Roger Jackson (left) and his son Andrew Jackson (right) enjoying a taste of cider in the Blue Lagoon, Iceland, May, 2024.Supplied
In Tales from the Golden Age, retirees talk about their spending, savings and whether life after work is what they expected. For more articles in this series, click here.
Roger Jackson, 65, Sudbury, Ont.
I retired in April, 2024, at the age of 63, after working for 42 years as a geologist, first in the oil exploration industry and then in the mining industry. After leaving my job at a major mining company in April, 2022, I planned to do some part-time consulting work for five years, but then decided to retire after just two years for a few reasons.
Over the past few years, I’d spoken to family and friends who had unfortunately become terminally ill and, in their final days, they all said roughly the same thing: In retrospect, it didn’t matter how big their house was or how many horsepower their pickup truck had. They said, if they could go back in time, they would’ve spent more of their time travelling the world, more time with their kids, and they would have laughed more – even at work. I said to myself, ‘That’s going to be me.’
Also, I’m divorced and have a son with Down Syndrome, now in his mid-30s, and I wanted us to spend even more time together travelling while we both can. I have the time, the money and no restrictions. Leading up to, and since retirement, my son has kissed the Blarney Stone in Ireland, ridden a camel in the Sahara Desert in southern Morocco and climbed the Great Wall of China, to name just a few experiences. He also loves karaoke and has sung in 30 countries (so far). We’re fulfilling my dreams and his interests, and he has experienced more world-class adventures than any other adult I know.
In early 2011, I had the opportunity to convert my defined-benefit pension from a previous employer into a defined-contribution pension. I allocated the majority of those assets to U.S. equities, specifically tracking the S&P 500, which has performed exceptionally well. I’m comfortable as a do-it-yourself investor; however, I do periodic reviews with the retirement specialist at my local bank, who provides a ‘sanity check’ of my financial activities and planning.
I’ve decided to delay receiving my Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security benefits until age 70, at which time the benefit payments will have grown significantly. I treat these as reserve funds that can be sourced sooner if something drastic were to happen.
Roger Jackson (right) and his son Andrew (left) in Florence, Italy in May, 2024.Supplied
When not travelling, I swim once or twice a day and go to the gym. Sudbury is a regional hub for geology and engineering associations and businesses, and there are numerous scientific and mining industry events to keep my gray matter spinning.
What I love most about retirement is that I’m in control of my life, which is headed in exactly the direction I had envisioned for decades.
My advice for others approaching retirement is to explore the world. Don’t just dream about what’s out there, go and experience first-hand the prehistoric, historic and cultural sites. Also, stay physically and mentally fit and maintain and expand your social networks. Get off the couch and get out there!
As told to Brenda Bouw
This interview has been edited and condensed.
Are you a Canadian retiree interested in discussing what life is like now that you’ve stopped working? The Globe is looking for people to participate in its Tales from the Golden Age feature, which examines the personal and financial realities of retirement. If you’re interested in being interviewed for this feature and agree to use your full name and have a photo taken, please e-mail us at: goldenageglobe@gmail.com. Please include a few details about how you saved and invested for retirement and what your life is like now