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IMMEDIATE FINANCING ARRANGEMENT (IFA)

FOR CANADIAN CORPORATIONS

An IFA is a practice whereby you take out a premium life insurance policy that has a cash building component, such as an exempt whole or universal life insurance policy, and then directly use the policy as collateral to obtain a loan.


How the IFA works to help you get more tax deductions?

IS ‘PERMANENT LIFE INSURANCE’ A NEED OR A WANT?

Most Canadians are confused about choosing life insurance that caters to their needs. You must be fed up with many advisors, agents, brokers pitching a rosy life insurance product.

6 Reasons Why Retirement Planning

Should Be Your Priority

Retirement management has several benefits that range from both personal and psychological

to financial. Here are several advantages and common reasons for effectively planning your

retirement. As popular saying


“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!”

Important financial decisions that

everyone should make

Some timely decisions that we make have a great impact on our life either immediately or for the years that are yet to come. Taking a right financial decision is the best example of making a timely decision.

How to prepare yourself to face life- threatening situations and make the right financial decisions?

Each one of us begins a new day praying to God for the future of our family and ourselves. We step out of our home for work or any reason without knowing what is going to happen. Many personal unexpected situations might affect your family at large.

Dear reader, The information provided in these blogs is for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal, accounting, financial, or tax advice and should not be relied upon as such. Every financial situation is unique, and it is recommended to consult with a qualified legal or financial professional for personalized guidance.
CPP & OAS payout comparison

Complete CPP & OAS Guide for Canadians Retiring Under 10 Years

May 17, 202524 min read

CPP & OAS Secrets: Your Key to Retiring Early & Richer in Canada

Feeling that itch to trade deadlines for dreamlines? If you're a Canadian professional or business owner eyeing retirement in the next 5-10 years, you're likely wondering how to make it happen without sacrificing your lifestyle. One of the biggest (and often most confusing!) pieces of that puzzle is figuring out your Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS). With recent whispers about economic shifts and the constant evolution of retirement realities, understanding these benefits isn't just smart—it's essential.

Many Canadians approach CPP and OAS with a "set it and forget it" mindset, or worse, make decisions based on outdated advice, potentially leaving tens of thousands of dollars on the table over their lifetime. That's where we, at Hexavision, come in. We're not just financial advisors; we're your financial mentors, here to help you "rethink your retirement" and navigate the path to full financial freedom, often in 10 years or less.

This comprehensive Hexavisionary guide will demystify CPP and OAS for you. We'll break down:

  • What CPP and OAS really are and how they work in 2025.

  • Critical eligibility rules you can't afford to ignore.

  • How your benefits are calculated (and how to potentially boost them!).

  • The pros and cons of taking your benefits early, at the standard age, or later.

  • Strategies to manage the infamous OAS clawback, especially for higher earners.

  • How these government pensions integrate with your broader plan for financial freedom.

Let's transform confusion into clarity and set you on a path to a richer, earlier retirement.

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🇨🇦 CPP Unpacked: Your Hard-Earned Retirement Paycheque (And How to Maximise It!)

Think of the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) as a mandatory savings program you've been contributing to throughout your working life in Canada (unless you worked solely in Quebec, which has the similar Quebec Pension Plan, or QPP). If you're an employee, both you and your employer made contributions. If you're self-employed or an incorporated business owner paying yourself a salary, you've been making both the employee and employer portions. This isn't just a tax; it's an investment in your future income.

Key takeaway for professionals and business owners: Your CPP is a direct result of your pensionable earnings. If you've structured your income primarily as dividends from your corporation, this could significantly impact your CPP entitlement.

Who's Eligible for CPP Retirement Benefits?

Getting your CPP retirement pension is simpler than you might think. As of 2025, you need to meet two basic criteria:

  1. Be at least 60 years old.

  2. Have made at least one valid contribution to the CPP.

That's it. One valid contribution gets your foot in the door. These contributions can come from work you did in Canada or, in some cases, from credits received from a former spouse or common-law partner after a separation.

How is Your CPP Retirement Pension Calculated in 2025?

