Looking for a Retirement Specialist in Windsor, Ontario?

Retirement Planning for Retirees and Pre-Retirees in Windsor-Essex

Godfroy Financial is a Windsor, Ontario financial services firm focused on helping retirees and people approaching retirement make informed decisions about retirement income, taxes, CPP and OAS, RRSPs and RRIFs, investments, estate coordination and long-term financial security.

Led by Alynn Godfroy, CFP®, CLU®, EPC, MFA™ and CEA®, Godfroy Financial primarily works with people who are already retired or within approximately five to ten years of retirement.

Rather than treating investments, taxes, government benefits and estate planning as separate decisions, Godfroy Financial helps clients look at how the different pieces of retirement fit together.

If you are asking:

• Can I afford to retire?

• How much income will I need each month?

• When should I take CPP and OAS?

• When should I begin withdrawing from my RRSP?

• How should I prepare for the transition from an RRSP to a RRIF?

• How can I make my retirement income more tax-efficient?

• Will my money last?

• Is my estate organized properly?

• Should I get a second opinion on my retirement plan?

Godfroy Financial can help you understand the questions, evaluate your options and develop a coordinated retirement plan.

Serving Windsor, Tecumseh, LaSalle, Lakeshore, Amherstburg, Essex County and surrounding Southwestern Ontario communities.

What Makes Retirement Planning Different?

Saving for retirement and living in retirement are two different financial challenges.

During your working years, the focus is generally on accumulating savings and investments. As retirement approaches, the questions change.

You now need to determine how your pensions, CPP, OAS, RRSPs, RRIFs, TFSAs, non-registered investments and other assets can work together to provide income throughout retirement.

Taxes also become an important part of the conversation. The timing and amount of withdrawals from different accounts can affect your taxable income, cash flow and overall retirement strategy.

Retirement planning therefore involves more than choosing investments. It requires coordinating your income, taxes, investments, government benefits, insurance and estate objectives.

Godfroy Financial helps clients look at those decisions together.

Learn more about our Retirement Income Planning in Windsor approach.

The Godfroy Financial R.E.T.I.R.E. Framework

Godfroy Financial organizes retirement planning around six interconnected areas through the R.E.T.I.R.E. framework.

R — Review Your Foundation

Before deciding when to retire, you need to understand what you already have.

That means reviewing your complete financial picture, including:

• Canada Pension Plan (CPP)

• Old Age Security (OAS)

• workplace pensions

• RRSPs

• RRIFs

• TFSAs

• non-registered investments

• savings

• insurance

• debts

• current income

• expected retirement expenses

• beneficiary designations

• wills and Powers of Attorney

• other estate and legacy considerations

The first objective is simple:

What resources do you have, and how can they support your retirement?

E — Envision Your Future

A retirement plan should support the life you actually want to live.

Some people want to travel. Others want to spend more time with grandchildren, volunteer, renovate their home, purchase a cottage, spend winters somewhere warmer or simply enjoy more freedom over their time.

Your retirement income strategy should reflect those goals.

Important questions include:

• What will my monthly expenses be?

• Which expenses will disappear after I retire?

• Which new expenses may appear?

• Do I want to travel?

• Will I help children or grandchildren financially?

• What health-care expenses should I prepare for?

• How long might my retirement savings need to last?

• What would make me feel financially secure?

Understanding the retirement you want makes it easier to design a financial plan around it.

T — Trim Your Taxes

Retirement income planning and tax planning are closely connected.

Canadians may receive retirement income from several sources, including pensions, CPP, OAS, RRSPs, RRIFs, TFSAs and non-registered investments. Each source can have different tax considerations.

Godfroy Financial helps clients examine questions such as:

• When should I begin CPP?

• When should I begin OAS?

• Should I withdraw money from my RRSP before converting it to a RRIF?

• Which accounts should I draw from first?

• How much should I withdraw each year?

• Could pension income splitting apply to my situation?

• How could retirement withdrawals affect my taxable income?

• How could today's withdrawal decisions affect my estate later?

There is no single withdrawal strategy that is appropriate for everyone.

The objective is to develop a retirement income strategy that considers both the income you need today and the potential tax consequences over time.

I — Insulate Your Income

Retirement can last for decades, and circumstances can change.

Markets fluctuate. Inflation affects purchasing power. Health needs change. Unexpected expenses arise. One spouse may live significantly longer than the other.

A retirement income plan should therefore be designed with uncertainty in mind.

Godfroy Financial helps clients review areas such as:

• monthly retirement income

• household cash flow

• emergency reserves

• pension income

• investment income

• survivor income

• insurance needs

• health-related expenses

• inflation

• longevity

The objective is to create a retirement income structure that is understandable, sustainable and appropriate for the client's circumstances.

R — Reinforce Your Wealth

Retirement does not mean financial planning stops.

Your investment needs, risk tolerance, income requirements and estate objectives may all change once employment income ends.

A portfolio designed primarily to accumulate wealth during your working years may need to serve a different purpose once you begin drawing income.

