When should you take CPP? The math depends.
Take Canada Pension Plan at 60 and the cheque is permanently smaller. Wait until 70 and it can be 42% larger for life. The right age depends on your other income, your OAS, your spouse, life expectancy, and more. Optiml models every age 60 to 70 for your specific situation.
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CPP & OAS timing set
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OAS clawback avoided
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Spousal income split
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Lifetime tax minimized
As seen in: Globe and Mail · Financial Post · Invest Nova Scotia · fintech.ca · Moolala Podcast
140,000+ plans run
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PIPEDA compliant
Three illustrative ages
60. 65. 70. Each is a different lifetime cheque.
Three illustrative snapshots based on the maximum 2026 CPP benefit. Real numbers depend on your contribution history. Optiml runs every month from 60 to 70 for your specific situation.
Age 60: about 36% smaller
Starting at the earliest possible month locks in the largest reduction. On the maximum 2026 benefit, the cheque is roughly $917 per month instead of $1,433. The cash arrives 5 years sooner, which matters if you need the income or expect a shorter retirement.
Age 65: the standard amount
The reference point. No reduction, no enhancement. On the maximum 2026 benefit that's about $1,433 per month. This is the assumption baked into most retirement plans by default, even when it's not the optimal choice for the household.
Age 70: about 42% larger
Deferring to the latest possible month locks in the largest enhancement. On the maximum 2026 benefit, the cheque is roughly $2,035 per month for life, fully indexed. Works when you have RRSP, TFSA, or non-registered savings to live on first.
What Optiml does for the CPP timing decision
Every Optiml plan answers the CPP question for your specific situation.
Not a rule of thumb. Your contribution history, your other income, your OAS, your spouse, your province. Re-run it any time something changes.
Every age 60 to 70 modelled
Optiml runs every CPP start month between 60 and 70 against your full retirement plan and surfaces the age that produces the lowest lifetime tax and the strongest lifetime cashflow for your situation.
OAS clawback protection
Because CPP income counts toward the Old Age Security recovery threshold, Optiml solves CPP and OAS together so a larger CPP cheque doesn't accidentally claw back your OAS.
Spousal CPP timing solved together
Optiml models both partners' CPP start ages as one decision. Pension income splitting at 65, survivor benefits, and the household tax picture are all rebalanced year by year.
Bridges the gap with the right account
If you defer CPP, Optiml chooses the optimal account to draw from in the bridge years, sequencing RRSP, TFSA, and non-registered to keep your bracket and OAS where you want them.
Longevity and break-even built in
Optiml shows the cumulative lifetime cheque for each start age and the break-even age between options, so you can choose with full information instead of a single rule of thumb.
Eva, your in-app AI assistant
Ask 'what changes if I take CPP at 67 instead of 65?' in plain English. Eva is grounded in your own plan and built on Google Gemini. Available on Pro+ and Legacy.
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Same person, two CPP start ages
CPP at 60. Or CPP at 70. The gap is real money.
CPP at 60
EARLY, PERMANENTLY REDUCED
$965 / mo
illustrative monthly benefit
- Service Canada applies a 0.6% reduction for every month before 65
- Maximum reduction at 60 is 36%, locked in for life
- Cheque is fully indexed to CPI, but starts from a smaller base
- Adds taxable income earlier, often during your working or RRSP years
- Right answer for some Canadians. Wrong answer for many.
CPP at 70
DEFERRED, PERMANENTLY LARGER
$2,141 / mo
illustrative monthly benefit
- 0.7% credit for every month deferred past 65
- Maximum increase at 70 is 42%, locked in for life
- Lifetime gap of roughly +$141,120 vs starting at 60 (illustrative)
- Bridges the gap with RRSP, TFSA, and non-registered first
- Right answer when you have other income to live on first
Illustrative example. Your results are unique.
The Canadian rules a CPP timing plan has to model
What separates a CPP timing plan from a CPP guess.
A real CPP decision only works if every neighbouring CRA and Service Canada rule is modelled at the same time. Optiml builds them in.
0.6% / 0.7% adjustment formulas
Optiml applies the federal formulas correctly: 0.6% reduction per month before 65, up to 36% at 60, and 0.7% credit per month after 65, up to 42% at 70. The adjustment is locked in for life.
CPP enhancement modelled
Contributions since 2019 build a higher replacement rate under the CPP enhancement. Optiml models the enhanced benefit for the years you contributed, not just the legacy formula.
Bracket caps, federal and provincial
Optiml merges your federal and provincial brackets and tests each CPP start age against your full income mix so the cheque doesn't push you into a bracket you didn't intend.
OAS recovery threshold guard
If a larger CPP cheque would push your modelled income above the OAS recovery threshold, Optiml flags the trade and sequences your other accounts to protect lifetime benefits.
Pension income splitting at 65
Once you and your spouse reach 65, eligible pension income can be split for tax purposes. Optiml applies the split automatically and rebalances the household tax bill year by year.
Survivor benefit interaction
CPP survivor benefits and the maximum combined-benefit rule affect the optimal start age for couples. Optiml models them so the timing decision reflects the real household lifetime cheque.
What Optiml Actually Gives You
Not features. Outcomes.
Behind every tool is a feeling. Confidence. Clarity. Control. Here is what Optiml is really built to give you.
Yes, you can retire.
Stop wondering if you have enough. Optiml runs your complete financial picture and gives you a clear, honest answer backed by math, not guesswork.
You won't outlive your money.
Your plan is stress tested across market downturns, rising inflation, and varying returns. Know that your income holds up no matter what the market does.
More for your family, less for the CRA.
Optiml models the most tax efficient way to pass on your estate. Avoid unnecessary tax liabilities so your beneficiaries keep what you worked hard to build.
Your plan, on your terms.
Update your financial plan from home. No calls, no emails, no waiting. Make a change and see the impact in seconds. You are in control, always.
Know exactly what to draw, and when.
Get a year by year withdrawal roadmap showing which account, how much, and in what order. No spreadsheets. No guessing. Just a clear path through retirement.
See your tax picture, start to finish.
Watch how your tax liability evolves through every stage of retirement. Identify the windows where smart moves make the biggest difference.
What Canadians say about Optiml
From Canadians who chose their CPP age in Optiml.
“Loving the independence and education that Optiml is giving my husband and me as we prepare for retirement. With Optiml's clear visual dashboards, it's the first time we have felt we can understand and take ownership of a draw-down strategy. We got this!”
Karen R., Alberta
“Finally found a retirement planning tool that takes into account all aspects of my financial situation. The tax optimization features are incredible!”
Robert P., Edmonton AB
Frequently asked about CPP timing
Questions Canadians ask before turning on CPP.
Built in Canada
“We built Optiml to empower Canadians to build their own financial plans and gain the confidence to make informed decisions about their financial future.”
Zac Davies
Co-Founder & CEO, Optiml
Headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia
Stop guessing your CPP start age.
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