This is where many Canadians feel a bit lost, but let's simplify. Your CPP pension isn't a flat rate; it's tailored to your specific earnings history. The amount you'll receive depends on:

  • How much you contributed: This is based on your annual earnings up to a yearly maximum set by the government, known as the Year's Maximum Pensionable Earnings (YMPE). For 2025, the YMPE is $71,300. There's also a basic exemption amount ($3,500 in 2025) below which you don't contribute.

  • How long you contributed: The number of years you made valid contributions between age 18 and when you start your pension (typically up to age 65 for calculation purposes, but can extend to 70 if you delay).

  • The age you decide to start your pension: This is a BIG one, which we'll cover in detail.

  • The CPP Enhancement (Post-2019): This is crucial for those still working or recently retired.

The CPP Enhancement Explained:

Starting in 2019, the CPP began a gradual enhancement. This means that if you've been contributing from 2019 onwards, you're building up a larger CPP benefit than those who retired before the enhancement. The goal is to eventually replace about one-third (33.33%) of your average pre-retirement earnings covered by the plan, up from the previous 25%.

This enhancement has two parts:

  1. First Additional Component (2019-2023): Your contributions (and your employer's) increased slightly to fund this bigger pension on earnings up to the YMPE.

  2. Second Additional Component (2024-2025): This introduced a new, higher earnings ceiling called the Year's Additional Maximum Pensionable Earnings (YAMPE). For 2025, the YAMPE is $81,200. You'll make additional contributions (4% for employees and employers each) on earnings between the YMPE ($71,300) and this new YAMPE ($81,200).

What does this mean for you? If you're a higher earner, more of your income is now building your CPP pension, leading to a significantly larger, inflation-protected income stream in retirement. The maximum CPP retirement pension if you start at age 65 in 2025 is $1,433.00 per month. However, the average amount new beneficiaries aged 65 received in late 2024/early 2025 was closer to $800-$900. Your personal amount will depend on your unique earnings history.

Pro Tip: You can get a personalized estimate of your CPP pension by accessing your My Service Canada Account online. This is a critical first step in your planning!

Choosing Your CPP Start Date: The Golden Question (60, 65, or 70?)

You have flexibility in deciding when to start receiving your CPP retirement pension, anytime between age 60 and 70. This decision can impact your monthly payments by thousands over your lifetime.

  • Starting Early (Age 60-64):

    • You can begin receiving your pension as early as age 60.

    • The Catch: Your monthly pension amount is permanently reduced by 0.6% for each month you start before age 65.

    • If you start at age 60 (60 months early), that's a maximum reduction of 36%.

    • Consider this if: You need the income earlier for an early retirement, have health concerns affecting life expectancy, or have a specific financial strategy that benefits from early cash flow.

  • Starting at the Standard Age (Age 65):

    • This is considered the "normal" age to start your pension.

    • You receive your full, unadjusted base pension amount that you've earned.

  • Delaying Your Pension (Age 65-70):

    • You can choose to delay starting your CPP pension up to age 70.

    • The Reward: Your monthly pension amount is permanently increased by 0.7% for each month you delay after age 65.

    • If you delay until age 70 (60 months later), that's a maximum increase of 42%.

    • There's no financial benefit to delaying past age 70.

    • Consider this if: You're in good health, expect a longer lifespan, have other income sources to live on in your 60s, and want to maximise your guaranteed, inflation-protected income for life. This can be a powerful strategy for professionals and business owners aiming for robust financial freedom.

The "Break-Even" Point: Many people ask about the age at which delaying CPP "pays off." Typically, if you live past your early to mid-80s, deferring your CPP results in receiving more total money over your lifetime. However, it's not just about break-even; it's about cash flow, tax efficiency, and longevity insurance.

Other Important CPP Benefits

Beyond the retirement pension, CPP also provides:

  • Post-Retirement Benefit (PRB): If you're under 70, working, and already receiving your CPP retirement pension, you can (or must, if under 65) continue to make CPP contributions. These contributions earn you additional pension amounts, called the PRB, which will be added to your monthly CPP payments for life.