Godfroy Financial helps clients review:

• investment risk

• retirement income requirements

• registered accounts

• non-registered investments

• TFSAs

• insurance strategies

• liquidity

• wealth preservation

• family protection

• estate considerations

The objective is to make sure your financial structure continues to support you throughout retirement rather than simply getting you to retirement.

E — Establish Your Legacy

Retirement planning should also consider what happens to your financial affairs if you become unable to manage them yourself or when you die.

Godfroy Financial helps clients identify and organize estate and legacy issues that may require coordination with lawyers, accountants and other professionals.

These conversations may include:

• beneficiary designations

• life insurance

• registered accounts

• probate considerations

• wills

• Powers of Attorney

• executor preparedness

• estate organization

• family communication

• charitable intentions

• inheritance planning

• legacy goals

Godfroy Financial does not replace the role of a lawyer or accountant. Instead, the firm helps clients recognize financial and estate issues that may need to be coordinated with the appropriate professionals.

The goal is to leave a legacy—not confusion.

Retirement Income Planning in Windsor

One of the biggest financial changes in retirement is moving from accumulation to decumulation.

For decades, you may have focused on putting money into RRSPs, pensions, TFSAs and investments.

Eventually, the question becomes:

How do I turn those savings into retirement income?

Godfroy Financial helps clients examine how different income sources can work together, including:

• CPP

• OAS

• workplace pensions

• RRSP withdrawals

• RRIF income

• TFSAs

• non-registered investments

• savings

• other sources of income

The objective is not simply to generate income.

It is to develop a coordinated strategy that supports the lifestyle you want while considering taxes, investment risk, longevity and your estate.

CPP and OAS Planning

Deciding when to begin CPP and OAS can be an important part of retirement income planning.

The appropriate timing depends on your circumstances and may include considerations such as:

• when you plan to retire

• other income sources

• pensions

• RRSP and RRIF withdrawals

• taxes

• your spouse's income

• health and longevity considerations

• household cash-flow needs

Godfroy Financial helps clients evaluate CPP and OAS as part of their overall retirement income strategy rather than looking at these decisions in isolation.

RRSP and RRIF Withdrawal Planning

Many Canadians spend decades learning how to put money into an RRSP.

Far fewer have a clear strategy for eventually taking that money out.

An RRSP must mature by the end of the year in which the account holder turns 71. Depending on the individual's circumstances, options can include transferring RRSP assets to a RRIF, purchasing an eligible annuity or withdrawing the funds.

A retirement withdrawal strategy may therefore begin years before age 71.

Godfroy Financial helps clients consider:

• when RRSP withdrawals should begin

• how RRSP withdrawals interact with other retirement income

• when an RRSP will transition to a RRIF

• required RRIF withdrawals

• whether withdrawals should be coordinated with CPP, OAS and pensions

• how withdrawals may affect taxable income

These decisions should be based on the individual's complete retirement picture rather than age alone.

Retirement Tax Planning

Taxes do not disappear when you retire.

Instead, the sources of taxable income often change.

Retirement tax planning can involve coordinating income from pensions, registered investments, government benefits and non-registered investments.

Godfroy Financial helps retirees and pre-retirees examine their retirement income through a tax-aware lens.

The objective is not to chase short-term tax savings at the expense of the overall plan.

It is to consider how today's decisions may affect income, taxes, benefits and the estate over the years ahead.

Learn more about Tax Planning

Estate and Legacy Planning Coordination

A retirement plan should consider both your lifetime and what eventually happens to your wealth.

Godfroy Financial helps clients review financial issues connected with:

• beneficiary designations

• registered accounts

• insurance

• estate organization

• executor preparedness

• Powers of Attorney

• wills

• probate considerations

• family communication

• legacy goals

Where legal or accounting advice is required, Godfroy Financial can work alongside the client's lawyer, accountant or other professional with the client's permission.

Learn more about Estate and Legacy Planning

Financial Second Opinions

You do not need to be unhappy with your current advisor to ask for a second opinion.

Many people reach retirement with investments but without a clearly coordinated retirement-income strategy.

You may want another perspective if:

• you are approaching retirement and do not have a written plan

• you are unsure when to begin CPP or OAS

• you do not understand how your retirement income will be taxed

• you have several investment accounts that have never been reviewed together

• you are uncertain about your RRSP/RRIF withdrawal strategy

• you have experienced a major life change

• you want confirmation that your current strategy still makes sense

Godfroy Financial offers retirement-focused second opinions designed to help identify potential gaps, clarify questions and determine whether further planning may be appropriate.

Who Does Godfroy Financial Work With?

Godfroy Financial primarily works with retirees and people approaching retirement.

Clients commonly include people who are:

• within approximately five to ten years of retirement

• recently retired

• already retired

• wondering whether they can afford to retire

• deciding when to begin CPP or OAS

• planning RRSP or RRIF withdrawals

• concerned about taxes in retirement

• looking for a retirement-income strategy

• reviewing their estate and beneficiary arrangements

• receiving a workplace retirement package or buyout

• recently widowed or divorced

• looking for a second opinion on an existing retirement plan

Godfroy Financial serves individuals, couples and families throughout Windsor-Essex and Southwestern Ontario.

