-   Few have formal retirement plan or know how much money they'll need
        in retirement
    -   Canadians' confidence in their ability to retire comfortably is
        declining
    -   Men think they need 59% more money than women to retire
    -   BC residents say they need 90% more money to retire than Quebecers do

    TORONTO, Feb. 12 /CNW/ - While the vast majority (87%) of adult Canadians
hold RSPs, few (14%) have a retirement plan outlining their financial goals
and how they plan to achieve them. Less than one-third (31%) have ever tried
to calculate how much they will need to retire comfortably. These are some of
the findings of the 2008 TD Waterhouse RSP Investor Poll.
    Consistent with this lack of preparedness, Canadians' level of confidence
that they will be able to retire comfortably has significantly declined, with
73% of poll respondents saying they are at least "somewhat confident" versus
84% who said that a year earlier.
    "An RSP is the cornerstone of saving for retirement, but it shouldn't be
confused with a retirement plan," says Patricia Lovett-Reid, Senior
Vice-President, TD Waterhouse. "There's a growing focus on the changing face
of retirement - how people are living longer, more active lives and expecting
more from this stage of their lives, but there's not enough serious
goal-setting or discussion about how one's retirement will unfold."
    "A retirement plan helps people answer such questions as whether or not
they plan to continue working, where they'll be living, what their ongoing
family responsibilities will be and what activities they'll be pursuing with
their leisure time," continues Lovett-Reid. "By understanding these key
factors, people can then map out their income and expenses more accurately and
create a personal retirement income plan."
    Although those closer to retirement - aged 50 to 69 - are more likely
than their younger counterparts to have a written retirement plan, it's still
a relatively low number who do at 18%.
    The need for a retirement plan is underscored both by poll findings and
by Canada's changing demography. More than half (55%) of non-retired investors
believe they are likely to require professional assisted care at some point
during their retirement - although half of this group are unsure whether they
will be able to afford it.
    According to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), there
will be 6.7 million Canadians over age 65 by 2021, and by 2031 a quarter of
the population will be over 65. Canadians also have one of the highest life
expectancies in the world. A 65 year-old Canadian woman can expect to live an
average of 20.8 years longer; a 65 year-old man, 17.4 years. Most Canadians
will enjoy good health for about 13 years past age 65.
    The TD Waterhouse RSP Investor Poll results support the portrait of the
active retiree. 85% of respondents say they will travel, and the same
percentage plan to take up a new hobby. Close to two-thirds (63%) consider it
likely that they will be involved in caring for grandchildren, and 44% believe
they will be caring for elderly parents.
    "What these numbers tell us is that income needs in retirement will
vary," says Lovett-Reid. "Future retirees will likely spend more in the early
years as they travel, pursue new hobbies and help with grandchildren or
elderly parents. Spending may taper off as they become less active, but with
many more Canadians living well into their eighties and beyond, their spending
needs will also increase dramatically in their latter years as they require
assisted living and other eldercare services."
    "The implication is that one's retirement plan must be sophisticated
enough to allow for these varying income needs - and that is why it is so
important to consult with a financial professional to ensure this financial
flexibility is built in."
    57% of poll respondents were able to provide an educated guess as to how
much money they would need to retire comfortably. Among this group, the
average amount is $727,000. However, there is a huge gender gap between
responses, with men saying they need $848,000 or 59% more money than women at
$532,000.
    There is also a wide variation among regions and ages groups regarding
how much is needed to retire comfortably. BC residents feel they need a
$923,000 nest-egg, 90% more money than Quebecers at $486,000. Canadians under
the age of 34 believe they need $933,000; those between 50 and 69 feel they
need about half that amount ($477,000).

    Other poll findings:

    -   Almost two-in-three respondents (64%) plan to retire at or before age
        65.

    -   Among investors who are less confident in their ability to save
        enough money to retire comfortably, two-thirds (66%) cite an
        inability to save as their primary obstacle. This is being driven by
        investors who indicate that their debt load is too high for them to
        accumulate savings, a group that has increased significantly since
        2006.

    -   Regarding the sources of income Canadians will rely on most to
        finance retirement, personal savings and RSPs are mentioned by the
        majority (over 80%) of non-retired investors - with just over half
        mentioning government administered sources of income, such as the CPP
        or Old Age Security.

    -   However, younger investors (those under 50 years of age) state
        significantly less reliance in the government pension or CPP and are
        significantly more likely to count on their own savings and RSPs
        relative to older investors.

    -   Women are more worried about retirement than men:
        -  69% are concerned about keeping healthy and active, compared with
           60% for men.
        -  51% worry about being able to maintain their current standard of
           living after retiring, versus 9% for men.
        -  49% are concerned about outliving their retirement savings, versus
           35% for men.
        -  40% worry about becoming a burden to their families, compared with
           27% for men.

    -   More than half (55%) of investors under the age of 35 worry about
        outliving their money, compared with only 29% of investors over the
        age of 50.

    "The profound demographic shift taking place in Canada is forcing many of
us to rethink how we plan and prepare for retirement," concludes Lovett-Reid.
"Still, the gap between aspiration and preparation continues to be wide. Most
people want to retire fully at or before age 65. Yet this year's poll shows
Canadians are becoming less confident in their ability to retire comfortably,
and very few have taken the step of developing a formal plan. It's not easy to
envision your future, which is precisely why it's important to sit down with a
professional who will ask the right questions and help you develop a plan."
    The on-line survey was conducted by TNS Canada Facts from December 14-27,
2007 with 1,077 Canadian investors across Canada between the ages of 18 and
69. The results are accurate to within +/- 3.1%, 19 times out of 20.

    About TNS

    TNS is one of the world's leading market information groups, providing
market measurement, analysis and insight through its operating companies in 70
countries. Working with national and multi-national organizations, we help our
clients develop effective business strategies and enhance relationships with
their customers. In Canada, TNS Canadian Facts provides full-service, primary
market research. Its mission is to become clients' sixth sense of business(TM)
by giving them a deeper understanding of their customers' behaviour, better
anticipation of their actions and greater insight into what they really want.

    About TD Bank Financial Group

    The Toronto-Dominion Bank and its subsidiaries are collectively known as
TD Bank Financial Group. TD Bank Financial Group serves more than 14 million
customers in four key businesses operating in a number of locations in key
financial centres around the globe: Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking,
including TD Canada Trust; Wealth Management, including TD Waterhouse and an
investment in TD Ameritrade; U.S. Personal and Commercial Banking through TD
Banknorth; and Wholesale Banking, including TD Securities. TD Bank Financial
Group also ranks among the world's leading on-line financial services firms,
with more than 4.5 million on-line customers. TD Bank Financial Group had
CDN$422 billion in assets as of October 31, 2007. The Toronto-Dominion Bank
trades on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges under the symbol "TD", as
well as on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

For further information: Stephen Ledgley, NATIONAL Public Relations,
(416) 848-1376, sledgley@national.ca