  • Survivor's Pension: A monthly pension paid to the legal spouse or common-law partner of a deceased CPP contributor. The amount depends on the deceased's contributions, the survivor's age, and whether the survivor also receives other CPP benefits.

  • Disability Pension: A monthly benefit for CPP contributors under age 65 who have a severe and prolonged disability that prevents them from working regularly.

  • Death Benefit: A one-time, lump-sum payment made to the estate or eligible individuals of a deceased CPP contributor. As of 2025, this is a flat rate of $2,500, with a potential top-up of another $2,500 in specific circumstances (e.g., no surviving spouse and no retirement/disability pension claimed by the deceased).

  • Children's Benefits: Monthly payments for dependent children (under 18, or 18-25 if in school full-time or, as of 2025, part-time) of disabled or deceased CPP contributors.

Explore how these CPP details fit into your custom retirement roadmap with our Hexavision Retirement Income Calculator.

Diverse Canadian professionals planning early retirement with CPP and OAS strategies for financial freedom.

OAS Explained: Canada's Universal Pension (And How to Keep More of It!)

Old Age Security (OAS) is the other major pillar of Canada's public retirement income system. Unlike CPP, you don't need to have worked or contributed to a specific plan to receive OAS. It's a universal benefit funded from the general tax revenues of the Government of Canada.

Who's Eligible for the OAS Pension?

As of 2025, to qualify for an OAS pension, you generally must:

  • Be 65 years old or older.

  • Residency Requirements:

    • If living in Canada: Be a Canadian citizen or a legal resident when your OAS application is approved AND have resided in Canada for at least 10 years since turning 18.

    • If living outside Canada: Have been a Canadian citizen or legal resident on the day before you left Canada AND have resided in Canada for at least 20 years since turning 18.

  • Canada also has international social security agreements with many countries, which might help you qualify if you don't meet the standard residency rules.

How is Your OAS Pension Calculated?

Your OAS pension amount depends primarily on how long you've lived in Canada after the age of 18.

  • Full Pension: Typically, you need 40 years of residence in Canada after age 18 to receive a full OAS pension.

  • Partial Pension: If you have between 10 and 39 years of residence (if applying in Canada), you may receive a partial pension. This is calculated as 1/40th of the full pension for each complete year of residence.

OAS Pension Amounts for 2025 (April to June quarter):

  • Maximum monthly OAS for ages 65-74: $727.67

  • Maximum monthly OAS for ages 75 and over: $800.44 (this includes an automatic 10% increase that starts the month after you turn 75).

OAS amounts are reviewed quarterly (January, April, July, October) and adjusted for inflation based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

OAS Start Dates: The Deferral Decision (65 vs. 70)

Similar to CPP, you have some choice with OAS:

  • Starting at Age 65: You can begin receiving your OAS pension the month after you turn 65.

  • Deferring Your OAS (Up to Age 70): You can voluntarily delay receiving your OAS pension for up to 60 months (5 years) after you turn 65.

    • The Benefit: For each month you defer, your monthly OAS payment increases by 0.6%, up to a maximum increase of 36% if you delay until age 70.

    • There's no advantage to delaying OAS past age 70.

This deferral can be a powerful tool, especially if you're concerned about the OAS clawback or want to maximise your guaranteed income.

OAS clawback visual: crab taking coins from OAS piggy bank, shielded by financial strategies.

The OAS Clawback (Pension Recovery Tax): A Critical Hurdle for Higher Earners

This is where many successful professionals and business owners need to pay close attention. If your individual net world income in retirement exceeds a certain threshold, you'll have to repay some, or all, of your OAS pension. This is officially called the "OAS pension recovery tax," but everyone knows it as the "clawback."

Key Clawback Figures for the 2025 Income Year (affecting OAS benefits from July 2026 to June 2027):

  • Clawback Threshold: Repayment starts if your 2025 net world income is $93,454.

  • Repayment Rate: You repay 15 cents of OAS for every dollar your income is above this threshold.

