Skip to Main Content
  • CIBC.com
  • CIBC Private Wealth
  • CIBC Websites
Client Login
  • Home
  • About us
    • Our team
  • What we do
    • Our Detailed Process
    • What makes us different
  • Events & Seminars
  • More Than Money
    • Media
    • Our blog
  • Contact us
  • Connect with Us
  • CIBC.com
  • CIBC Private Wealth
  • CIBC Websites
  • Client Login
 CIBC Private Wealth, Wood Gundy  CIBC Private Wealth, Wood Gundy

Popowich Karmali Advisory Group

  • Home
  • About us
    • Our team
  • What we do
    • Our Detailed Process
    • What makes us different
  • Events & Seminars
  • More Than Money
    • Media
    • Our blog
  • Contact us
  • Connect with Us

Our blog

The PKAG Blog

Keep up to Date

The PKAG Blog

Keep up to Date

Kathryn Olson

December 18, 2024

Facebook
LinkedIn
Twitter
Soccer ball sitting in front of a goal net

Setting S.M.A.R.T. goals for retirement

It’s difficult to reach your destination without actually knowing where you’re headed. And it’s hard to achieve your goals if you haven’t clearly identified them. That’s why PKAG’s retirement planning process always begins with this question: What’s your vision for retirement?

 

And while financial goals are important, retirement is about so much more than money.

 

What are the bucket list experiences that you want to start checking off the list? Where are your dream travel destinations? What experiences have you been putting off during your working years?

 

What do you want your day-to-day life to look like? How do you want to spend your time and who do you want to spend it with? Your answer can involve anything from driving your grandchildren to school to volunteering in your community or joining an exercise class.

 

The beauty of retirement is that your time is now your own - you can spend it however you like. But if you don’t have a plan to make it count, it may slip through your fingers.

What are S.M.A.R.T. goals?

Many of you will have heard of S.M.A.R.T. goals - it’s a popular framework that breaks down your big dreams into actionable steps. It helps you set goals that are:

  • Specific: Clearly define what you want to achieve.

  • Measurable: Determine what success looks like to you and how you can track your progress.

  • Achievable: Ensure your goals are reasonable and attainable.

  • Relevant: Align your goals with your values and priorities.

  • Time-bound: Assign a timeline to your goals to keep you focused and moving forward.

Whether your goals involve your health (i.e. exercising for 30 minutes 3 times a week), personal growth (i.e. taking a class on photography), or social connections (i.e. joining a book club), this simple acronym can help set you up for success in retirement.

How to set S.M.A.R.T. goals

Everyone loves a catchy acronym, but how do you actually go about setting goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound? Start by asking yourself the following questions:

 

What matters to me?: This is a broad question, but it will help you start to narrow in on what you value and what you want to prioritize in retirement. For example, if you value personal growth and don’t want to stop learning just because you’re retired, one of your goals may be taking a class on anything from literature to salsa dancing.

 

How do I define success?: We’re so much more likely to stick to our goals if we can measure our regular progress. So try breaking your goals into more manageable milestones. For example, if you want to focus on your health in retirement, aim to walk 5,000 steps a day and if you achieve that milestone in 6 months, increase that number to 10,000 steps.

 

Are my goals realistic?: Dreaming big is great, but if your goals aren’t realistic you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. Take things like your financial situation and your health into consideration and, if your goal feels overwhelming, start smaller.

 

Do my goals reflect your values?: Why are you setting this goal? Will it contribute to your happiness, health, or financial stability? Retirement goals should reflect what you care about most.

 

What’s my deadline?: A goal without a deadline often falls by the wayside. Assigning a timeframe creates urgency and structure and motivates you to stay on track.

Tips to stay on track

Achieving your goals doesn’t just happen. It takes hard work. Here are some tips to help:

 

Write down your goals: According to a study by Dr. Gail Matthews, people who write down their goals are 42% more likely to achieve them than those who only think about them. Writing something down requires clarity and focus. It transforms abstract thoughts into concrete and actionable steps.

 

Celebrate the wins: Acknowledging even the small milestones you hit as you work to achieve your goals helps you stay motivated.

 

Review and adjust: Life changes, and so might your goals. Review them regularly to ensure they still align with your priorities.

 

Share your goals: Accountability is a key component of achieving your objectives. Telling a friend, family member, work out buddy (or even your financial advisor!) about your goals can help you stick to the plan.

 

Using the S.M.A.R.T. framework to set clear, realistic goals that reflect your values and dreams will empower you to enjoy your retirement to the fullest.

 

Don’t know where to start? PKAG can help you identify your goals and build a plan to reach them. Reach out to us at pkag.ca.

Related posts

Kathryn Olson

January 10, 2025

2025 with sparklers

2025: Is this your year to retire?

It’s 2025 and that has many people making New Year’s resolutions. Some are focusing on getting healthy, while others are learning new skills. But what if your New Year’s resolution is to retire? How d...

Read more

Kathryn Olson

July 26, 2024

Senior woman's retirement savings

Are you afraid of spending in retirement?

"If I just had more money, life would be easier." Sound familiar? The fear of not having enough isn't specific to a particular demographic, but it can be detrimental to your retirement. Where does thi...

Read more
 
 
  • Rates
  • FAQ
  • Agreements
  • Trademarks & Disclaimers
  • Privacy & Security
  • CIRO AdvisorReport
  • Accessibility at CIBC
  • Manage Cookie Preferences
  • Cookie Policy
 Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization  Canadian Investor Protection Fund

CIBC Private Wealth” consists of services provided by CIBC and certain of its subsidiaries through CIBC Private Banking; CIBC Private Investment Counsel, a division of CIBC Asset Management Inc. (“CAM”); CIBC Trust Corporation; and CIBC Wood Gundy, a division of CIBC World Markets Inc. (“WMI”). CIBC Private Banking provides solutions from CIBC Investor Services Inc. (“ISI”), CAM and credit products. CIBC Private Wealth services are available to qualified individuals. Insurance services are only available through CIBC Wood Gundy Financial Services Inc. In Quebec, insurance services are only available through CIBC Wood Gundy Financial Services (Quebec) Inc.


CIBC Private Wealth services are available to qualified individuals. The CIBC logo and “CIBC Private Wealth” are trademarks of CIBC, used under license.