Fall 2007

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Prep Time... For Retirement

Useful Sources of Information

by Enise Olding and Carol Baird-Krul

As you near retirement you’ll be inundated with a wide variety of information—from pensions to relocation, to medical coverage, to lifestyle and just about everything in between. With so much to contemplate and make decisions about, it can be difficult to decide what’s relevant to you and your situation now and in times to come; therefore we suggest it’s a good idea to keep a list of sources of information that you might need in the future. Following are a few to add to your file.

THE DAILY FROM STATS CAN
You can request automatic email notifications of releases on topics of specific interest to you from Stats Can via The Daily which is Statistics Canada’s official release bulletin, the Agency’s first line of communication with the media and the public. The Daily issues news releases on current social and economic conditions and announces new products. It provides a comprehensive one-stop overview of new information available from Statistics Canada. The Daily, which has been published since 1932, is released at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time each working day, and has been posted on the Web since June 1995. Website: http://www.statcan.ca/start.html

SPECIAL SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGING REPORT
“Embracing the Challenge of Aging” Report Released March 2007.

Says Senator Sharon Carstairs, Chair of the committee, “The needs of a senior who is 65 years old are quite different than those of a 75-year-old, or those of an 85-year-old. We’re also looking at how public policies can and should support the ability of seniors to live in dignity. There is a role for the federal government in helping Canadians age well and we are exploring what that role might be.” Extensive and thorough research, interviews and discussion resulted in this first report from the Senate Committee, details of which can be found at: http://www.sen.parl.gc.ca/scarstairs/Aging/Aging_e.asp

CARP MAGAZINE
Consistently keeping on the leading edge of all matters pertinent to the boomer generation whether they are working or retired, is CARP Magazine, published by CARP, Canada’s Association for the 50 Plus. A subscription to the magazine is included in CARP’s $19.95 membership fee. Politically savvy and tuned in to the needs of today’s aging population, it is a good, informative read. Check out the variety of topics at: http://www.carp.ca

GOOD TIMES MAGAZINE
Good Times Magazine manages to be an easy, enjoyable read while still being informative and up-to-date. The magazine usually profiles an interesting person—some well known others not so well known—and it also covers a wide variety of subjects from travel, style and beauty to health and finances. Website: http://www.goodtimes.ca

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Recently, financial, investment and insurance institutions have begun to devote large portions of their websites to the boomer demographic, and are including lifestyle features along with financial information. As a starter, here are the major banking institutions’ websites:

BMO: www4.bmo.com/personal/0,4344,35649_36889,00.html
CIBC: www.cibc.com/ca/retirement/index.html
ING: www.ingretirementplans.com/index.shtml
RBC: www.rbcroyalbank.com/retirement/index.html
TD: www.tdcanadatrust.com/planning/rrsp_planning.jsp

ALTERNATE RESOURCES
Should you be looking for further help deciding on financial or lifestyle choices, you might also want to look at the website for the RPAC – Retirement Planners Association of Canada (it was previously known as CAPP – Canadian Association of Pre-Retirement Planners). This group is made up of both financial and lifestyle planners from across Canada. Some may have an affiliation with a special interest group, while others are independent practitioners. Website: www.retirementplanners.ca

If you have some useful retirement sources and resources, let us know and we’ll share them with others. Email us at: info@drassociates.ca.

Carol and Enise are the creators of three pre-retirement and post-retirement planning workshops: Transition to Retirement: The Uncharted Course©, Recently Retired: Charting a New Course© and Ideas ... Enhanced and Advanced©, and authors of Transition to Retirement: The Uncharted Course. Previous articles on retirement may be viewed in back issues at www.CanadianTeacherMagazine.com. For information about workshops: info@drassociates.ca.