  • Full Repayment Thresholds (OAS completely eliminated):

    • Ages 65 to 74: Income of $151,668.

    • Ages 75 and over: Income of $157,490 (higher due to the 10% age 75 OAS increase).

"Net world income" includes your CPP, private pensions, RRIF withdrawals, investment income (interest, dividends, capital gains), net rental income, and employment income, less certain deductions. TFSA withdrawals do not count as income for clawback purposes.

The OAS clawback is a pension recovery tax that reduces your Old Age Security pension if your annual net world income exceeds a specific threshold set by the Canadian government. For the 2025 income year, the clawback begins at an income of $93,454. You must repay 15% of your income above this threshold, potentially reducing your OAS to zero if your income is high enough.

Strategies to minimise the OAS clawback are essential for high-income retirees and are a core part of Hexavision's retirement planning.

Other OAS Program Benefits (Primarily for Lower Income)

The OAS program also includes benefits targeted to low-income seniors:

  • Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS): A non-taxable monthly benefit for OAS pensioners living in Canada with low income. Important: You cannot receive GIS if you are deferring your OAS pension.

  • Allowance: For low-income individuals aged 60-64 whose spouse/common-law partner receives OAS and GIS.

  • Allowance for the Survivor: For low-income individuals aged 60-64 who are widowed.

For many professionals and business owners aiming for financial freedom, income levels may be above the thresholds for these supplementary benefits, making the OAS pension and its clawback the primary focus.

Want to see how the OAS clawback could affect you? Check out the official Government of Canada OAS Clawback information (opens in new tab).

Strategic Timing & Integration: Making CPP & OAS Work Hardest for Your Early Retirement

Simply understanding CPP and OAS isn't enough. The real magic for achieving financial freedom, especially if you want to retire early in Canada, lies in strategic timing and seamless integration with your other financial resources.

Optimising Your CPP & OAS Start Dates: Beyond the Break-Even

Deciding when to take CPP (between 60-70) and OAS (between 65-70) is one of the most impactful retirement decisions you'll make.

  1. Health and Longevity: If you're in excellent health and have a family history of longevity, deferring benefits to get larger monthly payments often makes strong financial sense. These are inflation-protected payments for life – powerful longevity insurance.

  2. Income Needs & Cash Flow for Early Retirement: If you plan to retire at 55 or 60, you'll need income sources before CPP and OAS typically start. This might involve drawing from RRSPs, TFSAs, non-registered accounts, or corporate assets. Deferring CPP/OAS means these other sources need to cover a longer period, but the eventual government pensions will be larger.

  3. Investment Returns vs. Deferral Bonus: Some argue for taking CPP/OAS early and investing it. However, the guaranteed, inflation-adjusted "return" from deferral (8.4% per year for CPP, 7.2% for OAS, plus inflation) is very hard to beat consistently with low-risk investments.

  4. The "Break-Even" Analysis (and its limits): This calculates the age by which deferring benefits results in more cumulative income than taking them early (often early-to-mid 80s). While useful, it doesn't fully capture the value of higher guaranteed income for life or peace of mind.

Taming the OAS Clawback: Smart Strategies for Professionals & Business Owners

For those with potentially higher retirement incomes, minimising the OAS clawback is a top priority. Here are key strategies Hexavision explores with clients:

  1. Income Splitting:

    • Pension Income Splitting: Spouses/common-law partners can split eligible pension income (e.g., RRIF income after age 65, some private pension income) to lower the higher-income spouse's net income, potentially reducing their OAS clawback.

    • CPP Pension Sharing: While not "income splitting" for tax purposes in the same way, CPP sharing (where a portion of one spouse's CPP is assigned to the other) can help equalise incomes and potentially reduce the overall family tax burden, indirectly helping with clawback management.

  2. Strategic RRSP/RRIF Withdrawals:

    • "RRSP Meltdown" before OAS: Consider making RRSP withdrawals in lower-income years before starting OAS (e.g., in early retirement if CPP is also deferred). This reduces future RRIF balances and subsequent mandatory minimum withdrawals that could trigger clawbacks.

