Four in 10 Canadians not confident about retirement: TD survey

A whopping 43 per cent of Canadians say they are “not confident” that they will be able to retire when they initially had hoped to.

That’s a key finding from new research from TD Bank, reported on by Global News.

It looks like the increase in the cost of living is a key reason behind this lack of retirement confidence, the broadcaster reports.

“A majority (71 per cent) of the survey respondents also said that the high cost of living and inflation has made it increasingly challenging to meet their financial goals over the past year,” Global notes.

For its part, TD says the rocky economy is a good reason to consult professionals when thinking about personal finances, the article adds.

“Canada’s current economic climate continues to impact how Canadians approach their finances and investments, and that’s why it’s more important than ever to seek trusted advice,” Pat Giles, vice-president of saving and investing journey at TD, states in the article.

“In challenging economic conditions, the right financial support can make a significant difference, especially when balancing competing saving and spending priorities,” he tells Global News.

The article notes that the TD study follows a recent analysis by Deloitte Canada that discovered that “55 per cent of Canadians aged between 55 and 64 years will have to make changes to their lifestyles to avoid eating up all their savings during retirement,” the article continues.

Those responding to the TD poll said that “the high cost of living” has been holding them back from making contributions to their investments, such as registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs) and Tax Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs) this year.

Half (47 per cent) planned to make no contributions to RRSPs or TFSAs, and 46 per cent of that group specifically cited the higher cost of living as their reason to hold back.

More than half, or 54 per cent, have not set up a personalized plan to help them reach their savings goals, the article continues.

But it’s never too late to start, the article concludes.

“It’s a myth that you need to have a certain dollar figure to start prioritizing your financial future. No amount is too small to start saving or investing,” Giles states in the article.

One of the nice features of saving for retirement via the Saskatchewan Pension Plan is that you are in charge of deciding how much to contribute each payday, or each month. You can start at any level you like, and adjust your contributions as you go along.

Your contributions will then be invested in a low-cost, professionally managed, pooled fund. And when it’s time to retire and turn savings into income, SPP’s options include a lifetime annuity – you get a monthly payment for life – or the Variable Benefit, where you decide how much you want to withdraw in income, and how much you want to leave invested.

Check out SPP today!

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In the concluding edition of a four-part series, Save with SPP talks to Janet Gray, CFP, of Money Coaches Canada about how money coaching helps people align their finances with their goals

In her career, which now spans more than 23 years, Janet Gray, CFP, of Money Coaches Canada says she’s learned that many people “really do need assistance around their money decisions… there are fires they may need to put out, and there is often an opportunity for financial literacy.”

And, she says, “it doesn’t matter how many zeroes you have in your income,” those with virtually any level of income can have money problems.

Speaking by telephone to Save with SPP, Gray said most people try to find their own way through the tricky waters of finance. “They don’t know how you are supposed to do it, so they may keep doing things wrong,” she explains – thinking that the ‘status quo’ approach is a correct one.

But continuing on that wrong path typically leads to an “acknowledgement point” where folks realize that their do-it-yourself approach isn’t working – and that they need some help.

So, given that, why don’t more people look for help?

“Pride can be a reason,” Gray explains. “They may be too proud to ask for help… it may be embarrassing for them.”

Other reasons for not seeking help, and “muddling along on your own,” include fears about costs, the time and effort it takes, and being comfortable with the way you’ve always done things (i.e., the status quo). Some people (incorrectly) fear the money coach will scold them, or shake a finger at them, and thus they “keep the blinders on,” and continue as they were.

But it is through coaching, she says, they gain perspective – they see there is more than one way to do things, and that there is probably a more efficient way to handle their finances.

It’s interesting, Save with SPP asks, to think about people with all those zeroes in their income having problems.

Those with higher incomes may feel they need a bigger house to keep up appearances, with a flashy car to top it all off, Gray says. But those may be just signs of runaway debt, rather than wealth, Gray explains. She cites the book The Millionaire Next Door, which found that the richest people in the ‘hood tend to live in smaller bungalows for decades, and drive sensible, older cars rather than leasing expensive ones, with low or no debt.

