Longevity isn’t just a number. It’s a lifestyle plan

Longevity planning isn’t just about making your money last—it’s about designing a longer, more fulfilling life. Holly Brooks shares how social connection, aging at home, and working longer all fit into your “second chapter,” helping you prepare not only financially, but emotionally and practically for the years ahead.

When we talk about longevity, it’s easy to jump straight to the financial math: How much do I need? When can I stop working? Will my money last? Those are important questions, and I hear them all the time.

But longevity planning is about much more than finances. It’s about how we live, who we live alongside, where we want to age, and how long (and why) we might keep working. In other words, it’s about building a life that can truly support a longer “second chapter”.

This means looking beyond simply funding retirement and focusing on aspects such as social connection, aging at home, and working longer. These issues are some of the Canadian longevity trends shaping how people plan for the years ahead¹.

One of the most important insights I’ve seen is that “disconnectedness” isn’t a traditional financial risk. Still, it is a real one, especially when we think about social connections for seniors in Canada.

According to the National Institute on Aging’s 2025 Aging in Canada survey, 43% of Canadians aged 50 and over face a high risk of social isolation, while 57% report experiencing loneliness¹.

Research shows that there’s a strong correlation between social isolation and physical and mental health, and that can influence financial well-being¹. When people are isolated, decision-making can become harder, confidence can drop, health can deteriorate faster. For many people, the transition into retirement can be a major trigger for losing connection because so much of our community is tied to work and routine.

Right now, people are retiring, on average, around age 59². With longer lifespans, that can mean 30 or more years ahead, or an entire second chapter. So the question becomes: what are you doing today to help build the community that will carry you through that transition?

I can relate personally. A lot of my community today is the people I work with, because I’m there Monday to Friday. I also have two young kids, and I spend a lot of time in the school community and with other parents through activities. But those structures change. Work relationships can fade when you retire. Kids grow up. Without intention, people can end up feeling more isolated precisely at the stage of life when connection becomes even more important.

This is why I think it’s important to look beyond the traditional concept of what retirement should look like, and ask better questions: What do you see your retirement looking like? What community will surround you? And what do you need to do—not just financially—to prepare?

Many Canadians tell us they want to age at home for as long as possible¹. It’s a powerful goal, and for many families it’s deeply emotional. But it also requires planning that goes beyond the basics of retirement savings.

I always come back to a simple starting point: What do you want? What are your wishes? What do you want your retirement life to look like? And as your health changes over time, what are your wishes for your living situation?

We often frame retirement planning as, “What will my lifestyle cost when I stop working?” But we also need to consider Plan B: What if health deteriorates earlier than expected? What if you need support at home, such as caregiving, home modifications, transportation, meal services, or other resources that make it safer to stay independent?

That’s why I encourage families to have conversations earlier than they think they need to—sometimes including the next generation sooner, even when it feels uncomfortable. When you identify wishes in advance and communicate them clearly, you can also uncover important planning needs you might not have considered: insurance needs, in-home care costs, tax and estate planning, and how a future wealth transfer might work.

Retirement readiness has taken on a narrow definition for a long time, which amounts to the question of how much money have I saved? But, that question really boils down to a different one: How long do I have to work? The honest answer is that it depends on what you want retirement to be.

I’m a big believer that having a financial plan isn't only useful, it’s liberating. When you work backward from the life you want, the plan creates guardrails. It can be incredibly reassuring to see scenarios laid out clearly and to understand what’s possible.

But here’s the other side of working longer: if we live longer, we need to think about investing in ourselves, not just our portfolios. One of my own “retirement revelations” has been realizing how important it is to invest in physical well-being so I can actually enjoy the retirement I’m saving for. That’s money in the bank, as in years in the bank, when we take care of ourselves.

If I could leave you with one idea, it would be this: plan and communicate.

But don’t just plan from a financial perspective, plan for your mental health, physical well-being, and community. Those are the components that carry you through aging. Then communicate those wishes and plans to your family, so if health challenges arise, the people around you know what you want and can help you fulfill it.

Also, this isn’t a “set it and forget it” exercise. Your life will evolve, and your plan should evolve with it. The best outcomes come from a constant flow of communication and periodic check-ins as circumstances change.