    • Younger Spouse for RRIF Calculation: Base RRIF minimum withdrawals on the younger spouse's age to reduce the annual payout.

  3. Maximise Your TFSA: Withdrawals from your Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) are completely tax-free and do not count as income for OAS clawback calculations. This makes TFSAs an incredibly powerful tool for providing tax-efficient income in retirement. The 2025 TFSA contribution limit is $7,000, plus any unused room from previous years.

  4. Timing of Capital Gains: If you anticipate large capital gains (e.g., from selling a business, investment property, or significant non-registered investments), plan the timing carefully. Realising these gains in years before OAS starts, or spreading them out, can help manage the clawback.

  5. For Business Owners: Salary vs. Dividends & Corporate Asset Management:

    • Income Stream from Corporation: The mix of salary vs. dividends drawn from your corporation in retirement significantly impacts net income. Dividends are "grossed up" for tax purposes, which can inflate your income for clawback calculations.

    • Capital Dividends: If your corporation has a Capital Dividend Account, these can be paid out tax-free to shareholders, not impacting OAS.

    • Holding Investments in the Corporation: Sometimes, it can be strategic to keep certain investments inside the corporation and manage withdrawals carefully, rather than taking all income personally.

Integrating CPP & OAS with Your Other Retirement Income Sources

Your CPP and OAS are just two pieces of your retirement income puzzle. A truly effective plan integrates them seamlessly with:

  • Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs) & Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIFs): Withdrawals are taxable. Coordinate these with CPP/OAS to manage your overall tax bracket and OAS clawback.

  • Tax-Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs): Use for tax-free income, especially in years when you want to keep your net income lower for clawback purposes.

  • Non-Registered Investments: Income (interest, dividends, capital gains) is taxable. Structure these for tax efficiency.

  • Corporate Assets (for Business Owners): Plan the drawdown of funds from your company (retained earnings, shareholder loans, etc.) in coordination with personal income needs and tax implications.

A Hexavisionary Tip: Think of your retirement income in "layers." CPP and OAS form a guaranteed base. Then layer on income from RRIFs/RRSPs, then TFSAs, then non-registered or corporate sources, drawing from each strategically to optimise for income stability and tax efficiency.

Discover your optimal withdrawal sequence with our Hexavision Retirement Planning

Common CPP & OAS Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them for Financial Freedom!)

Navigating CPP and OAS can be tricky, and some common misunderstandings can cost you dearly in retirement. Here are mistakes we often see Canadians make, especially those aiming for early retirement and financial freedom:

  1. The "Always Take it Early" Fallacy (CPP at 60, OAS at 65):

    • Mistake: Believing you should grab government benefits as soon as possible because "it's your money" or "you might not live long."

    • Reality & Hexavision Solution: While tempting, this often means accepting a permanently reduced income for life. For those with average or better life expectancy and other income sources, deferring CPP (to 70 for a 42% boost) and OAS (to 70 for a 36% boost) can provide significantly more guaranteed, inflation-protected income, offering superior longevity insurance. We help you analyse the true lifetime value of deferral.

  2. Ignoring the Power of Personalised Estimates:

    • Mistake: Relying on general articles or what a friend receives for CPP/OAS amounts.

    • Reality & Hexavision Solution: Your CPP is unique to your earnings history. Your OAS depends on your residency. Always get your latest statements and estimates directly from your My Service Canada Account. We use these precise figures as the foundation for your Hexavision retirement roadmap.

  3. Underestimating or Mismanaging the OAS Clawback:

    • Mistake: Not factoring in the OAS clawback until it's too late, or not realising how various income sources (like RRIF withdrawals or even CPP itself) contribute to it.

    • Reality & Hexavision Solution: For professionals and business owners, the clawback is a major planning point. We proactively model your income streams and implement strategies (like TFSA maximisation, income splitting, strategic RRSP withdrawals) before you start OAS to help you keep more of it.

