Episode 355: What No One Tells You About Your First Year of Retirement (Financially)

A smooth retirement doesn’t always start the way people expect… in fact, the first year is often where the real adjustment begins.

In this episode of Think Smart with TMFG, we walk through what actually happens financially in your first year of retirement, and why it can feel so different from what you planned.

From shifting away from a steady paycheck to building your own income stream, we break down how sources like CPP, OAS, pensions, RRIFs, and investment accounts come together, and why they don’t always line up as neatly as a biweekly paycheque. We also explore the key decisions retirees face early on, from when to draw income and how different sources are taxed, to how poor market timing (sequence of returns) can impact your long-term plan.

The first year won’t be perfect… but it’s where your retirement plan starts to take shape.

📌 Want help building a retirement income plan that actually works in practice? Connect with our team:

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📌 Want to better understand how your retirement income will be structured?
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Question for our listeners:
What surprised you most (or what do you think will surprise you) about the first year of retirement?

🎧 Listen to the full episode on YouTube.

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