Denmark just tied retirement age to life expectancy. Canada might do the same. If you're in your 40s or 50s and think 65 is guaranteed, stop dreaming. Policy-makers are watching the Danish model closely. If life expectancy increases, so will your working years—unless you take control now.
Own your timeline before government owns it for you
If you want the option to retire on your terms, you need a plan that doesn’t depend on government promises. Build a financial cushion aggressive enough to let you choose when to stop working. That means more than RRSPs and TFSAs. It means cutting dead weight, boosting income, delaying gratification, and investing wisely. Prioritize financial independence, not just “retirement.”
Start stress-testing your future
Don’t wait for Ottawa to change the rules. Assume they already have. Run your numbers based on retiring at 70. Then again at 65. Then again at 60. The goal isn’t to panic—it’s to prepare. Know what it takes to walk away early, or at least comfortably. Guessing isn't planning. You need clarity, not hope.
Prepare your mind as well as your money
Watching retirement drift further out of reach is mentally brutal. The cure? Reframe retirement. Stop thinking of it as a finish line. Build a life that doesn’t leave you desperate to escape. Shift careers if you're burnt out. Pick up side income doing something meaningful. Invest in your health like it’s part of your portfolio—because it is. A healthy 68-year-old with purpose has more freedom than a miserable 63-year-old counting days.
Stop waiting—act like it’s already happening
You don’t control public policy. You do control your daily choices. Build flexibility. Build savings. Build options. Governments may push the retirement age higher—but if you’ve already prepared, they won’t push you around.
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