La prèparation financière à la retraite des premiers boomers: une comparaison Québec-Ontario

Since 2006, baby-boomers are beginning to reach the age of 60. This historic milestone forecasts serious challenges for our societies. In particular, the financial security of future pensioners constitutes an important issue. The present study will attempt to assess the financial preparation for retirement of the Quebec first cohorts of baby boomers born in 1946- 1955, who will retire in the forthcoming years, by comparing their situation with their Ontarian counterparts. This study is composed of four distinct parts. First, the methodology of the study will be explained. After a literature review, some indicators will be selected to measure the financial preparation to retirement from three points of view. Thus, the objective health of the financial preparation to retirement will be analyzed by comparing Quebec and Ontario. The relative situation of the Quebec first cohorts of baby boomers, illustrated by their revenue, their housing status and their patrimony, will also be explained. The third part of the study tries to compare the first cohorts of baby boomers’ subjective health of the preparation for retirement between the two provinces, for some socioeconomic categories, by using data concerning their satisfaction and their perspectives toward this issue. Finally, this study ends with a comparison of the various strategies used by the Quebec and Ontario first cohorts of baby boomers in order to assure themselves a suitable financial security for retirement, considering the actual trends of the socioeconomic conditions. The data analyzed come from various Statistics Canada surveys. In particular, demographic census data were used for the period covering 1971-2001, as well as the Survey of Financial Security (SFS) for 1999 and General Social Survey (GSS) for 2002.