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Welcome to the Rethink Retirement Information Centre! Here, you'll find a host of useful information about retirement.

So, where exactly are you on your retirement path? Wherever you're at on the timeline, feel free to navigate your way through the Centre to find out the latest on retirement!

Retirement in a Nutshell

Saving is the new black!
As the current economic situation continues to take its toll on everyone's pocketbook, Canadian women have more incentive this year to take charge of their financial future.  

Debunking the myths about women and money
While more men than women have traditionally been involved in financial matters, the picture is changing: 20 percent of women admitted having little or no interest in preparing for retirement, compared to 27 percent of men; 55 percent said they hate being told that they are not saving enough for retirement, compared to 62 percent of men; and only 31 percent said they would rather not know how much they need to save, compared to 37 percent of men.

More action, less guilt
Thirty-six percent of women admit to feeling guilty that they are not saving enough for retirement and 38 percent believe they will never be able to accumulate enough retirement savings. These two results are likely contributing to why money is still the most often cited source of stress among men and women. However, many Canadian women have said they are prepared to make the following changes to save more for retirement:

• 84 percent of women said they would postpone a major purchase in order not to have to rely on financing or credit;
  
  
• 79 percent said they would take less expensive vacations;
  
  
• 69 percent said they would bring lunch from home rather than eating at a restaurant;
  
  
• 66 percent said they would significantly reduce the use of their car;
  
  
• 61 percent of said they would reduce spending on sports or cultural activities; and
  
  
• 56 percent said they would consider getting rid of the household's second car.

The only compromise that six out of ten women seemed reluctant to make in the name of financial improvement was reducing spending on children's activities, compared to 68 percent of men.

What next?
Budgeting seems to be on many women's minds with 28 percent of respondents mentioning it as their number one financial priority in 2009, while 24 percent said they would make it a priority five years from now. Paying off the mortgage and other debts were mentioned second as a priority this year among 14 percent of respondents respectively. Almost 20 percent of women said they would focus on saving for retirement and 12 percent on paying off their mortgages five years from now.

Want to get started? Take a look at those simple strategies to improve your financial well-being in 2009.

For more information on women and finances, take a look at the interview on this topic with Ms. Janet Freedman published in December 2008 as part of the Meet the experts series.

You can also review the results of the seventh national retirement survey as well as those of the October survey. and learn more by downloading the "Rethink Retirement" booklet, full of interesting insights and interesting statistics.