The Canadian Retirement Guide
How to Live Comfortably and Not Run Out of Money
Each of the 26 chapters answers one retirement question, with the answer in the first few paragraphs and the math worked in full. You start with a worksheet that sets your number, then move through government pensions, workplace pensions, turning savings into income, living in retirement and what you leave behind. It closes with a one-page plan.
Price at launch: $29 CAD. Not on sale yet.
By Andrew
- Pages
- 180
- Chapters
- 26
- Format
- Figures
- Current as of October 10, 2026
Who it’s for
- Canadians in their 50s and 60s deciding when they can stop working
- Anyone choosing when to start CPP and OAS, or wondering whether GIS applies to them
- People with a workplace pension weighing a commuted value, a LIRA or a LIF
- Retirees turning an RRSP into income without overpaying tax
Who it’s not for
- Quebec workers looking for QPP rules (the book covers CPP; it flags where QPP differs but does not cover it)
- Readers who want specific investments picked for them, or step-by-step application forms
What’s inside
- 26 chapters in six parts, each answering one question
- A Chapter 1 worksheet that feeds every later chapter
- Every plan tested at 3% and again at 1% above inflation, run to age 95
- Covers the RRSP meltdown, withdrawal order, pension income splitting and annuities
- Housing, healthcare, long-term care, wills, tax at death, probate and digital assets
- 26 printable checklists, collected again at the back
The examples you’ll follow
Three invented households appear throughout, with their numbers worked in full. They are illustrations, not real people.
Priya
58, single and renting in Mississauga
Janet and Luc
62 and 64, own a house in Moncton; Janet has a workplace pension
Dale
54, lives in Kelowna and wants to stop work soon
Full contents
26 chapters across 180 pages.
Part 1: Your Number
- 1How Much You Need
- 2Planning by Decade
- 3Early Retirement
Part 2: Government Pensions
- 4Canada Pension Plan
- 5Old Age Security
- 6Guaranteed Income Supplement
Part 3: Workplace Pensions
- 7Workplace Pensions
- 8Commuted Value
- 9LIRAs and LIFs
Part 4: Turning Savings into Income
- 10RRSP to RRIF
- 11RRIF Minimum Withdrawals
- 12The RRSP Meltdown
- 13The TFSA in Retirement
- 14Withdrawal Order
- 15Pension Income Splitting
- 16Annuities
- 17Investing in Retirement
Part 5: Living in Retirement
- 18Housing
- 19Healthcare Costs
- 20Long-Term Care
- 21Purpose, Health and Connection
Part 6: What You Leave
- 22Wills and Powers of Attorney
- 23Tax at Death
- 24Probate
- 25Digital Assets
Closing: Your Plan
- 26Your One-Page Plan
At the back
- All the checklists
- Quick reference
- Glossary
- When the numbers change
- Sources
- Change log
What’s free on the site, and what the book adds
Free on Canadian Optimizer
Our articles explain one topic at a time and stay free. Start with Retirement.
In the book
The whole subject in order, in one 180-page file: the same examples carried from chapter to chapter, end-of-chapter tasks and checklists, and quick-reference pages at the back.
- Instant downloadSecure checkout through Stripe, then straight to your download page.
- 30-day refundNot useful? Email contact@canadianoptimizer.com within 30 days for a full refund.
- Dated figuresEvery rate and limit is tied to a date, so you know what to re-check.
By Andrew
Andrew is a personal finance expert, DIY investor and life optimizer based in Toronto, Canada. With over 19 years of corporate experience at a leading Canadian company, Andrew combines deep industry knowledge with a passion for technology to help others navigate personal finance and streamline their daily lives.
Questions
What format is it?
PDF, 180 pages. It reads on a phone, tablet or computer, and you can print pages for your own use.
How do I get it after I pay?
This book is not on sale yet. When it is, checkout will be handled by Stripe and you will be sent to a download page with your files right after you pay.
Can I get a refund?
Yes. If it is not useful to you, email contact@canadianoptimizer.com within 30 days of purchase for a full refund.
Is this financial advice?
For education only. This book is general information, not financial, tax, legal or insurance advice, and it does not know your situation. Rules and amounts change; check the official source before you act, and consider a qualified professional for decisions that are hard to undo.
Who wrote it?
Andrew, who runs Canadian Optimizer. Andrew is a personal finance expert, DIY investor and life optimizer based in Toronto, Canada. With over 19 years of corporate experience at a leading Canadian company, Andrew combines deep industry knowledge with a passion for technology to help others navigate personal finance and streamline their daily lives.
The Canadian Retirement Guide
180 pages · 26 chapters · PDF
$29 CAD
Coming soon · $29 CADFor education only. This book is general information, not financial, tax, legal or insurance advice, and it does not know your situation. Rules and amounts change; check the official source before you act, and consider a qualified professional for decisions that are hard to undo.
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