What could longevity mean for giving? 

We know that lifelong donors are common in Canada, and that many individuals accelerate their charitable endeavours after retirement as a way to find purpose, connect with community and establish their legacy. Indeed, philanthropy is often an integral part of retirement planning.

As longevity among Canadians increases, however, conversations around health, wealth and giving are changing. While retirees plan for the social and financial circumstances that allow for a retirement of purpose and connection, longer life spans are raising concerns about the possibility of outliving their retirement savings. That, of course, can prompt the need to revisit one’s finances—including one’s giving plans. 

One trend in the wealth space to watch is a shift toward longevity planning, which takes a more holistic view than traditional retirement planning to account for additional considerations that come with a lifespan of 100 years or more. A shifting time horizon can lead to questions about how much, and how, retirees can continue to contribute to the causes they value. 

More retirement years means plans should be revisited

Statistics Canada recently released new projections suggesting that the number of Canadians aged 85 and over could more than triple by 2073, with a rapid increase expected between 2031 and 2050—the period during which the baby boomer cohort will reach that age. Additionally, the number of centenarians could increase by around 10 times in the same period.

While many of us welcome the opportunity for more retirement years, most retirement plans are based in part on life expectancy data. When that data shifts, so must our planning.

One of our jobs in wealth management is to help people identify and achieve their goals around money. So, what does the prospect of living longer mean for planning around retirement, wealth and giving? Enter longevity planning.

Retirement versus longevity planning

As explained by RBC’s partners at the MIT AgeLab in Cambridge, MA, longevity planning “is the transformation of the financial services and retirement planning industries into a holistic business of advice and services to help people navigate a 100-year lifespan.”

It’s worth noting that longevity planning is not simply solving a math problem. It accounts for all dimensions of an aging person’s health, including physical and emotional health, social engagement and living arrangements, as well as finances.

I am certainly seeing a shift in traditional views of planning. While Wills and powers of attorney, estate planning and overall financial planning are still core to our conversations, clients are also keenly focused on purposeful, healthy and long second and third acts, while also understanding that future health care and living needs will be impacted by longer lifespans. Partnering with experts in the healthy aging and wellness spaces means we are able to have more fulsome conversations to help clients navigate and prepare for longer retirements.

But what does that mean for charitable giving?

A closer look at retirement and giving

The longer a person lives, the more they’re likely to feel pressure about knowing how and when to distribute their wealth. For many, retirement is the great prize earned after a life of work. It’s a new chapter; a time when individuals want to be happy and healthy, and free to pursue their passions. It can also be a time to reflect on family, achievements and legacy. However, longer retirements could have some individuals thinking differently about how they’re giving back.

The National Institute on Ageing identifies three dimensions of aging well: financial security, health and independence, and social well-being. There’s a case to be made that financial health is a common thread, but it’s the third category, social well-being, that I want to focus on here. 

There is a growing body of evidence that altruism is actually good for the giver, physically and mentally. As Dr. Susan Albers of the Cleveland Clinic said in a recent article , “When we do things for other people, it makes us feel much more engaged and joyful. That’s good for our health and our happiness.”

As retirees look for fulfillment and social connection in their everyday and charitable lives, it makes sense to remember the three pillars of giving: time, talent and treasure. If giving of treasure becomes less attractive amid concerns of outliving retirement funds, giving of time and talent may become more abundant thanks to longer, healthier lifespans. 

Still, that doesn’t mean the interest in giving back financially is necessarily going anywhere; it may just shift the timing and method.   

When—and how—to give?

While it’s common for Canadians to think of giving primarily in the context of during their lifetime, there are also effective approaches as part of estate and wealth transfer planning. Naming a charity in a Will, for example, allows for continued support of a cause or organization that’s important to an individual, perhaps after years of volunteer service.

Bequests in a Will can be an absolute dollar amount or a percentage of an estate, or could be in the form of assets in-kind. Giving after one’s lifetime might also come in the form of a donation though a beneficiary designation on a registered plan (such as a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP), Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF), or Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA)) or life insurance policy.

A foundation or ongoing trust may also facilitate long-term giving. For those interested in making a larger gift to a charity but who also wants to maintain use of the intended gifted property for family or friends during their lifetime, a charitable remainder trust may be an option. This allows the donor to retain a life interest in the property, but an irrevocable gift of the residual interest is made to a registered charity.

Moving forward in the age of longevity, it will be key to find ways to balance charitable pursuits with individual circumstances. But there’s no question, the power of community and legacy will continue to be an integral part of healthy aging. 

This article was originally published in Foundation Magazine .

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