So for everyone with debt, be they high-income earners or not, education on “wants versus needs” is necessary, she explains.

These days, through the science of behavioural finance, there are ways to help “nudge” people into adopting more responsible practices with their finances, she explains.

“Instead of doing this, do that,” she suggests. “It will get you to your goals sooner.” Talking people through “the soft side of it,” will help them see for themselves why they shouldn’t “keep doing things that don’t succeed,” and encourage them to behaviours that will teach them a different, more sustainable and successful way of coping with their finances.

For an example, Gray says, think of getting an inheritance. In a lot of cases, we hear that those receiving inheritances burn through the money quickly, perhaps because they have no plan for dealing with extra, unexpected money.

A plan is key, says Gray.

“Look after the fires first,” she says, such as paying down or paying off debt. “It’s an emotional thing, inheriting money. So for sure, do something fun, maybe in memory of your relative.” But also consider longer-term goals, like saving for retirement, for at least some of the money.

“Go to the goals you have set for yourself financially – what would you do if you didn’t inherit the money?” It would probably be just that – spend some on current debts, save some, and put some away for retirement, she explains.

Asked what she sees as some success stories, she says the ones that stick out for her are from people who – once coached – realized they could afford to retire earlier than planned.

Many people, she explains, work away thinking they can’t afford to retire – but if they do the math, and take a look at what income they can expect from pensions, savings, and other sources, “they might already have everything they need now to go,” she says. “I have had several clients thank me, because they were able to see that they could retire earlier than they had planned.”

Retirees have a unique set of challenges as well.

She says recent research in the U.S. found that many retirees are spending less than they could have, which is basically “making the kids millionaires.” She advises some clients to spend a little more on themselves – “go to the five-star hotel instead of Motel 6… uplevel things a bit!”

Many retirees aren’t sure about how to spend money in their retirement, and worry “they are going to run out of money.” That’s not always the case, and emotions like that can get in the way of clear planning.

It’s also important for retirees not only to understand their cashflow, but to think about their estate plan, and to manage their taxes, says Gray.

When you are working, tax management is easy – it is all deducted from your pay, and you typically get a refund when you file your taxes.

But for retirees, taxes are far less predictable due to receiving multiple streams of income, and must be carefully managed.

Estate planning is also crucial at this stage, she adds. “What do you want to see done with your money upon your death? Do you want to leave money for your kids? Then here’s how much you have to live on. And you have to plan for longevity, and account for taxes,” she says.

You also want to keep things simple for your surviving spouse.

“If you have seven bank accounts, and five registered retirement income funds (RRIFs), and a mile-long spreadsheet, will the spouse be able to figure that all out?” she asks.

It’s critical for spouses to be on the same page about their money. “If one is a leader, and the other is a follower,” there can be problems if the leader passes on first.

“I spend a lot of time helping clients with questions like `will we have to sell the house,’ and `how will we pay for (expensive) long-term care in a memory ward,’ so it is important to keep the finances simple. One of you will be standing longer than the other.”

We thank Janet Gray of Money Coaches Canada very much for taking the time to talk with us for this four-part series!

Great news! The Saskatchewan Pension Plan now offers its Variable Benefit to all SPP members! This flexible benefit option allows you to decide how much to withdraw each year, while the rest of your money continues to be invested by SPP. And, you can still transfer money in from other registered sources! Check out SPP today!

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Lack of savings, unexpected costs could make retirement tough sledding: Deloitte

A new report from Deloitte Canada finds that “nearly 55 per cent of near-retiree households will have to make lifestyle compromises to avoid outliving their financial savings.”

As well, reports the financial services firm in a recent media release, that number jumps to an alarming 73 per cent when “unexpected costs” are factored in.

The report, titled Running Out of Time: An Urgent Call to Fortify Canada’s Private Retirement Pillars urges the “financial services ecosystem” to “improve the quality and access of near-retirement advice and products, help retirees manage rising retirement costs, and help Canadians build healthy savings habits early on.”