  4. Business Owners: The Salary vs. Dividend Blind Spot for CPP:

    • Mistake: Paying yourself exclusively in dividends from your corporation to save on immediate taxes, without realising this means you're not contributing to CPP and may have little to no CPP pension.

    • Reality & Hexavision Solution: While dividends are tax-efficient in some contexts, a complete lack of salary means missing out on building a valuable, guaranteed CPP pension. We help business owners find the right balance between current tax efficiency and long-term retirement security, often recommending a reasonable salary to maximise CPP contributions.

  5. Not Coordinating Spousal Benefits (CPP Pension Sharing):

    • Mistake: Married or common-law couples not exploring CPP pension sharing, especially when there's a significant difference in their CPP entitlements and/or tax brackets.

    • Reality & Hexavision Solution: CPP pension sharing allows a couple to receive a portion of each other's CPP retirement pension. While the total family CPP amount doesn't change, it can lead to overall tax savings if income is shifted from a higher-income spouse to a lower-income one. We assess this for all eligible couples.

  6. Treating CPP/OAS Decisions in Isolation:

    • Mistake: Deciding on CPP or OAS timing without considering your RRSPs, TFSAs, corporate assets, other pensions, investment portfolio, tax situation, and overall retirement lifestyle goals.

    • Reality & Hexavision Solution: CPP and OAS are integral parts of your total retirement income plan. Hexavision's mentorship focuses on a holistic strategy, ensuring your government pension decisions align perfectly with all other aspects of your financial life to achieve your goal of financial freedom in 10 years or less.

Avoiding these mistakes isn't about luck; it's about informed, proactive planning.

Ready to ensure your CPP & OAS strategy is optimised? Explore the Hexavision Mentorship Program for personalised guidance.

Your Retirement GPS: Hexavision's Holistic Approach to CPP & OAS

At Hexavision, we believe that making the right decisions about your CPP and OAS is fundamental to achieving financial freedom and your desired early retirement. We don't offer generic advice; we provide a personalized "Retirement GPS" that navigates the complexities of these programs within the full context of your unique financial life.

Our approach is built on six core pillars, ensuring every CPP and OAS strategy aligns with your bigger picture:

  1. Financial Security Pillar: We analyse how different CPP/OAS timing scenarios impact your baseline guaranteed income, ensuring your essential needs are covered for life, especially with the prospect of a longer retirement if you retire early.

  2. Tax Optimisation Pillar: Maximising your after-tax retirement income is paramount. We model the tax implications of various CPP/OAS claiming ages, integrating strategies to minimise the OAS clawback and optimise withdrawals from all account types (RRSP, TFSA, corporate).

  3. Health & Longevity Pillar: Your personal health and family longevity are key inputs. We discuss how these factors influence the "value" of deferring CPP and OAS, which act as powerful longevity insurance.

  4. Lifestyle & Goals Pillar: Your desired retirement lifestyle dictates your income needs. We ensure your CPP/OAS strategy supports your dreams, whether it's travel, hobbies, or more time with family, especially if you're aiming to retire in the next 10 years.

  5. Wealth Transfer & Estate Pillar: While CPP/OAS are primarily for your lifetime income, strategic decisions can indirectly impact your estate by preserving other assets. We consider this as part of your overall legacy planning.

  6. Risk Management Pillar: CPP and OAS are virtually risk-free, inflation-protected income sources. Optimising them helps mitigate market volatility and inflation risk in your overall portfolio.

How Hexavision Helps You Time it Right:

  • Personalised Projections: We use your actual Service Canada CPP estimates and model various start-date scenarios.

  • OAS Clawback Minimisation: We develop proactive strategies to help you keep as much of your OAS as possible.

  • Integration with All Assets: We show you how CPP and OAS fit with your RRSPs, TFSAs, business assets, and other investments for a cohesive drawdown plan.

  • Business Owner Specialisation: For entrepreneurs, we delve into salary vs. dividend planning, corporate investment strategies, and tax-efficient ways to extract funds from your company in retirement, all while optimising CPP/OAS.

  • Early Retirement Focus: Our strategies are specifically geared towards helping you achieve financial freedom and retire comfortably in 10 years or less, making CPP/OAS timing even more critical.

