Kerry Renaud, pictured at the St. Charles Country Club in Winnipeg, says the transition to retirement was like 'slowing down in a school zone.'Shannon VanRaes/The Globe and Mail
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.
Kerry Renaud, 70, Winnipeg
I officially retired in May, 2025, at the age of 69. The mobility equipment company I worked for was purchased in 2018 by a Japanese entity. I stayed on in an expanded chief executive role for six years and then as an executive advisor for the company for one additional year.
It was really cool because it was a new professional challenge that came along at the end of my career. There was also a lot of back-and-forth travel to the head office in Tokyo, which allowed me to engage with a whole new culture.
The transition to retirement was interesting. I equate it to slowing down in a school zone. It felt like standing still compared with working full-time. There was definitely a transition before I adjusted and found my new speed.
I decided to take up golf again after 30 years without playing and really embraced it, including taking lessons. It opened up a new social pool for my wife and me, even though she doesn’t golf. I also increased my regular exercise regimen, which takes up an additional couple of hours a day.
My wife – who I’ve been with for 53 years, including 44 years of marriage – and I have also started travelling to various international destinations, such as Portugal, Copenhagen and Paris.
I also love to write, and recently finished a tween book about a polar bear family, which I dedicated to my granddaughter. I just loved the whole aspect of writing; whether it’s good or not is irrelevant.
Boredom was a concern in retirement, especially during the first winter, but I’m feeling a lot better now that I’ve been able to dedicate myself to a lot of different activities. My days are full, which is great.
My wife and I are careful about money in retirement, even though we’ve been preparing financially for decades. We have an advisor who manages our investments and helps to develop our financial plan. We also budget and track our expenses. We monitor it closely through an accounting program, along with market progress, allowing us to adjust as needed.
I delayed my Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security benefits until age 70. It made sense for me as I was still working until 69.
It’s important to plan your retirement out to an appropriate age if you can. If possible, use an objective third-party financial advisor. Then, do a regular self-review and follow your progress. Being surprised by negative financial events in retirement can be upsetting and not in anyone’s best interests. The more you plan, the more secure you can feel about maintaining those objectives without lying awake every night worrying about them.
You also need to get comfortable with the fact you’re not going to be engaged the same way in retirement as you were in your working years – and come to terms with it. It will help you enjoy the freedom that retirement affords you and take full advantage of opportunities that come your way.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
Attention retirees! Are you a Canadian retiree interested in discussing what life is like now that you’ve stopped working? The Globe is seeking participants for 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 about how you spend your time. We look forward to sharing your story with our readers.