Investing As We Age: Pre-Retirees Relying on Homes to Fund Retirement

TORONTO – New research released today by the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) suggests that many Ontarians could be overestimating their ability to finance their retirement using their homes. The research is based on a survey of Ontarians aged 45 and older on financial knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours towards retirement planning.

The survey found that nearly half (45 per cent) of pre-retired Ontario homeowners are relying on the value of their home increasing to fund their retirement. Homeowners without any retirement savings or plan are among those most likely to be counting on the continued appreciation of their home. 

The survey also found substantial gender differences—for example, women aged 55 and older reported that they are more stressed when it comes to retirement planning.

“Owning a home is not a substitute for retirement planning,” said Tyler Fleming, Director of the Investor Office. “Research like our Investing As We Age study is key to improving our understanding of investor needs and issues. It provides important, evidence-based inputs into the OSC’s policy development and our investor education and outreach.”

The research findings will be used to support the development of the OSC’s Seniors Strategy, which the OSC has identified as a priority for its 2017-2018 fiscal year.  

The OSC’s research was conducted by Innovative Research Group and involved an online survey of 1,516 Ontarians, aged 45 and older, between May 9 and 16, 2017. The results were weighted by age, gender and region using the latest Statistics Canada Census data to reflect the actual demographic composition of the adult population aged 45 and older residing in Ontario.

The research findings are available online at InvestorOffice.ca.

Resources on retirement planning are available at GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca.

 

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