"Rethink Retirement" survey results

Ever think about your retirement?
 

If the answer is "No," you're not alone! Who's got the time to plan for 25 years from now when there's so much to worry about right now, like putting food on the table, managing a career and finding time to have a little fun?
 

Even still, listen to your parents and grandparents when they tell you time flies! Even though 72% of Canadian workers think the best time to retire is before they turn 66,* many of them may not be able to "hang up their working boots" when they'd like to. That's why it's so important to plan for your retirement carefully, even if it's not at the top of your "To Do List" right now.
 

Since 2003, we've been asking Canadians how they imagine their retirement and how they're planning for it. This puts us in a better position to help them get ready for retirement, in particular, by making them aware of how important it is to plan for this important stage in their lives and developing products and services that meet their needs.
 

2009 edition
 

Our 8th annual retirement planning survey was conducted by SOM in September 2009. The representative sampling included 1,524 Canadian workers and retirees chosen randomly from Canadian Internet round tables.
 

Below are some of the topics covered in the latest edition of our survey:
 

• Retirement living for today's retirees and returning to work post-retirement
• Retirement spending
• Ideal age for retirement
• Transitioning from work to retirement
• Changing personal financial situations
   

Check out the survey (PDF, 7 p., 406 Kb) or its highlights (PDF, 4 p., 130 KB).
 

You can also read the five information capsules published for the media in December 2009.
 

2008 edition
 

Below are some of the topics covered in the 2008 edition of our survey:
 

• Retirement from a current retiree's perspective
• Retirement from a worker's perspective
• Retirement planning perceptions and compromises
• Feelings and concerns about retirement
   
• For more details about the 2008 survey (PDF, 12 p. Kb), refer to the highlights (PDF, 4 p., 153 Kb).

Previous editions
 

• 2007: Rethink Retirement (PDF, 16 p. Kb)
• 2006: Perfect Garden (PDF, 24 p. Kb)
• 2005: Investing is Hot (PDF, 16 p. Kb)