In the release, Hwan Kim, Partner, Financial Services Information and Open Banking at Deloitte Canada, notes that “given roughly 40 per cent of retirement wealth inequality is due to a lack of financial knowledge, the financial services ecosystem must collaborate with the health care system and public sector to equip Canadians with accessible retirement advice, holistic near-retirement offerings, updated pension planning, quality health care, and new resources to retire confidently.”

The report had a number of somewhat alarming findings:

• “Only 14 per cent of three million soon-to-retire households can retire with confidence, while 31 per cent of near-retirees will require support in the form of the government’s public pension system.
• Only 24 per cent of private sector workers participate in employer-sponsored pension plans.
• 40 per cent of retirees have not purchased health insurance, of which 44 per cent cite expensive premiums as the primary reason for not doing so.
• 73 per cent of near-retiree households will be at risk of financial hardships
  in later stages of life if they require long-term care.
• 58 per cent of near-retiree and retiree households do not have a formal or detailed retirement plan in place.
• 44 per cent of working Canadians were dipping into their retirement savings to pay for non-retirement-related expenses.”

Getting the word out there about pensions and retirement programs is very important. Be sure you are aware of any retirement program that exists at your workplace, and even if you worry that taking part will be costly, your future you will be very glad you signed up. We know folks who decided against signing up for pensions and benefits, figuring they needed the money, who are now older and wiser, and missing that extra monthly income they might have had.

It’s also easy to ignore signing up for vision, dental, and drug plan benefits when you are young and still can see, chew, and get through a day without a bunch of pills. When you are older, however, these things won’t be as easy to achieve, and they are costly. Sometimes if you sign up for a group insurance plan at work you can remain in it after you retire, and again, your older self will be very glad you did.

Don’t have a pension program at work? Think about signing up for the Saskatchewan Pension Plan, a not-for-profit, open, voluntary defined contribution plan that’s been building retirement futures for over 35 years. SPP’s experts will invest your savings in a pooled, low-cost fund, growing them into future retirement income. You’ll have options when you retire, including the possibility of a lifetime annuity that pays you each month for as long as you live, or the Variable Benefit, which gives you flexibility on how much income you want to receive.

Join the Wealthcare Revolution – follow SPP on Facebook!

In What The Happiest Retirees Know, author Wes Moss highlights 10 attributes that can help you be a HROB – Happiest Retiree On the Block – and not an UROB, or Unhappiest Retiree on the Block.

He writes that data from the Financial Planning Association south of the border found that “only 18 per cent of U.S. households have enough wealth to cover pre-retirement consumption when they retire, meaning most Americans will not be able to maintain their pre-retirement lifestyle in retirement.”

As well, only half of U.S. citizens are even saving for retirement, writes Moss. “Very few people are prepared for the full retirement journey, and many don’t think they will ever be able to quit working,” he explains.

Here are the 10 habits that form the core of this humorous and well-written book.

Excellent money habits — $500K in savings

He writes that the happiest retirees “have $500,000 or more in savings, their mortgage payoff is complete (or at least in sight) and they have multiple streams of income.”

While $500,000 sounds like a lot of money, it is an attainable goal if you start young, he writes. He recommends that people save 20 per cent of their pre-retirement income.

“If you simply take $100 each month and invest it, assuming a 10 per cent return and that your investment compounds monthly, you’ll have a sweet $637,000 at the end of those four decades,” he writes. If 10 per cent returns seem high, Moss notes that the U.S. S&P index has averaged over seven per cent a year for the last 20 years.

Having more than one stream of income is key as well, he writes. For retirees, this could include “multiple pensions, (government retirement benefits), rental properties, investments, or part-time work.”

It’s essential to know in advance what your post-retirement income and expenses will be, so that that you can find, and fill, any gap between what’s coming in and what’s going out.

Curious and adventurous – at least three core pursuits

Moss writes that the happiest retirees have “3.6 core pursuits…. The unhappiest retirees only have 1.9.”

“Most of the core pursuits fell into four categories. There was part-time work, like teaching, consulting, and decorating. Then there was exercise and health – activities that included hiking, biking, swimming, walking and cooking. The arts were a big one, with painting, pottery, and music topping the list. And then there was adventure, such as travel, cruising, RVing, piloting and sailing.”

