Federal Government Early Retirement Offer: Should You Take It?

In this video, we delve into the timely topic of early retirement for federal government employees.

With recent news about an offer allowing eligible workers to retire early without pension penalties, many are questioning if they should take this opportunity. We discuss the key factors to consider, including financial, emotional, and practical questions that need answering. Whether it's ensuring you're financially ready or deciding if it's the right emotional move, we offer actionable steps and essential advice to help you navigate this potentially life-changing decision.

About Astra Financial: Astra Financial is a Canadian financial planning firm led by certified financial planners Zena Amundsen and Nicole Putz. We specialize in retirement planning for Canadians and provide fee-only financial advice.

​​Want help planning your retirement? Learn more and book a call with our team of certified financial planners to create your personalized retirement roadmap here: https://astrafinancial.ca/get-informed-astra-financial-consultancy-services/

Get our free Reinspirement Guide - Download your roadmap to a fulfilling and financially sound retirement here: https://astrafinancial.ca/reinspirement/

Welcome to Heart of Your Retirement! In this episode, hosts Zena and Nicole provide an inside look at Astra Financial, where they're shaking up their usual retirement-themed content.

Meet Nicole Putz, a certified financial planner (CFP) with a decade of expertise, and now a partner at Astra. They reveal their quirky partnership charter, highlighting their unique business habits and candid office dynamics. From brainstorming sessions over cold pork chops to handling technical woes and balancing work-life with workouts, get an authentic glimpse of how two dynamic women navigate the financial planning world.

This is what running a Canadian financial planning firm actually looks like - no power suits, no boardrooms, just real partnership and real financial advice.

If you want to sign up for Get Your Money in Gear, go here: https://zenaamundsen.ca/get-your-money-in-gear-course/

If you want more resources and show notes, check out https://astrafinancial.ca/podcasts/

Most retirement planning focuses on one thing: the numbers. And yes, financial security matters. You need that foundation in place.

But here's what most people don't expect: You could have every financial box checked off and still feel lost, bored, or lonely in retirement.

After years of dreaming about no alarm clocks and endless freedom, many retirees find themselves asking, "Now what?" In fact, nearly half of retirees say they feel bored within their first two years.

Retirement planning beyond finances is about designing a life that feels meaningful and connected. It's about the things that don't show up on your balance sheet but absolutely determine whether your golden years feel golden.

From discovering new passions to building lasting connections, here are the five overlooked elements that shape true retirement happiness.

If you want to sign up for Get Your Money in Gear, go here: https://zenaamundsen.ca/get-your-money-in-gear-course/

If you want more resources and show notes, check out https://astrafinancial.ca/podcasts/

Hiring a financial planner shouldn't feel like a leap of faith, but for many people, it does.

Maybe you've never worked with one because trust feels impossible. Or maybe you're stuck with an advisor who doesn't seem to have your back - someone who pushes products instead of creating plans, or leaves your questions unanswered.

You're not alone. This is exactly what I hear from people all the time.

Here's the truth: choosing the right financial advisor is like handing someone a gift box containing your entire life savings and future dreams. That's a big deal, and you deserve to feel confident about who you're trusting with that box.

In this episode, I'm sharing the non-negotiables to look for, the questions that separate the pros from the product pushers, and the red flags that should make you run.

If you want to sign up for Get Your Money in Gear, go here: https://zenaamundsen.ca/get-your-money-in-gear-course/

If you want more resources and show notes, check out https://astrafinancial.ca/podcasts/

What should have taken a few weeks to sort out took nearly a year.

A family friend passed away with a beautiful legacy—savings, a cabin, investments. But probate delays, unclear paperwork, and taxes turned grief into a nightmare for her kids.

That's exactly what we're avoiding today.

You don't need complicated legal maneuvers or fancy trusts to minimize taxes with estate planner guidance. Most people just want things simple for their loved ones.

My husband said it perfectly: "I don't want to pay more tax than I have to, and honestly, I just want it to be simple."

Simple wins.

I'm sharing five straightforward strategies that help your family minimize taxes with estate planning and avoid delays when you're gone.

Ready to keep things simple? Listen to the full episode for all five strategies here!

