Can a couple retire in Canada on $500,000? If they spend $120,000 a year, no. This couple spends $60,000. Both 65, $500,000 saved, and CPP and OAS pay them $40,000 a year. So their savings only have to find $20,000 a year until 98. I ran their retirement 20,000 times two ways. Spend a flat $60,000 no matter what, and the money runs out before 98 in about 3 of 10 runs. Follow one rule, checked once a year, and a 35 percent market drop costs them a $2,000 trim. That's a skipped trip. The part I'd take away: a flat $60,000 that works 9 times in 10 needs about $620,000 saved. Willing to trim in bad years and settle around $54,000 later on, they can start at the same $60,000 on $500,000. That's $120,000 less to save. The catch is you have to actually trim. If you know you won't, plan flat and start a bit lower. Either way, rerun the plan every year. Takeaways Build your floor first, and know what you really spend after tax.Decide now what you'd trim in a bad year and what you'd add in a good one.A few small trims along the way protect you from one big drop late.Being willing to flex means you need less saved to start at the same number.Rerun your plan every year.The spending rule calculator, the planner and the full guide are at calmmoneycoach.com I'm Brian Orlando, CPA, in Halifax. Advice-only planning through Calm Money Coach. No products, no commissions. Illustrative couple. 20,000 simulated retirements, before tax, in today's dollars, returns per the 2026 FP Canada and IFP Projection Assumption Guidelines. Education only, not advice for your situation.
