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Financial PostJune 2024

What’s the best way to draw down our assets in retirement if we don’t want to leave a large inheritance?

Featured writing by Allan Norman · M.Sc. · CFP · CIM

The Short Version

Some couples reach retirement with more than they will ever spend, and the planning question quietly shifts from "will we have enough" to "what do we actually want this money to do." This piece looks at a couple in exactly that spot, weighing a drawdown approach when leaving a large inheritance is not the goal. The thinking runs through how to order withdrawals across registered and non-registered accounts, how taxes shape the pace, and how to free up money to enjoy now while keeping later years comfortable. It is a useful read for anyone who has saved well and finds the harder work is no longer accumulating but giving themselves permission to spend. The real exercise is matching the money to the life you want, then letting the account mechanics follow.

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