TORONTO, Aug. 27, 2021 – The pandemic has Canadians rethinking what their retirement could look like, when they will be able to retire, and how much they will now need to save to do so, according to not-yet-retired Canadians aged 50+ surveyed by the 2021 RBC Retirement Myths & Realities Poll.
The most immediate impact is that the pandemic has caused some Canadians to hit the pause button on their retirement date. Eighteen per cent of respondents say they’ll now be retiring later than expected, with that response highest in Alberta (33%).
- Retirement dates delayed for some Canadians, as others lean into new opportunities
- Retirement savings goal jumps to $1 million, with estimated shortfall of $300,000 or more
Concerns around outliving retirement savings have reached their highest level in a decade, as 21% of respondents with more than $100,000 in investable assets now expect to outlast their savings by 10 years (compared to 16% in 2010), with the highest percentage reported in Quebec (27%).
Compounding what respondents are facing over the near-term is the fact that half (50%) do not yet have a financial plan, and only 20% have created a formal plan with an advisor or financial planner.
Poll respondents also indicated the pandemic has prompted them to either think about, or take action on, a number of retirement-related issues, including:
- Thinking more about where they will live in retirement (22%)
- Deciding where they do not want to live (20% do not want to live in a retirement home)
- Reviewing and updating wills and beneficiaries (15%)
- Taking stock of their financial affairs (17%)
- Taking up a new career or hobby, realizing ‘life is short’ (16%)
Canadians approaching retirement have also been resetting their retirement savings goals. Those with more than $100,000 in investable assets now estimate they will need to save $1 million on average – approximately $50,000 more than in 2019 – with over three-quarters falling short of their goal by almost $300,000 on average. Meanwhile, those with less than $100,000 in investable assets have lowered their retirement savings goal – now sitting at $533,153 (vs. $574,354 in 2019) – but they have a much larger savings gap of $472,991.
To help bridge a shortfall during retirement, both of these groups responded that they would:
- Stay in their current home and live more frugally (37% of those with >$100K; 36% of those with <$100K)
- Return to paid work (31% and 36% respectively)
- Downsize/move (31% and 23% respectively)
- Ask a family member for assistance (lowest on their list of options, at 3% and 5% respectively)
Fast Facts – RBC 2021 Retirement Myths & Realities Poll
Selected National, Regional, Gender Findings: Non-Retired Canadians aged 50+
| RESPONSE | CANADA | BC | AB | ON | QC | MALE | FEMALE |
| Will delay retirement | 18% | 20% | 33% | 16% | 9% | 15% | 20% |
| Will outlive savings for retirement by 10 years (among those with $100K investable assets) | 21% | 21% | 20%* | 19% | 27% | 20% | 23% |
| Thinking more about/acting on… where I will live in retirement | 22% | 29% | 28% | 20% | 23% | 23% | 21% |
| Thinking about/acting on… not living in a retirement home | 20% | 30% | 19% | 18% | 18% | 20% | 20% |
| Thinking about/acting on… reviewing/updating wills and beneficiaries | 15% | 17% | 13% | 18% | 12% | 15% | 14% |
| Thinking about/acting on… taking stock of my financial affairs | 17% | 28% | 23% | 20% | 14% | 18% | 16% |
| Thinking about/acting on… taking up a new career or hobby | 16% | 15% | 9% | 24% | 4% | 15% | 16% |
| * Small base size. Findings for SK/MB and AC also not included due to small base sizes. |
Investable Assets Findings: Non-Retired Canadians aged 50+
| RESPONSE | >$100K investable assets | <$100K investable assets |
| Retirement savings goal | $1,000,670 | $533,153 |
| Amount already saved for retirement | $703,058 | $60,163 |
| Retirement savings goal deficit | ~$300,000 [-$297,612] | ~$470,000 [-$472,991] |
| If I need more $ in retirement… I would return to paid work | 31% | 36% |
| If I need more $ in retirement… I would stay in my current home, live frugally | 37% | 36% |
| If I need more $ in retirement… I would move (downsize; rent not own, etc.) | 31% | 23% |
| If I need more $ in retirement … I would cash in some investments | 55% | 16% |
| If I need more $ in retirement … I would borrow against my home equity | 13% | 6% |
| If I need more $ in retirement … I would ask a family member for help | 3% | 5% |
“If you’re nearing retirement without a formal plan, there’s a shrinking window of opportunity to review your options, to see if you can enjoy the retirement lifestyle you’re hoping for,”
Rick Lowes, Vice-President Strategy, RBC.
About the RBC 2021 Retirement Myths & Realities Poll
These are the findings of the most recent biennial RBC Retirement Myths & Realities Poll, conducted by Ipsos between May 21 and June 1, 2021. For the overall survey, a sample of 2,200 Canadians aged 50+ was interviewed via the Ipsos I-Say panel and non-panel sources, of whom 1,100 are pre-retirement. Quotas and weighting were applied to ensure that the sample’s composition reflects that of the adult population according to Census data and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe. For this release, the data referenced is among a sample of 1,100 aged 50+ who are pre-retirees. The credibility of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case the results are considered accurate to within ±2.6 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, for the full sample of retired and pre-retired Canadians aged 50+, and ±3.4 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, for the sample of pre-retired Canadians aged 50+.
