One of the best things about a defined benefit pension plan is the fact a young person does not have to think about retirement until much later in their life. By the time they realize that those paycheque deductions actually mean something, they may have thought about what they want to do when they are finished their career. If the results of that thought process requires financing they may wish to figure out how to achieve it. Once you create a desire, there is motivation to formulate a plan on how to satisfy it.
Those with DB pension plans are fortunate in that they already have the foundation of their retirement plan done for them. Those with no pension plan or only a Defined Contribution plan however, need to start thinking about retirement a little earlier. As parents, we are constantly looking for ways to assist our children in helping themselves. In this case, it is imperative to drop a few scenarios in front of them and hope it starts the wheels turning.
There are too many variables to predict what amounts are needed in the future, but even a ballpark guess should provide an incentive to match their actions to their expectations. The closer they get to the actual number, the less their plans may have to adapt to a future reality.
Use the following links to determine the actual numbers and try putting the results together on a one page spreadsheet to show the timing and amounts of differing scenarios. If any of you are more handy than I, in setting up Excel spreadsheets, I would appreciate a copy of what you come up with.
Calculate how long until the mortgage is paid off - FCAC Mortgage Calculator
Calculate what their investments will generate using mortgage payment amount when mortgage is paid, and any other investments and/or regular contributions - IEF Compound Interest Calculator
Calculate how many years those investments will pay out at what monthly amount - Annuity Payout Calculator
Calculate CPP and OAS and GIS payable. This is not an easy task, but here is a link to help you, or you can just hire Doug Runchey to calculate it for you! Check out the different rates of CPP to retire earlier or later than 65. My Service Canada Account
Calculate how many years net return from house sale will last
Try a couple of different scenarios with different retirement ages and saving amounts...let them see the effects. If they are watching you enjoy the lifestyle that a Defined Benefit Pension can provide, they may assume the same lifestyle awaits them. Unfortunately, the reality can be greatly different, unless they plan for it now.
