Planning for Retirement - There is no Substitute

Retirement planning is often seen as a tool that may assist individuals to successfully accumulate retirement capital. However, the low level of ‘customization’ of the general information on retirement planning may prompt some individuals to oversimplify their approach to retirement savings while discouraging others. Given the already weak propensity of Canadian households to accumulate retirement savings, this paper seeks to accentuate the importance associated with – and the complexity involved in – choosing the mix of savings instruments for accumulating retirement capital. The analysis shows that relying on private retirement savings continues to be of high importance for Canadian households. Some individuals may achieve the best saving outcome through the strategy that often would not be viewed as “saving for retirement”; however, comparing the outcomes of different savings options is challenging. Considering planning for retirement in broader terms than just setting aside a portion of monthly income may be beneficial as the narrow focus may overlook some important strategies of accumulating retirement capital.