel free to call the numbers below for more information or if you have any questions. Government pensions are indexed for inflation. This means they rise each year to cover the cost of inflation, and…

Give yourself the opportunity to review all factors of your move before taking the leap. As you do your research, think about the aspects of your new home that will help with your balanced leisure lifestyle. In addition to the considerations listed in the post regarding your current home, consider the following: Is entertainment within…

Considering where you will spend your time is every bit as important as considering how you will spend your time. Many retirees hope their current home will meet their retirement needs, or, rather, it’s more accurate to say many retirees prefer to stay in their current home. They like the neighbourhood and want to stay…

Working as a volunteer provides many benefits, including added structure, opportunities to meet new people, and personal fulfillment. Volunteering also gives us opportunities to develop new skills—skills we might use personally or perhaps eventually use in paid work. The options for volunteering are many. Rather than list examples in addition to those shown in the…

My daughter recently commented—complained a bit—that I am never at home these days. She’s right! Since becoming involved in the Showcase [charity event], I am at meetings, reviewing venues, recruiting, and training other volunteers, among other things. I have not worked this hard for a while, but I am having a blast. —Vince F., former…