His list of Top 100 Core Pursuits includes yoga, tennis, golf, knitting, pickleball, skiing, joining social clubs, and much more.

Live close to independent kids who have their own homes

Moss writes that the happiest retirees live near their kids or grandkids, no more than two or three hours away.

He stresses, however, that the kids need to be independent – living away from home and on their own, without a lot of parental support. “Retirees were two times unhappier if their adult children still lived at home,” he writes. As well, “unhappy families average $714 a month in support of their 20-, 30, and 40-something-old `kids.’” The happier retirees spend less than $500 a month of their kids, he continues.

Times are tough these days, he concedes. As of September 2020, 52 per cent of young adults in the U.S. were “living with their parents… it’s the highest percentage since the Great Depression. No wonder parents are depressed.”

“If your children are not financially independent, you are 1.5 times more likely to be an unhappy retiree,” he warns.

They are married, and have either never been divorced, or divorced once

His research found that retirees who have never married, or have been divorced two or more times, are less happy in retirement than married couples where each partner has either never been divorced — or divorced only once.

You only get one do-over in marriage, Moss concludes.

They stay connected

Moss notes that the happiest among the retired are those with “at least three close connections/friendships.” Friends, he writes, “are a better happiness currency than money. You heard me correctly. Money can’t buy friends – but friends can buy happiness.”

You should see friends every month and belong to at least one group. An ideal way to merge the two concepts is to travel with friends.

They are healthy

“Happy retirees are fans on the `ings,’” he writes. This means “walking, swimming, biking, and hiking.” They “gravitate toward a healthy diet,” and enjoy a drink – particularly “white wine and gin.”

They have good home habits

“Happy retirees live in nice houses, but not McMansions,” Moss notes. “It’s OK to be comfortable. It’s less OK to have exotic zebras grazing on the 400-acre ecofarm you call home.”

They also tend to stay in the same neighbourhood, and “don’t downsize… this is a new habit gleaned from my most recent study. (They) don’t downsize into a smaller place, mainly because they anticipate their kids and grandkids will be coming home to visit.”

They also focus on paying off their mortgages first, not last. “It’s a surefire thing. Once that prodigious debt is off your shoulders, no one gets to take a four per cent bite out of your joy,” Moss notes.

They exhibit excellent investor behaviour

Moss writes that the happiest retirees invest more in stocks that pay dividends than bonds, and avoid trying to time the market and avoid short-term risks by taking a long view on investing. Their investment decisions are not “based on emotion… they are not fueled by fear. They take time to take stock (pun totally intended.”

They are, he says, careful when turning investments into retirement income, and on making sure they don’t run out of money in retirement through adherence to the “four per cent rule” on annual withdrawals.

They are masters of the middle

Happy retirees, Moss writes, are “smart spenders. Sure they may have had times in their lives when they were carrying a little too much credit card debt or struggling financially, But for the most part, they’ve prioritized saving over spending – and they don’t deprive themselves needlessly.”

The UROB (unhappy retirees) have a few characteristics as well, he writes, such as “the obsessing over money thing” and placing too much emphasis on status – a big house and a flashy car.

This is a different way to look at the whole retirement picture. We recommend that you find a place for this book in your retirement library.

If you are saving for retirement, as the book suggests, putting away a set percentage of your paycheque towards retirement is a smart way to pay your future self first.

The Saskatchewan Pension Plan allows you to make pre-authorized contributions from your bank account. Alternatively, you can set up SPP as a bill in your online banking app and set up automatic, monthly SPP “bill” payments. The difference is that this will be a bill that pays you back.

Check out SPP today! And, in breaking news, SPP’s Variable Benefit is now available coast-to-coast-to-coast for all SPP members!

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New life for an old rule of thumb – the four per cent withdrawal rate?

Let’s say you entered retirement with a large chunk of money – no monthly income other than government benefits.

How much can you afford to take out each year without risking running out of money in the future?

