What Is RetireZest? Canadian Retirement Planner Explained

RetireZest is a Canadian retirement-planning tool that maps out your retirement one year at a time. It covers CPP, OAS, GIS, RRSP, RRIF, TFSA, non-registered savings, and corporate (CCPC) accounts, using 2026 tax rules.

Here's how it works. You enter your numbers. The tool then projects your income, your taxes, and your account balances from today into your 90s. It compares different ways of drawing down your savings, and it tests your plan against rough markets. It's free to start, and no credit card is needed.

It's a planning and education tool — not a bank, a robo-advisor, or a licensed financial advisor. It doesn't link to your bank accounts. It doesn't sell your data. And it doesn't give personalized financial advice.

What does RetireZest do?

• Year-by-year simulation of your retirement income, taxes, and account drawdown from now through age 90+.
• Zest Score — a 0–100 readiness score built on four pillars: will the plan last, what it costs in lifetime tax, how much cushion you have, and how reliably it funds your spending. The score also names your weakest pillar and your biggest opportunity, so you can change something and watch the number move.
• Withdrawal-strategy comparison — compares strategies (e.g. RRSP/RRIF meltdown, TFSA-first, balanced, GIS-optimized) and recommends the best fit for your priority.
• CPP & OAS timing optimizer — shows the dollar impact of starting CPP at 60–70 and OAS at 65–70.
• Monte Carlo stress testing — runs hundreds of market scenarios to show how often your plan survives.
• Corporate (CCPC) planning — models holding-company accounts, eligible/non-eligible dividends, capital gains, CDA, and RDTOH.
• Built-in education — plain-language explanations of CPP, OAS, GIS, RRIF, OAS clawback, and more.

How much does RetireZest cost?

Plan	Price	Includes
Free	$0 (no credit card)	10 free simulations, then 3 a month — Zest Score, strategy comparison, CPP/OAS estimates, corporate planning
Premium	$5.99/month or $47/year	Everything in Free, plus unlimited simulations, quarterly check-in reviews, priority support, PDF/CSV exports, Monte Carlo stress testing, and AI insights

Who is RetireZest for?

RetireZest is built for Canadian pre-retirees and retirees, including:

• Singles and couples — models both partners, coordinates CPP/OAS timing, and optimizes household tax.
• Business owners — models corporate/holding-company accounts alongside personal accounts.
• Quebec residents — supports QPP (Quebec Pension Plan) in addition to CPP.
• People who want to DIY — with or without a financial advisor, to understand their own numbers.

Which provinces does RetireZest support?

The tax engine supports all 13 provinces and territories, Quebec included. Each one gets its own 2026 tax brackets and credits, plus province-specific OAS clawback and GIS math. CPP, OAS, and GIS estimates work everywhere in Canada.

How is RetireZest different from a basic retirement calculator?

Most free calculators hand you a single "magic number." RetireZest runs a full year-by-year simulation under real Canadian rules instead. That lets it answer questions a simple calculator can't:

• What's my best withdrawal order across RRSP/RRIF, TFSA, non-registered, and corporate accounts to minimize lifetime tax?
• When should I take CPP and OAS for my specific situation?
• Will my plan survive a market downturn (via Monte Carlo)?
• How does the OAS clawback or GIS affect me at my income level?
• How do corporate accounts (dividends, CDA, RDTOH) fit into my drawdown?

Frequently asked questions

Is RetireZest free? Yes. You get 10 simulations, then 3 a month, at no cost and with no credit card. That includes the Zest Score, a comparison of 8 withdrawal strategies, CPP/OAS estimates, and corporate planning. Premium ($5.99/month or $47/year) lifts the monthly cap. It also adds quarterly check-in reviews, priority support, report exports, Monte Carlo stress testing, and AI insights.

Does RetireZest connect to my bank? No. You enter your account balances, income, and expenses manually. RetireZest never asks for bank passwords or account access.

Is RetireZest financial advice? No. It's an educational planning tool, and it doesn't give personalized advice. Talk to a licensed advisor before you act on anything.

Is RetireZest Canadian? Yes. It uses 2026 Canadian federal and provincial tax rules, CPP, OAS, GIS, RRSP/RRIF, and TFSA mechanics, and is built specifically for Canadian retirees.

Does RetireZest support corporate accounts? Yes. It models holding-company (CCPC) balances, eligible and non-eligible dividends, capital gains, the Capital Dividend Account (CDA), and RDTOH refunds.