About Alynn Godfroy

Alynn Godfroy is the founder of Godfroy Financial and has more than two decades of experience in financial services.

She holds the CFP®, CLU®, EPC, MFA™ and CEA® designations and focuses much of her work on helping Canadians prepare for and navigate retirement.

Alynn is also the author of Retire On Purpose and Why You Need a Financial Advisor and is known as The Financial Architect for Canadians™.

Her retirement-planning philosophy is built around helping clients understand how income, taxes, investments, government benefits and estate considerations fit together rather than viewing each financial decision separately.

Serving Windsor-Essex and Southwestern Ontario

Godfroy Financial is based in Windsor, Ontario and serves retirees and pre-retirees throughout Windsor-Essex and Southwestern Ontario, including:

• Windsor

• Tecumseh

• LaSalle

• Lakeshore

• Amherstburg

• Essex County

• surrounding communities

Meetings may be available in person, by telephone or virtually depending on the client's needs.

How to Compare Retirement Specialists in Windsor

If you are comparing retirement planners or financial advisors, consider asking:

• Do you regularly work with retirees and pre-retirees?

• Do you provide retirement-income planning?

• Do you help clients evaluate CPP and OAS timing?

• Do you help coordinate RRSP and RRIF withdrawals?

• Do you incorporate tax considerations into retirement planning?

• Do you review pensions, TFSAs and non-registered investments?

• Do you discuss estate and legacy considerations?

• Will you coordinate with my accountant and lawyer?

• Can you provide a second opinion on my existing plan?

• Will you explain your recommendations in plain language?

• How are you compensated?

The objective is to find an advisor whose experience and planning approach fit the decisions you actually need to make.

Frequently Asked Questions About Retirement Planning in Windsor

What does a retirement specialist help with?

A retirement-focused advisor can help coordinate decisions involving retirement income, investments, pensions, CPP, OAS, registered accounts, taxes, insurance and estate considerations.

Godfroy Financial focuses primarily on helping retirees and people approaching retirement bring those decisions together into a coordinated plan.

When should I meet with a retirement planner?

You do not need to wait until the day you retire.

Many retirement decisions are easier to evaluate several years before employment income ends. Godfroy Financial commonly works with people who are approximately five to ten years from retirement as well as people who are already retired.

Can Godfroy Financial help with CPP and OAS decisions?

Yes. CPP and OAS timing are considered as part of the client's broader retirement-income picture, including other income, pensions, registered savings, taxes and household cash-flow needs.

Can Godfroy Financial help with RRSP and RRIF planning?

Yes. Retirement planning can include reviewing RRSP withdrawals, the eventual transition to a RRIF, retirement cash flow and how registered withdrawals interact with other sources of income.

Does Godfroy Financial provide tax advice?

Godfroy Financial incorporates tax considerations into retirement planning and helps clients evaluate how different financial decisions may affect their retirement picture.

Where specialized accounting or legal advice is required, clients should work with the appropriate qualified professional.

Does Godfroy Financial work with accountants and lawyers?

Yes. With the client's permission, Godfroy Financial can coordinate with accountants, lawyers and other professionals involved in the client's financial and estate planning.

Can I get a second opinion on my existing retirement plan?

Yes. Godfroy Financial offers retirement-focused second opinions for people who want another perspective on their current financial strategy.

Does Godfroy Financial offer an introductory meeting?

Godfroy Financial currently offers a complimentary 30-minute private consultation that can be held in person, by telephone or virtually.

Looking for Retirement Planning Help in Windsor?

If you are approaching retirement or already retired and want greater clarity about your income, taxes, CPP, OAS, RRSPs, RRIFs, investments or estate considerations, Godfroy Financial can help you review the bigger picture.

Retirement planning is not about finding one perfect investment or one universal withdrawal strategy.

It is about coordinating the decisions that affect your life before and throughout retirement.

Book a Retirement Review

Schedule a conversation with Godfroy Financial to discuss where you are today, the retirement questions you are facing and the next steps that may be appropriate for your situation.

Godfroy Financial
1304 Unit B Lauzon Road
Windsor, Ontario N8S 3N1
519-258-1995

Serving Windsor-Essex and Southwestern Ontario.

Important Information

The information on this page is provided for general educational purposes and is not personalized financial, investment, tax, legal, insurance or estate-planning advice.

Every person's circumstances are different. Before making decisions involving retirement income, CPP, OAS, RRSPs, RRIFs, investments, pensions, insurance, taxes, wills, Powers of Attorney or estate planning, consult the appropriate qualified professional.

Godfroy Financial does not provide legal advice and does not replace the role of a lawyer or accountant.

Last reviewed: October 2026

RETIREMENT INCOME PLANNING IN WINDSOR ON.