It’s an age-old question in retirement circles. Save with SPP once asked it of eminent retirement expert Dr. John Por who told us the answer is “unknowable,” since it would have to be based on “future interest rates, the stock markets, inflation, life expectancy and income needs.”

Writing for SmartAsset, Brian J. O’Connor says new research has found that the old “four per cent withdrawal” rule might be back in fashion.

So, what is the four per cent withdrawal rule, exactly?

“Created in 1994 by a financial planner named William Bengen, the four per cent rule posits that retirees can make a well-structured retirement fund last 30 years by withdrawing no more than four per cent of the balance in the first year of retirement, then adjusting subsequent withdrawals for inflation,” O’Connor explains.

With the volatile markets we’ve seen of late, some observers criticized the four per cent rule, arguing that in down markets, sticking to a four per cent withdrawal drives “returns risk.” In other words, if your investments are down, you are sort of “selling low” by withdrawing a set amount. Financial journalist Suze Orman, writes O’Connor, called for a more conservative three per cent withdrawal rate.

But, O’Connor continues, things are changing, and a recent Morningstar study seems to back the old four per cent idea once again.

“The investment analysis firm Morningstar has examined the safe rate of withdrawal for the first year of retirement for a few years running. Morningstar’s newest research finds that with the partial recovery of stocks, withdrawing up to four per cent is once again a safe starting point,” O’Connor notes.

Morningstar’s Amy Arnott tells O’Connor that these days, a four per cent withdrawal rate for today’s retirees has a 90 per cent chance of “still having funds remaining after a 30-year time horizon.” Research by Morningstar has made this safe withdrawal rate a moving target – in 2021, they recommended 3.3 per cent, and in 2022, 3.8 per cent.

As well, the research is based on a portfolio that has “20 to 40 per cent” exposure to stock.

The article concludes by noting that the shift in thinking to four per cent is driven by a drop in the long-term estimate for inflation and a rise in projected 30-year fixed income returns.

There’s another way of avoiding running out of money in retirement.

Members of the Saskatchewan Pension Plan can choose to annuitize some or all of their savings when they retire. With the annuity option, you can receive a payment on the first of the month, every single month for as long as you live. Want more flexibility? Check out SPP’s Variable Benefit, now available to all Canadian SPP members. You can take out as little or as much as you like with this option, and then can still consider annuitizing at a later date!

Check out SPP today!

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Everyone talks about investing on their own for the long term. But what’s involved?

Save with SPP took a look at a few articles on getting started in investing, and while this is a huge topic that has spawned a library-filling collection of books and major education programs across the country’s universities and colleges, we hope these few tips will help newbies think about how to get started.

At the Savvy New Canadians blog, the first recommended step is to find yourself “an online brokerage account,” which the blog says makes it “much easier to trade stocks.” These days, the article notes, there are online brokerages with very low trading prices, and some with no fees at all.

The article explains that stocks, bonds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds can all be easily traded through an online brokerage.

You’ll also have to decide what type of investment account you want. A registered account (such as a registered retirement savings plan) is “used to save for retirement and defers taxes on your earnings until you make withdrawals.” A Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA) “offers an opportunity to invest and earn tax-free returns forever.” A non-registered or cash account is the other option – you pay taxes on income and capital gains.

OK, we have an account, we have a basic knowledge of types of investment and savings vehicles. What’s next?

First, advises Investopedia, figure out what your “tolerance for risk” is.

“Stocks are categorized in various ways, such as large capitalization stocks, small cap stocks, aggressive growth stocks, and value stocks. They all have different levels of risk. Once you determine your risk tolerance, you can set your investment sights on the stocks that complement it,” the article explains.

In other words, are you going to be OK if the value of the security you buy goes up and down by 10 or 20 per cent in the short term? If you aren’t, you may be less interested in stock-related investments, and more interested in less volatile, fixed income-type investments.

Goal setting is important as well, the article notes.

“If you’re just beginning your career, an investment goal could be to increase the amount of money in your account. If you’re older, you may want to generate income as well as grow and protect your wealth,” the article notes.

Finally, the article talks about three investment styles.