If you want to sign up for Get Your Money in Gear, go here: https://zenaamundsen.ca/get-your-money-in-gear-course/

If you want more resources and show notes, check out https://astrafinancial.ca/podcasts/

Think legacy planning is only for the wealthy? Think again.

Legacy planning isn't about building hospital wings or naming stadiums after yourself. It's about having your ducks lined up, organizing things, and making life easier for the people you care about when you're gone.

Canadian legacy planning can be as simple as having a current will, naming beneficiaries properly, and leaving clear instructions for your loved ones. Just these basic steps can save your family stress and confusion during an already difficult time.

Whether it's funding park benches where your kids grew up or setting up a small scholarship fund, meaningful legacies don't require massive estates—just planning and intention.

Ready to create a legacy that reflects your heart and values? Listen to the full episode to discover the three simple "buckets" that make legacy planning actually doable, plus real examples and tax benefits you need to know now.

If you want to sign up for Get Your Money in Gear, go here: https://zenaamundsen.ca/get-your-money-in-gear-course/

If you want more resources and show notes, check out https://astrafinancial.ca/podcasts/

Have you ever looked back and thought, "I can't believe how much everything costs now compared to when I started out"?

In 1996, I bought my first house for $40,000 with a $350 monthly mortgage payment. Today, that same house would sell for eight times as much. This is inflation in action – and it's quietly changing everything about your money.

We often think of investment risk as market ups and downs. But sometimes the biggest danger is not investing at all. While your money sits "safely" in the bank, inflation is steadily eroding your purchasing power.

Even mild inflation at 3% cuts your buying power in half over 24 years. If you're planning for a 25-30 year retirement, this could be devastating.

Ready to learn how to protect your retirement from inflation's silent threat? Listen to the full episode now!

If you want to sign up for Get Your Money in Gear, go here: https://zenaamundsen.ca/get-your-money-in-gear-course/

If you want more resources and show notes, check out https://astrafinancial.ca/podcasts/

We spend our working lives saving for retirement, but what if the biggest risk isn't the markets? It's living too long.

The average Canadian retiree now lives well into their eighties—great news, unless your money doesn't last as long as you do. Most retirement income plans quietly taper off around 85, leaving a dangerous gap.

Longevity risk is the chance that you live longer than your savings were planned to last. And it's quietly threatening even the best retirement plans.

But there's a simple strategy most people overlook: flipping how you think about your TFSA. Instead of treating it as early retirement money, what if it became your "95 fund"—your longevity reserve for when you're truly old?

In this episode, I break down what longevity risk really means, how it can unravel your retirement, and why your tax-free savings account might be your hidden hero.

If you want to sign up for Get Your Money in Gear, go here: https://zenaamundsen.ca/get-your-money-in-gear-course/

If you want more resources and show notes, check out https://astrafinancial.ca/podcasts/

Picture this: you're planning "retirement" like it's one big phase. Golf every day, travel the world, maybe some time with the grandkids.

But here's what I learned when I took my mom to Europe and watched a retired NBA player struggle through the tour.

Retirement isn't one phase—it's three completely different stages. And if you don't plan for all of them, you're setting yourself up for some expensive surprises.

I call them the Go-Go, Slow-Go and No-Go years. Each phase has different energy levels, different priorities, and most importantly, different financial needs.

Your 65-year-old self will spend money very differently than your 85-year-old self. The question is: are you planning for both?

If you want to sign up for Get Your Money in Gear, go here: https://zenaamundsen.ca/get-your-money-in-gear-course/

If you want more resources and show notes, check out: https://astrafinancial.ca/podcasts/

You've saved diligently, planned carefully, and can finally see retirement on the horizon. Then the market crashes.

Does this mean putting your dreams on hold? Not necessarily.

In this episode of Heart of Your Money, we dive into the often-overlooked "deaccumulation phase" – how to spend your retirement savings wisely even when markets work against you.

We'll explore why the timing of market downturns can devastate unprepared retirees, share a real-world success story of a couple who retired during an 8% market decline, and reveal strategies that go beyond the oversimplified "4% rule."

Ready to create a retirement plan that can weather any economic storm? Listen now!

If you want to sign up for Get Your Money in Gear, go here: https://zenaamundsen.ca/get-your-money-in-gear-course/

If you want more resources and show notes, check out https://astrafinancial.ca/podcasts/