Scenarios for different
life stages & savings goals

Let’s look at a few people in different life stages and how they made their Pension & Savings Program decisions. Who can you relate to?

Early career

Priyanka
Age: 24
Family: Single
Housing: Renter
Top Saving Goals:
Pay down student debt, Travel, Home purchase
Taylor
Age: 29
Family: Engaged
Housing: Renter
Top Saving Goals:
Retirement with flexibility
Hang
Age: 34
Family: Married
Housing: Home owner
Top Saving Goals:
Home renovations, Retirement

Priyanka

Priyanka is at the start of her career. She is focused on paying down her student debt, but also wants to travel and enjoy new experiences. Down the road, she would like to purchase her first condo.

To meet these goals, Priyanka decides to:

RRSP

Contribute 4% to the RRSP

  • She will use the money for the Homebuyers’ Plan  in a few years
  • Priyanka will receive a 100% Company match on these contributions
TFSA

Contribute 2% to the TFSA

  • She will have flexibility on how and when to use her savings, while earning investment income, tax free
  • Priyanka will benefit from much lower investment fees than she would from a personal TFSA

Note: because she is already receiving a 4% Company match on her RRSP contributions, Priyanka will not receive any matching contributions to the TFSA.

Taylor

Taylor joined Johnson & Johnson two years ago. They are focused on saving for retirement but are not yet sure where they will be in 10 or 20 years from now, so they’re looking for flexibility.

To meet these goals, Taylor decides to:

DC

Contribute 4% to the DC plan

  • Taylor will have greater flexibility and portability of their retirement savings over time
  • They will receive a 100% Company match on these contributions

Hang

Hang has been with Johnson & Johnson for six years. She owns a fixer upper and is saving to do renovations, while making sure she does not lose sight of retirement savings.

To meet these goals, Hang decides to:

DB

Contribute 2.25% to the optional DB

  • This will boost her monthly retirement income
TFSA

Contribute 1.75% to the TFSA

  • Hang will save for home renovations while allowing her money to earn investment income, tax free
  • She will also maximize Company matching contributions; the Company will match her contributions at 50%

A little bit more about Hang’s decision


At this time, Hang can only spare to save 4% of her earnings. Given her short-term savings goals, she decides to put money into the TFSA even though TFSA contributions will earn only a 50% Company match. If she decided to contribute to the DC, RRSP or OACs instead, she would have received a 100% Company match.

Mid career

Amir
Age: 38
Family: Married, 3 kids
Housing: Home owner
Top Saving Goals:
Childcare, A bigger home
Tony
Age: 40
Family: Married, 2 kids
Housing: Home owner
Top Saving Goals:
Children’s education, Retirement
Allison
Age: 45
Family: 2 kids
Housing: Renter
Top Saving Goals:
Children’s education, Retirement

Amir

Amir has been with Johnson & Johnson for four years. His family is growing, and he is looking to buy a larger home while balancing childcare costs.

To meet these goals, Amir decides to:

RRSP

Contribute 4% to the RRSP

  • He will save on taxes today and will receive a 100% Company match on these contributions
TFSA

Contribute 2% to the TFSA

  • Amir wants to save for a down payment and childcare, while allowing his money to earn investment income, tax free
  • Amir will benefit from much lower fees than he would from a personal TFSA

Note: because he is already receiving a 4% Company match on his RRSP contributions, Amir will not receive any matching contributions to the TFSA.

Tony

Tony joined Johnson & Johnson 11 years ago. He is focused on saving for his children’s education and increasing his retirement income.

To meet these goals, Tony decides to:

DB

Contribute 2.25% to the optional DB

  • This will boost his monthly retirement income
DC

Contribute 1.75% to the DC plan

  • This gives Tony more flexibility on how and when to withdraw his retirement savings
  • He will receive a 100% Company match on these contributions
TSFA

Contribute 4% to the TFSA

  • Tony wants to save for his children’s education, while allowing his money to earn investment income, tax free
  • Tony will benefit from much lower fees than he would from a personal TFSA

Note: because he is already receiving the maximum Company match on his DB/DC contributions, Tony will not receive any matching contributions to the TFSA.

Allison

Allison has been with Johnson & Johnson for 17 years. Since she doesn’t own her home, she feels it is even more important to make sure she has enough money saved for retirement.

To meet these goals, Allison decides to:

DB

Contribute 2.25% to the optional DB

  • This will boost her monthly retirement income
DC

Contribute 1.75% to the DC plan

  • This gives Allison more flexibility on how and when to withdraw her retirement savings
  • She will receive a 100% Company match on these contributions

Approaching retirement

Sundeep
Age: 51
Family: Married, 3 kids
Housing: Home owner
Top Saving Goals:
Retirement, Home renovations
Aamna
Age: 54
Family: Married, 2 adult children, 1 grand child
Housing: Home owner
Top Saving Goals:
Early retirement, Travel
Scott
Age: 60
Family: 1 adult child
Housing: Home owner
Top Saving Goals:
Retirement

Sundeep

Sundeep is planning to retire in about 14 years. Before retiring, he wants to save enough to repair the roof and windows of his home.

To meet these goals, Sundeep decides to:

DC

Contribute 4% to the DC plan

  • This will enhance his retirement income and help him save on taxes today
  • He will receive a 100% Company match on these contributions
TFSA

Contribute 4% to the TFSA

  • Sundeep will save for home renovations, while allowing his money to earn investment income, tax free
  • He will benefit from much lower fees than he would from a personal TFSA

Note: because he is already receiving a 4% Company match on his DC contributions, Sundeep will not receive any matching contributions to the TFSA.

Aamna

Aamna is planning to retire early, in the next three to four years. She is focused on boosting her retirement income and minimizing a reduction to her pension.

To meet these goals, Aamna decides to:

DB

Contribute 2.25% to the optional DB

  • This will boost her monthly retirement income
OACs

Contribute 1.75% to the OACs

  • She can purchase additional benefits at retirement, such as minimizing her early retirement reduction
  • She will receive a 100% Company match on these contributions (paid into her Non-registered account)

Scott

Scott is planning to retire within five years. He is savvy with the investment market and enjoys taking a hands-on approach to his retirement savings.

To increase his retirement savings, Scott decides to:

DC

Contribute 4% to the DC plan

  • This gives Scott flexibility on how and when to withdraw his retirement savings and how to invest the money
  • He will receive a 100% Company match on these contributions

The scenarios shown here are for illustrative purposes only, and your personal situation may differ. CRA limits how much you can contribute each year to tax-deferred savings options. It is your responsibility to ensure you don’t exceed your limit — and remember that Johnson & Johnson matching contributions are also deducted from your personal limit. Find the current limits here .