If you are confident you know enough about the markets to go it alone, that’s an option, the article notes. “Traditional online brokers allow you to invest in stocks, bonds, ETFs, index funds and mutual funds,” the article tells us.

Alternatively, the article says, you can find yourself “an experienced broker or financial advisor” to help you make your decisions. “This is a good option for beginners who understand the importance of investing, but may want an expert to help them do it,” the article adds. A third, newer option is to use a robo-advisor, which is “an automated, hands-off option that typically costs less than working with a broker or financial advisor. Once a robo-advisor program has your goals, risk tolerance levels, and other details, it automatically invests for you.”

Investment guru Warren Buffett has a couple of memorable bits of advice on investing. His giant firm tends only to invest in businesses where they (Buffett and his team) feel they understand how the business works. He also likes the idea of investing half your money in index funds, and the other half in safe, government backed securities.

As mentioned, this is a very broad topic, so find out as much as you can before you enter the choppy waters of investing, and do consider getting professional advice to get started.

Alternatively, if you’re saving for retirement and want expert help, consider joining the Saskatchewan Pension Plan. All you need to do is contribute savings, the experts at SPP will handle the investment decisions at a very low cost in a professionally managed, pooled fund.

At the end of your worklife, your options for retirement income include getting a lifetime annuity (a monthly payment for life) or the flexibility of deciding how much income you want to receive through our Variable Benefit. Check out SPP today!

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The strategy that almost no one tries – starting CPP later to get a higher payment

We frequently read that folks aren’t saving enough for retirement, for a variety of reasons. There aren’t as many workplace pension arrangements out there anymore, and inflation and debt, both at decades-high levels, make it difficult to save.

There is a way to dramatically increase your retirement income, writes Noella Ovid in the Financial Post, and it’s a strategy that very few of us try – starting our Canada Pension Plan (CPP) later, at age 70.

“You can start CPP as early as age 60 or as late as 70, but the longer you wait, the higher your monthly benefit will be since it will cover fewer years,” states Jason Heath of Objective Financial Partners Inc. in the Post article.

“Generally speaking, if you live well into your 80s, you can come out ahead by deferring your CPP to age 70. The problem? Nobody does it,” Heath tells the Post.

Even though waiting gives you a significantly larger benefit, only five per cent of Canadians do, the article reports.

And there are other ways to boost retirement income, the article continues.

“The most successful retirees Heath has seen are those who have transitioned to retirement through part-time, consulting or volunteer work, avoiding the extreme change from a 40 to 50-hour work week,” the article notes.

“The earlier you start to plan retirement, not only from a financial perspective, but from a lifestyle perspective, can be really rewarding and improve the transition,” Heath states in the article. “In a perfect world, it’s planned, it’s slow, it’s steady.”

He does acknowledge that life can get in the way of a good retirement plan – corporate decisions, health setbacks and other unexpected events can derail the best of plans, the article notes.

Another idea for stretching your retirement dollars is to move somewhere that, ideally, has better weather and cheaper living costs.

“Expat destinations for retirement are an option for Canadians trying to save money on the cost of living. Heath tells the Post there’s opportunity in countries such as Panama, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Mexico which are trying to attract retirees from other countries. Some of the benefits include lower real estate prices, food costs and easier travel to exotic locations,” the article reports.

Now that we’re seniors in our mid-60s, the topic of start CPP comes up frequently. We do know of friends who waited until age 65 to start CPP, since their workplace pension plan had early retirement benefits that dropped off at that age. We know folks who started CPP at 60 while working full time, and are continuing to pay into it. Some of them banked the CPP, others needed it for day-to-day costs.

So, think carefully, look at your expected post-retirement income and expenses from all sources, and consider the pros and cons of taking CPP early or late. It wouldn’t hurt to get professional advice on the topic.

If you are an SPP member, you have a little more flexibility in age ranges. You can begin to collect your retirement benefits as early as age 55, and “no later than December of the year in which you turn age 71.” For full details, have a look at SPP’s Pension Guide.

Among your retirement income choices are one of several SPP annuities – all of which pay you a monthly income for life – and, new for all members, the Variable Benefit. Check out SPP today!

