Retire Rich: Your essential read for planning your financial future

👋 Welcome to Retire Rich, The Globe’s newly revamped weekly retirement newsletter. This may look a little different than you’re used to, and we promise, you’re not seeing things. Things are changing in a big way around here. More on that below.

Our mission

Whether you’re a long-time reader or just stumbled in, I’m glad you’re here. I’m Meera Raman, The Globe’s retirement and financial planning reporter, and I’ll be writing to you every Friday morning.

Let’s be real: Retirement planning can feel like navigating a maze blindfolded – too much jargon, not enough real life. Maybe retirement feels decades away. Maybe it feels impossible. Maybe you’ve already retired and are wondering … now what?

That’s where this newsletter comes in. Retire Rich isn’t just about money – though we’ll definitely talk dollars and cents. It’s about building a life that feels full: rich in time, health, purpose and peace of mind. Each week, I’ll be bringing you a mix of fresh news, tools, advice and stories that reflect what real people are going through.

Our guarantee is that no matter what life stage you’re in, this newsletter will help make retirement planning a little less intimidating, a whole lot more manageable and maybe even … enjoyable (*gasp*).

You might’ve seen some of my stories already: young people buying “boring businesses” from retirees, the trade war’s impact on new retirees, and people purging belongings before they die to lessen the burden on their loved ones (a.k.a. Swedish death cleaning). I’m always hunting for stories that feel relevant to readers.

And now, I want to hear from you. We want to build this newsletter with its readers in mind. What do you think about when it comes to money, retirement or planning for your financial future? What’s confusing? What keeps you up at night? Drop me a line at [email protected].

One last ask: Forward this newsletter to a friend, a family member, or hey, even an enemy (retirement planning is for everyone). If someone forwarded this to you, you’ll have to guess which one you are – then sign up here to get it straight from the source.

Thanks for reading. I’m excited to build this community with you and hang out every Friday.

The calculator

Retirement anxiety is on the rise. Geopolitical instability is taking a toll on Canadians’ mental health. According to the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan’s latest annual survey, nearly 60 per cent of working Canadians believe they’ll never be able to retire – and that’s fuelling rising anxiety, fear and sadness about money.

Many people aren’t saving. The survey found that almost half of Canadians haven’t set aside any money for retirement in the past year, and 39 per cent say they’ve never saved for retirement at all.

What you can do: “When the markets are down, they recover faster than a retiree’s confidence returns,” said Adam Chapman, a certified financial planner based in London, Ont. He suggests retirees and soon-to-be retirees prioritize not just financial planning, but emotional support. That could mean speaking with a mental-health professional or working with a financial adviser who understands the psychological toll that retirement can take.

The retirement receipt

Can we retire in three years and still afford our dream move to B.C.?

That’s the question Pablo, 59, and Irene, 56, are asking. Let’s break it down.

The numbers: The Alberta couple earns a combined $240,000 a year, owns two mortgage-free homes, and hopes to sell both to buy a place on Vancouver Island. Their goal is a retirement income of $100,000 to $120,000 a year after tax.

The good news: With some planning, they’re on track. A financial adviser estimates they can safely spend up to $120,000 a year in their early, more active retirement years.

But longevity and volatility are big variables. Pablo has health issues that shorten his life expectancy. That means it’s key to plan for the long haul and stagger benefit start dates – for instance, Irene defers CPP until 70, while Pablo starts at 65.

Key takeaway: Build in flexibility. The planner recommends they keep three years of expenses outside the market invested in a a fixed-income ladder, to ride out stock dips. (A ladder is a series of investments with staggered maturation dates.)

🚨 Traditional retirement is changing. The idea of working until 65, retiring and never working again is fading. Many people are retiring earlier, then starting businesses, freelancing or even becoming influencers. We want to hear about what your second act is. Tell me about it at [email protected].

Best of the rest

✔️ How to stop reacting emotionally to market chaos. Set rules such as: Don’t trade outside regular hours, talk through big decisions with someone you trust, automate contributions, and create an investment policy statement when calm (and actually stick to it).

💊 Vitamin D may help slow biological aging. A new study from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that vitamin D helps our cells live longer. But before you panic-buy a tub of the stuff at your local pharmacy, researchers say more studies are needed.

🌴 Should you rethink your travel insurance this summer? Experts told The Globe that credit card insurance is fine for most Canadians under 65 without pre-existing conditions. But exploring more robust coverage amid stricter border rules with the U.S. could be a good idea.

📈 CPPIB investors want profits over patriotism. The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board has been recently criticized for not investing in domestic projects enough, but a recent Angus Reid survey found that Canadians aren’t in love with the idea if it means lower returns.

Try this

❌ Try a no-spend day this week

Skip the latte. Avoid that late-night Amazon scroll. Go 24 hours without spending a dollar. I’ll do it too. Let me know how your experience goes: [email protected].