Good morning! Retirement plans have a way of not going as scripted. Today's issue is about that gap between the plan and reality — and what happens when the assumptions you're counting on don't hold up.

On The Money Today:

  • Why your retirement savings could run out faster than the 4% rule promises

  • What it would actually take to strip a pensioner's right to vote, and why the Charter says it can't happen

  • "I'll just work a few more years" isn't the backup plan you think it is

Let’s dive in.

RETIREMENT

One retiree spent $1 million of his $3M retirement fund in just three years. Now he's rethinking how much he can safely withdraw each year without running out. We break down a sustainable withdrawal rate, plus the RRIF and OAS rules that can quietly work against you.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH National Bank

Just Arrived

The National Bank Platinum Mastercard gives you 2 points for every dollar spent, with no minimum annual income required to apply. It also includes travel insurance for trips of 10 days or less and mobile device coverage, so a few everyday purchases can add up to real protection.

  • Earn up to 2 points per dollar spent¹

  • Travel insurance for trips of 10 days or less² 

  • Mobile device insurance³ 

  • No minimum annual income required

NEWS

Tobi Lütke argued retirees living on a pension should lose their ballot entirely, comparing them to legal dependents — but Section 3 of the Charter puts your right to vote out of the government's reach, even from the notwithstanding clause, so here's what it actually means for the 6.4 million Canadians collecting CPP.

FEATURE

Nearly half of Canadian retirees end up leaving work earlier than they planned — often due to health, layoffs or caring for a family member — so Suze Orman explains how to protect your RRSP, CPP and OAS if an early exit happens to you, before it derails the rest of your retirement.

MONEY IQ

Canada's "normal" retirement age of 65 wasn't always the standard. What age did Old Age Security first apply to when it began in 1952?

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ALSO MAKING THE ROUNDS TODAY

MONEY IQ: HOW'D YOU DO?

No woman ever ages beyond eighteen in her heart.

Answer: D: 70 — OAS didn't drop to age 65 until 1965.

That's a wrap for today! Before you go, we'd love to know what you thought of today's newsletter. Hit REPLY if you have more to share — we read every reply.

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Today’s newsletter was written by Amy Tokic, edited by Shirley Sze and Rudro Chakrabarti. Stories by Brett Surbey, Colin Graves, Chris Morris, Emma Caplan-Fisher, Laura Boast, Romana King and Christy Bieber.
¹ Certain restrictions apply. For more information, consult the Rewards plan section or the Plan rules regarding how to earn points. 
² This coverage applies to purchases and rentals charged in part to the card, except out-of-province medical/hospital insurance for which the travel arrangements need not be charged to the card, and lost or delayed luggage insurance where all transportation costs must be charged to the card. This coverage applies to the primary cardholder, their spouse and/or dependent children when they (spouse and/or dependent children) travel with the primary cardholder. Extended warranty coverage applies to most new items purchased with the card, in Canada or abroad, as long as the manufacturer's warranty is valid in Canada. Certain conditions and restrictions apply. For more information and for details of your insurance coverage, please consult the insurance certificate associated with your card.
³ The device must have been purchased using your National Bank Platinum Mastercard credit card, or your phone plan must be paid via recurring payments charged to your National Bank Platinum credit card starting September 1, 2022. For complete terms and conditions, please consult the insurance certificate associated with your card.