How to retire at 60 with $45,000 in income

Retiring at 60 with no company pension, aiming for $45,000 a year to spend, and relying on CPP and OAS down the road raises a deceptively simple question: how much do you actually need saved by then? This piece works through that for a couple in exactly that spot. The key insight is that once full government benefits kick in, they cover a surprising share of the target, which reframes the real challenge as bridging the gap from 60 until those cheques begin. The column tests a range of scenarios, varying when to start CPP, the return you assume, the type of account the money sits in, and whether spending eases off later in life. The result isn't one magic number but a sensible range. It's a helpful read for anyone planning to retire before government benefits start.