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For the first time in 70 years, there’s a new monarch on the back of our nickels, dimes, quarters, loonies and toonies.

And that change recalls an age-old question – is it better to use cash or credit, generally? Save with SPP took a look around for some answers.

According to figures from the Bank of Canada, this country has seen a gradual move away from cash spending. Cash accounted for 54 per cent of transactions as recently as 2009, the bank reports, but by 2013 that figure had dropped to 44 per cent. It slid to just 33 per cent in 2017.

Interestingly, the value of cash transactions also declined in the same period – in 2009, the bank notes, 23 per “of the total value of goods and services purchased” was in cash. By 2017, this number had fallen to 15 per cent. And we’ll recall cash use fell even more during the pandemic.

Is cash dead?

“So, does this mean that Canadians are giving up on cash? The short answer is no. Canadians still rate cash as easy to use, low in cost, secure and nearly universally accepted, and it’s the preferred payment option for small-value purchases like a cup of coffee or a muffin,” the bank notes.

“In fact, the lower the value, the more likely it is the buyer will choose cash,” the article adds.

An article in MoneySense from a while back highlights how using cash may make us more conscious of our spending than using credit or debit cards.

“Is it harder to part with cash than to slide your credit card through the machine? Would a $200 pair of shoes give you pause to think if you paid for them in cash more so than if charged your credit card? You betcha,” the article notes.

The article cites two U.S. studies on the topic. A Journal of Experimental Psychology article reports on a study, MoneySense notes, that concluded “shopping with cash discourages spending, while using credit or gift cards actually encourages it.” Why?

The authors of the study, reports MoneySense, found that “using a less transparent form of payment such as a credit card or a gift card lowers the vividness with which one feels that one is parting with real money, thereby encouraging spending.”

Interesting – spending with physical cash is seen as more “conscious” spending, then.

A Forbes article also weighs in on the topic.

The article makes the point that your own financial habits should dictate when you use cash, or not.

“If you are carrying a large credit balance or struggling to stay on top of payments, sticking to cash whenever possible may help you pay down debt,” the article notes.

“Many people use credit cards regularly and rarely carry a balance. If you stay on top of your payments and pay your card in full, a credit card is probably a great option for you,” Forbes reports.

Credit cards, the article notes, “provide a unique level of security against fraud and loss. In Canada, if your card is issued by a bank and unauthorized purchases are made on your card, the maximum amount you can be responsible for is $50 (unless you demonstrated gross negligence in safeguarding your card, its information and other info like your PIN or password).”

Similar protections apply to debt cards, the article reports.

Cards feature things like purchase protection and insurance, anti-fraud detection, a grace period and “rewards, cash back and bonuses” that you just don’t get with cash, the article adds.

“While creditors are hoping you will carry a balance, rewards points can be an excellent way to earn while you shop, especially if you don’t carry a balance. Some credit cards offer three to six per cent back on selected categories. Other cards may offer one per cent or more back on all purchases,” the article adds.

However, reports Forbes, cash has its advantages as well, particularly if you have balances on credit cards or lines of credit. “Debt is a major problem for Canadians. As of December 2022, the average debt in Canada was $21,183 (excluding mortgage debt), according to a report from Equifax,” the article notes.

“By paying for purchases with cash, you avoid interest charges on those new purchases,” as well as even higher interest on a higher balance, the magazine adds.

The Motley Fool lists off a few more advantages of cash. Cash is “universally accepted,” and by using cash you can avoid transaction fees common with credit and debit cards.

It is easier to budget using cash, the article continues. “Paying only in cash means that once the cash is gone, that’s it – you’re done spending,” The Motley Fool tells us. “This strict limitation can help you curb overspending, aligning your purchases more closely with your budget.”

A disadvantage of cash is that if it gets lost or stolen, you are out of luck – there is no theft protection or insurance built into it.

The Motley Fool article also makes the point that while you can earn cash back, rewards points and other perks with credit cards, it is easy to abuse them, and “spend more than you can reasonably afford.” And if you don’t pay the full credit card balance each month, you are looking at interest rates of 20 to 30 per cent, the article concludes.

