How to Get Ready for Retirement

You save, you invest… and then comes the big question: now what? In this episode, Vero welcomes Mark Young, early retiree and creator of the Retirement Loop Projection Tool, to share what it really takes to retire with confidence.

From defining your goals to making smart withdrawal decisions, reducing taxes, and navigating uncertainty, Mark walks through the essential steps for a well-planned retirement. Along the way, he shares how his own journey inspired him to help others find clarity and peace of mind in retirement.

Want to Get Ready for Retirement?

Retirement Loop is a community of over 500 Canadians who are in or nearing retirement. We have developed tools, including the RL Projections Tool, to help them navigate the transition and remain confident once they arrive. There is also a lot of power in having hundreds of people working with the same program to help each other. You can finally connect with other retirees going through the same challenges.

Canadians who enjoy their retirement:

Know which account to withdraw from first.
Build a clear financial plan covering multiple scenarios.
Use an agile budget through the go-go, slow-go, and no-go phases.
Create multiple sources of income, including CPP, OAS, investment income, and others.

Download the 20 Income-Focused Products Review for free and join the waitlist to get noticed when we reopen Retirement Loop doors.

retirementloop.ca/waitlist

You’ll Learn

From Software to Spreadsheets

After retiring at 50, Mark used his tech background to solve a very real problem: how to build a reliable and flexible retirement plan without relying on costly advisors or outdated assumptions.

He created the Retirement Loop Projection Tool to model CPP/OAS timing, drawdowns, and cash flow scenarios.
The tool started as a personal spreadsheet and evolved into a community favorite within Retirement Loop.

Why Retirement Projections Matter

Mark stresses that retirement isn’t a one-and-done plan—it’s a living process that evolves.

Using a spreadsheet gives retirees full control and privacy over their data (vs. web-based tools).
The tool displays cash flow, tax implications, and estate outcomes based on your inputs, updating instantly.
It helps identify risks—like large RRSP balances that could trigger tax burdens later in life.

It’s Not Just About the Math

Before you even touch a tool, Mark recommends:

Start tracking your expenses 1–2 years before retirement.
Define your goals clearly—travel, family support, downsizing, charitable giving.
Understand your income sources: CPP, OAS, pensions, and investment accounts.
Recognize the uncertainty: the longer your timeline, the blurrier the details.

But planning early creates flexibility—not rigidity.

“The projection is our best guess today. And we’ll have a new best guess a year from now.”

Retire Every Year

Mark’s motto is simple: don’t just retire once. Revisit your plan annually and adjust your route as needed.

Life, markets, and spending will shift—so should your strategy.
The spreadsheet’s optimizer helps model tax-efficient strategies across RRSPs, TFSAs, CPP, and OAS.
The goal is clarity, not perfection. Each year, you improve the plan.

Common Pitfalls People Make

As Retirement Loop’s retirement coach, Mark has helped dozens of people one-on-one. Some mistakes he sees often:

Rushing the process—good projections require careful input, not shortcuts.
Overlooking taxes or estate impact.
Avoiding uncertainty instead of learning how to manage it.

He reminds users: “You’re moving from a Chevy to a Formula 1 car. Take your time.”

Passion and Purpose After Retirement

Mark’s journey isn’t just about spreadsheets. It’s about meaning. From volunteering at food banks to serving with Mercy Ships in Africa, he highlights:

The freedom retirement gives to contribute differently.
How small steps—like helping a local charity—can lead to deeper fulfillment.

“Once I had time on my hands, one thing led to another. And it became a way to give back with purpose.”

About Mark

Mark is an early retiree and former software developer with an interest in retirement projections and taxation/benefits in retirement. He and his wife enjoy the outdoors, traveling, and volunteer work.

He’s helping other Canadians gain control over their plan as a retirement coach at Retirement Loop.