Ep 173 - The 5 Retirement Lessons You Loved Most in 2025
In this special year-end episode of Your Retirement Planning Simplified, Joe Curry breaks down the five biggest retirement lessons listeners cared about most in 2025. From tax-efficient retirement income planning to mindset, health, and purpose after work, this episode highlights what truly matters for a confident Canadian retirement.
Key Takeaways
Retirement planning is life planning.
Your investments are just one pillar — true retirement success includes purpose, relationships, health, and how you want to spend your days.
Taxes quietly shape your retirement freedom.
Two retirees with the same net worth can live very different lives depending on how tax-efficient their RRIF withdrawals, CPP, OAS, and investment income are.
Your retirement paycheck needs intention.
A coordinated withdrawal strategy helps you spend confidently without fear of overspending or unnecessarily holding back.
Mindset matters as much as the math.
Even a strong financial plan can fall flat if guilt, fear, or identity loss aren’t addressed as you transition into retirement.
Health and support systems are core planning inputs.
Planning for energy, mobility, and future care creates more dignity, options, and peace of mind throughout retirement.
Insights Worth Sharing
“Retirement planning is life planning with money attached — not the other way around.”
“It’s not just about what you make in retirement, it’s about what you keep after tax.”
“You deserve a retirement paycheck that’s intentional, tax-smart, and built to last.”
“You can have perfect numbers on paper and still feel anxious if the mindset isn’t there.”
“You don’t just plan for dollars in retirement — you plan for days.”
Resources
Retirement Planning Simplified Blog
Ep # 142 - The 7 Pillars of Retirement Planning: A Practical Guide
The 5 Biggest Retirement Lessons
Canadians Focused on in 2025
As we wrap up 2025, I wanted to do something a little different on Your Retirement Planning Simplified. Instead of introducing a brand-new topic, I went back and looked at what you actually listened to most this year. The result was eye-opening. Clear themes emerged — and they tell us a lot about what really matters when it comes to retirement planning in Canada.
Retirement Is About More Than Money
One of the most downloaded episodes focused on the seven pillars of retirement planning, and that says a lot. You’re not just looking for investment returns. You’re thinking about health, purpose, relationships, where you live, and how you’ll spend your time. When retirement planning only focuses on portfolios, something important gets missed. Money should support your life — not become the entire story.
Taxes Shape Your Freedom
Another major theme was taxes. Retirement income planning isn’t about maximizing income on paper; it’s about maximizing what you keep after tax. Smart RRIF withdrawal strategies, coordinating CPP and OAS, and using TFSAs effectively can make two identical net-worth households feel very different in retirement. One feels restricted. The other feels free.
Your Retirement Paycheque Needs a Plan
Many popular episodes tackled one big question: How do I turn my savings into income I can rely on? Without a strategy, retirees often underspend out of fear or overspend without realizing the long-term impact. A coordinated retirement paycheque — across registered, non-registered, and tax-free accounts — creates clarity, confidence, and sustainability.
The Emotional Side of Retirement Matters
Some of the most meaningful conversations this year explored retirement mindset and psychology. You can have a solid financial plan and still feel anxious, guilty about spending, or unsure of who you are without work. Addressing values, money stories, and purpose is just as important as the math.
Health and Support Systems Are Financial Inputs
Finally, health, energy, and support systems came up again and again. Retirement planning isn’t just about how long your money lasts — it’s about how well you live. Staying active, planning for future care, and having honest family conversations all lead to better financial and life decisions.
The Big Takeaway
Retirement isn’t a one-time event. It’s an ongoing process that evolves as your life changes. The goal of Your Retirement Planning Simplified is to help you focus on the ideas that truly move the needle — so you can feel informed, confident, and not overwhelmed.
Learn more about our retirement planning process at MatthewsAndAssociates.ca.