Noted financier Mark Cuban once observed that when you pay with cash, you can often negotiate a better price. If something costs $200, and you say you only have $175 cash, maybe you will get a deal, he has said.

It sounds, from reading all this, like there is no single answer on which is best, cash or credit. The experts seem to be saying it depends on your personal relationship with money. If you pay all your bills on time, especially credit cards and lines of credit, then maybe credit use is OK for you. If not, cash is a way to keep your debt from getting even bigger.

We already know that the Saskatchewan Pension Plan is a great do-it-yourself retirement savings program for Canadians. Any Canuck with available registered retirement savings plan room can open an account, and can let SPP’s experts invest their savings in a professionally managed, low-cost fund. But what’s new is that now, any Canadian SPP member has the choice, at retirement, between a lifetime annuity or the flexible Variable Benefit option.

Check out SPP today!

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Is post-retirement work really a way to address a lack of savings?

We’ve long been told that if we haven’t saved enough for retirement, the “solution” is to just keep working, right?

A column in The Globe and Mail by Rob Carrick raises questions about whether the “just keep working” strategy is really helping today’s retirees.

Carrick writes that, for starters, the only folks who tend to work past age 65 these days are “very well-off men,” and that for the rest, retirement income comes from “the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age Security (OAS), personal investments, and a mix of pensions and registered retirement savings…. (only) a few will have employment income.”

Research from social-policy consultancy Open Policy Ontario seem to back this up, he writes.

“Summed up, the numbers highlight the importance of personal retirement saving and call into question the idea of backstopping your savings by working in retirement,” writes Carrick.

Researchers from Open Policy Ontario divided “income composition for people aged 65 and over” into two groups, or deciles.

For the first four groups – those with retirement incomes ranging from $12,500 to $24,800 – “CPP, OAS and the Guaranteed Income Supplement supply the most income,” the researchers found.

As incomes rise through the groups, “personal savings through company pensions, registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs), and registered retirement income funds (RRIFs) become progressively more important,” Carrick notes. By the ninth group, for folks with income at $66,700, these savings add up to more than 49 per cent of income, he adds.

Lots of math here, but the message is that those with retirement savings had a significantly higher income in retirement than those without, whether those savings were in a company pension plan, from personal investments, and/or registered sources.

Another recent study concluded that a lack of retirement savings could lead to the need for “lifestyle changes” by retirees – cutting back on what they expected to do, and/or where to live, in retirement, Carrick observes.

“The Open Policy numbers support this finding by documenting the importance of personal savings in rounding out CPP and OAS, and raising questions about contributions from working,” he explains. What he is saying is that while many talk about working past age 65 due to a lack of savings, few are actually doing it.

“Working past the age of 65 is an obvious solution for people who cannot save as much as they ideally should. But the Open Policy numbers lead to a surprising conclusion about people working in retirement: For the most part, they’re not generating much income,” Carrick writes.

“Employment earnings account for three per cent to nine per cent of the pie for middle earners 65 and up, which means people making $29,000 to $42,900. The richest seniors, those in the 10th decile with a median income of $99,900, get 26 per cent of their income from employment. Men aged 65 and up in the 10th decile got 33 per cent of their income from employment, compared with just 14 per cent for women in the same demographic,” he continues.

Carrick concludes his column with some important advice.

“The more you save on your own, the more latitude you have in retirement for setting a lifestyle. Working longer can help cover for lower savings, but the Open Policy analysis suggests it’s not generating a lot of income for most of today’s retirees. This will very likely change for retirees of the future,” he notes.

So, what’s the takeaway? If you have a company pension plan or group savings arrangement, make sure you are signed up and contributing to the max. If you don’t, have a hard look at the Saskatchewan Pension Plan. It’s an open, defined contribution plan that any Canadian with RRSP room can join.

Once you’re in, SPP does all the hard stuff for you, investing your savings in a professionally managed, low-cost investment pool, and then giving you retirement income options when you retire, including the chance of a lifetime annuity, or flexible income via our Variable Benefit.

Let your employer know about SPP – many across the country have begun offering SPP as their company’s retirement program!

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