With Hexavision, you're not just getting information; you're getting a dedicated financial mentor and a clear roadmap.

💬 FAQs: Your CPP & OAS Questions Answered

Q: When is the best age to take CPP in Canada?

A: There's no single "best" age; it's highly personal. Taking CPP at 60 means a reduced monthly payment for life. Delaying to 70 means a significantly larger monthly payment. Consider your health, other income sources, and longevity expectations. For many healthy individuals who can bridge the income gap, deferral to 65 or 70 is often financially advantageous over the long term.

Q: How many years do you have to live in Canada to get full OAS in 2025?

A: To receive a full Old Age Security (OAS) pension, you generally must have resided in Canada for at least 40 years after the age of 18. If you have fewer than 40 years but at least 10 years (if applying in Canada), you may qualify for a partial OAS pension.

Q: Can I receive CPP and OAS if I retire early in Canada, say at 55?

A: You can't start your OAS pension before age 65. You can start a reduced CPP retirement pension as early as age 60. If you retire at 55, you'll need other income sources to bridge the gap until you're eligible for CPP and then OAS.

Q: How does working while receiving CPP affect my pension?

A: If you work while receiving your CPP retirement pension and are under age 70, you can continue to contribute to CPP (it's mandatory if under 65, optional between 65-70). These contributions will earn you a Post-Retirement Benefit (PRB), which will increase your overall monthly CPP payments for life. Your existing CPP pension amount is not reduced because you are working.

Q: What is the maximum CPP and OAS for 2025?

A: For 2025, the maximum monthly CPP retirement pension starting at age 65 is $1,433.00. The maximum monthly OAS pension for ages 65-74 (April-June 2025) is $727.67, and for ages 75+ it's $800.44. Remember, your actual CPP will depend on your contribution history.

Q: Will my CPP and OAS benefits affect my spouse's benefits?

A: Generally, your CPP and OAS benefits are calculated based on your own eligibility (contributions for CPP, residency for OAS) and do not directly reduce your spouse's entitlement to their own CPP or OAS. However, for OAS-related benefits like the GIS or Allowance, household income (which would include both spouses' CPP and OAS) is considered. CPP pension sharing can also reallocate payments between spouses for tax purposes.

Q: How can I avoid or reduce the OAS clawback if I'm a high-income earner?

A: Strategies to reduce the OAS clawback include optimising TFSA contributions (as withdrawals are not income), income splitting with a spouse (e.g., pension income splitting), strategic timing of RRSP/RRIF withdrawals, managing investment income for tax efficiency, and for business owners, careful planning of salary versus dividends. Deferring OAS to age 70 can also provide a larger base pension, meaning you keep more even if some is clawed back..

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📣 Your Journey to Financial Freedom Starts Now!

Navigating the complexities of CPP and OAS, especially when you're aiming to retire early in Canada and achieve full financial freedom in 10 years or less, can feel daunting. But it doesn't have to be a solo mission filled with guesswork.

The decisions you make about these foundational government pensions today will echo throughout your retirement. Will they be a gentle stream, or a robust river of income supporting the life you've worked so hard to build?

At Hexavision, we're passionate about empowering you with the knowledge and personalised strategies to make the best choices for your unique situation. We help you see the complete picture, optimise every opportunity, and build a retirement plan that's not just secure, but also exciting.

You don’t have to guess your way to retirement. Let’s build your plan together.

Ready to take control and transform your retirement outlook?

  • Join our FREE Hexavision Retirement Mentorship Program: Get ongoing insights, tools, and support to accelerate your journey to financial freedom. Click Here to Learn More & Join!

  • Download Your In-Depth Guide: Grab your complimentary copy of "A Complete Hexavisionary Guide to CPP and OAS When You Retire" for even more detailed strategies. Download Now! (Link to be created)

  • Book a No-Obligation Discovery Session: Let's chat about your retirement goals and see how Hexavision can help you create a clear path forward. Schedule Your Free Call Today!

