Can I Retire?

A free 30-second estimate — no name, no email. See if your savings will last, with CPP and OAS included.

Who are you planning for?
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CPP & OAS are Canada’s government retirement pensions. CPP is based on what you contributed while working; OAS is based on how long you’ve lived in Canada.

Drives your OAS — 40 years earns the full amount, and at least 10 years to qualify.

How much CPP will you get?
% of the maximum CPP

A typical average earner gets about 70% of the maximum. Check Service Canada for yours.

When do you plan to start CPP?

How this calculator works

The estimate answers one question — will your money last? It takes what you have saved, what you expect to spend each year in retirement, the age you plan to stop working, and your expected CPP and OAS. It then projects your savings forward year by year: growing while you are still working, and drawing down once you retire, with CPP and OAS covering part of the gap once they start.

If your savings still have a balance at the end of the horizon, your money lasts. If they run out first, the estimate tells you the age that happens. Nothing you enter is stored, and no account is required.

What it assumes

  • 6% return while you are saving and a more conservative 4% once you are retired, reflecting the more defensive mix most retirees hold.
  • 2.1% inflation every year, so your spending rises over time and the result is in today’s dollars.
  • Money needs to last to age 95 — a deliberately conservative horizon, chosen so the estimate does not flatter a plan that would fail if you live longer than average.
  • 2026 CPP and OAS rates, scaled to the share of the maximum you expect and your years lived in Canada.

What it does not include

These omissions are the honest limits of a 30-second estimate, and each one can move the answer materially:

  • Income tax. RRSP and RRIF withdrawals are fully taxable. A $60,000 lifestyle can require noticeably more than $60,000 of withdrawals.
  • The order you draw your accounts. Drawing from an RRSP, a TFSA, or a non-registered account in a different sequence changes your lifetime tax bill — often by tens of thousands of dollars. See withdrawal order in Canada.
  • OAS clawback and GIS. Income above the OAS clawback threshold claws back part of your OAS; lower-income retirees may qualify for GIS.
  • Uneven markets. A flat return hides sequence-of-returns risk — a poor first few years hurts far more than the same years later on.
  • Pensions, corporate accounts, and real estate. Defined-benefit pensions, a holding company, and a planned downsize are all handled in the full plan.

If you want those included, the full RetireZest plan models each year with real federal and provincial tax, compares 8 withdrawal strategies, and scores the result with your Zest Score. For the reasoning behind the question itself, read Can I Retire in Canada?

Common questions

How much money do I need to retire in Canada?

There is no single number — it depends on what you spend, not on a round figure like $1 million. The useful question is whether your savings plus CPP and OAS can cover your spending for as long as you live. Someone spending $45,000 a year with a paid-off home needs far less than someone spending $90,000 with a mortgage. This calculator works from your own spending figure rather than a rule of thumb.

Is this retirement calculator really free, with no signup?

Yes. The estimate asks for no name, no email, and no account — you enter a few numbers and get an answer immediately. Nothing is saved. A free account is only needed for the full year-by-year plan, which adds taxes, withdrawal order, and the Zest Score.

Does the calculator include CPP and OAS?

Yes, both. CPP is estimated from the share of the maximum you expect to receive (an average earner is around 70% of the maximum), and OAS from the number of years you have lived in Canada after age 18 — 40 years earns full OAS, and fewer years are prorated. Both use 2026 government rates. They are averages for your situation, not your exact entitlement; check Service Canada for your real figures.

Can I retire at 60 in Canada?

Often yes, but it is the hardest case, for two reasons. Your savings have to cover the whole gap until CPP and OAS begin, and taking CPP at 60 permanently reduces it by 36% compared with starting at 65. Enter 60 as your retirement age and the estimate will show whether your savings absorb that gap.

How accurate is this estimate?

It is a directional check, not a plan. It uses one flat return (6% while saving, 4% in retirement) and 2.1% inflation every year, and it leaves out income tax, the order you draw your accounts, and OAS clawback or GIS. Real markets are uneven and real retirement income is taxed, so treat the result as a first look rather than a final answer.

What is the difference between this and the full RetireZest plan?

This estimate answers one question: will the money last. The full plan simulates every year of your retirement with actual federal and provincial tax, compares 8 withdrawal strategies to find the tax-smart order to draw your accounts, tests CPP and OAS start ages, and scores the result out of 100. It is free to start and takes about five minutes.

For educational purposes only — not financial advice. Consult a licensed advisor before making retirement decisions.