If you鈥檙e one of the 2.5 million Canadians now in their 60s, you may be considering part-time work, an encore career or time off to travel or volunteer. If retirement is on the horizon, now may be the time to review your plan so you can explore all of life鈥檚 possibilities.

鈥淲hether you鈥檙e close to retirement or it鈥檚 10 to 15 years away, it鈥檚 a good time to speak with a financial expert to review your plan,鈥� says consultant in Courtenay. 鈥淒ecisions you make even that far in advance can affect the tax you pay in retirement and the cash flow you create for yourself.鈥�

Sitting down to talk about your retirement can be as simple as two meetings: one to share your future lifestyle goals and take a of where you are now, and a second to clarify what you鈥檙e doing well and opportunities for improvement.

Here鈥檚 5 ways you can plan to master retirement:

1. Embrace the unknown 鈥� Fear that you may outlive your investments can be remedied through planning. You鈥檝e never retired before, so don鈥檛 expect you can anticipate what life will be like. Whatever you decide, having a comprehensive financial plan can reduce anxiety of the unknown and give you short- and long-term visibility of your financial picture.

2. Plan ahead to meet your goals 鈥� A retirement plan needs to provide you with a predictable income that accounts for rising costs. A two-per-cent inflation rate could reduce your buying power by up to 40 per cent in just 20 years. Knowing this, you and your IG Wealth Management Consultant can plan ahead and find the best way to combat rising costs and still pay for your short- and long-term goals.

3. Ensure income for life 鈥� The determines the ideal combination of asset types in your investment portfolio based on your age, goals and risk tolerance. Your asset allocation will typically include equity and fixed-income investments, along with cash. Because investment results are dynamic, it鈥檚 necessary to re-balance your holdings regularly to keep the allocation in line with your goals.

4. Withdrawal rate and minimizing risk and taxes 鈥� The amount of income tax you pay in retirement depends on how much you withdraw and the type of income you earn. For example, dividend income and capital gains are not taxed the same way as income from your registered investment accounts. An IG Living Plan determines which investments you should live on first and how to combine income sources in the most tax-effective and lasting way.

5. Planning to stay healthy 鈥� Regular exercise and a healthy diet are things you can plan for and the cost of gym memberships, club dues, training and equipment can be built into your plan. Other things are not so easy to anticipate, such as illness, renovations that let you stay in your home, or the need for long-term care. Your IG Consultant can present a range of options to put your mind at ease about life鈥檚 unknowns while you focus on its possibilities.

To start preparing for retirement, email Stu Tunheim at stu.tunheim@investorsgroup.com or call 250-338-7811.

^{Investors Group Financial Services Inc.}

^{This is a general source of information only. It is not intended to provide personalized tax, legal or investment advice, and is not intended as a solicitation to purchase securities. Stu Tunheim is solely responsible for its content. For more information on this topic or any other financial matter, please contact an IG Wealth Management Consultant.}