Your financially free, early retirement is within reach. Let Hexavision help you make it a reality.


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blog author image

Kanwaljit (Sunny) Kochar

I am a passionate financial expert and the creator of the Total Financial Freedom Mentorship Program for Canadians. With over 30 years of experience in various business & industries, I have helped people grow and succeed over time. As a Personal Financial Coach specializing in retirement planning and management for Canadians, I and my team work with executives and entrepreneurs to help them build their wealth 3 times faster. Our goal is to help them not only get out of bad debt but also achieve total financial freedom, retire early and wealthy, all without strict budgeting. This allows them to still enjoy vacations, treat their kids, and spend quality time together as a family. I am also the CEO & Founder of Team Hexavision.

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IMMEDIATE FINANCING ARRANGEMENT (IFA)

FOR CANADIAN CORPORATIONS

An IFA is a practice whereby you take out a premium life insurance policy that has a cash building component, such as an exempt whole or universal life insurance policy, and then directly use the policy as collateral to obtain a loan. In this way, you gain the full benefit from the insurance policy, yet you are still able to use your money to build your business or to invest in other income-generating avenues.


How the IFA works to help you get more tax deductions?

IS ‘PERMANENT LIFE INSURANCE’ A NEED OR A WANT?

Most Canadians are confused about choosing life insurance that caters to their needs. You must be fed up with many advisors, agents, brokers pitching a rosy life insurance product.

6 Reasons Why Retirement Planning Should Be Your Priority

Retirement management has several benefits that range from both personal and psychological to financial. Here are several advantages and common reasons for effectively planning your retirement. As popular saying


“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!”

Important financial decisions that

everyone should make

Some timely decisions that we make have a great impact on our life either immediately or for the years that are yet to come. Taking a right financial decision is the best example of making a timely decision.

How to prepare yourself to face life- threatening situations and make the right financial decisions?

Each one of us begins a new day praying to God for the future of our family and ourselves. We step out of our home for work or any reason without knowing what is going to happen. Many personal unexpected situations might affect your family at large.

Working Hours

🟢 Monday to Saturday : 9:30 AM - 6:30 PM

🔴 Sunday : Closed

Our Service Area

Ontario | Quebec

Alberta | Nova Scotia

British Columbia | Saskatchewan

New Brunswick

Join Our Blogs

Kanwaljit (Sunny) Kochar DBA Hexavision Enterprise is licensed to sell Segregated Funds investments, Life and A&S Insurance products in Ontario, Alberta, QC, NB, SK, NS and British Columbia. Not available in other provinces.

License #s: FSCO LIC#17161321 (ON), AIC LIC # M-3493167-1763384-2020 (AL), BC LIC#LIC-2020-0022136-R01 (BC). Insurance and segregated funds provided by Carte Risk Management Inc.

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@ 2025 Hexavision Enterprise| Terms And Condition| Privacy Policy | Advisor Disclosure

© 2025 Hexavision Enterprise. All rights reserved

Our Service Area

Ontario | Quebec

Alberta | Nova Scotia

British Columbia | Saskatchewan

New Brunswick

Working Hours

🟢 Monday to Friday : 9:30 - 6:30 EST

🔴 Saturday and Sunday : Closed

Join Our Blogs/Newsletter

Kanwaljit (Sunny) Kochar DBA Hexavision Enterprise is licensed to sell Segregated Funds investments, Life and A&S Insurance products in Ontario, Alberta, QC, NB, SK, NS and British Columbia. Not available in other provinces. License #s: FSCO LIC#17161321 (ON), AIC LIC # M-3493167-1763384-2020 (AL), BC LIC#LIC-2020-0022136-R01 (BC), AMF LIC# 2023-CI-1016414(QC), LIC # 087345 (SK), FCSC LIC# 220039066 (NB) Insurance and segregated funds provided by Carte Risk Management Inc.

Hexavision Logo

@ 2025 Hexavision Enterprise| Terms And Condition| Privacy Policy | Advisor Disclosure

© 2025 Hexavision Enterprise. All rights reserved