Search by words such as CPP, dental, downsizing, RRIF, survivor, or long-term care.
Ontario Retirement Planning Handbook
Take retirement planning one chapter at a time.
Choose the topic you need today. Each chapter uses larger text, plain web formatting, clear headings, and direct links to official sources.
Read chapters 1–5 in order, then use the annual review chapter each year.
Go directly to chapter 13 for dated benefit, tax, credit, and RRIF information.
Contents
Choose a chapter
Showing all 13 chapters
How to use this handbook
Start here, understand the planning process, and learn how this edition is organized.
Read chapterRetirement planning in one page
A concise view of the income, spending, tax, risk, health, and estate questions to answer.
Read chapterAssess your financial situation
Build a balance sheet, estimate income and benefits, review debt, insurance, and asset location.
Read chapterSet realistic retirement goals
Turn lifestyle, housing, travel, family, and care expectations into practical numbers.
Read chapterDefine your retirement income strategy
Coordinate pensions, CPP, OAS, withdrawals, tax, RRIFs, locked-in accounts, and market risk.
Read chapterMake adjustments during retirement
Review the first retirement year and correct income, spending, tax, and withdrawal assumptions.
Read chapterHealth, care, and aging at home
Plan for aging at home, retirement homes, long-term care, health costs, and insurance decisions.
Read chapterSurvivor and estate planning
Organize survivor income, beneficiaries, wills, powers of attorney, probate, and incapacity planning.
Read chapterFederal, Ontario, and local programs
Find dental, drug, housing, property-tax, fraud-prevention, and other public supports.
Read chapterSelecting professional help
Choose and evaluate financial, tax, legal, insurance, and care professionals.
Read chapterGlossary of retirement terms
Plain-language explanations of common retirement, tax, benefit, investment, and estate terms.
Read chapterUseful official sources
Direct links to trusted federal, provincial, municipal, health, legal, and tax information.
Read chapterAnnual checklist and current numbers
Use the annual checklist and review the edition’s dated benefit, tax, credit, and RRIF figures.
Read chapterAbout this edition
Rules, thresholds, premiums, benefit amounts, and local programs can change. Figures in this edition were reviewed in July 2026. Confirm current details with official sources before acting.
Read the edition notes and purpose