Build Your Own Personal Pension Plan With Dividends — At Any Age
- David LeBlanc
- 4 hours ago
- 7 min read
Thanks for stopping by The Precious Metals Coach blog. I’m all about helping you create more financial independence, security, and wealth so you can be truly self-sufficient and less dependent on the “system” and others. That’s why I believe owning physical precious metals and building multiple income streams are essential tools for today’s uncertain world.
If you’re ready to take control of your financial future and build a retirement income that works for you—no matter your age—you’re in the right place. Let’s dive in.
Let’s be honest—life moves fast, and it’s expensive. Right out of school, you're hit with rent, student loans, and the stress of launching a career. There’s barely enough money to get ahead, let alone think seriously about retirement. Then come marriage, kids, mortgages, car payments, hockey fees, family trips—and before you know it, you’re sprinting just to stay afloat.
Years go by in a blur, and suddenly you’re in your late 40s or 50s thinking:
“I haven’t saved nearly enough. What if I won’t have enough to retire comfortably? What have I even been doing?”
That sinking feeling is real. The financial plan you thought was in place—RRSP contributions, a group plan at work, maybe a few mutual funds—isn’t adding up the way you hoped. You’re not alone. Many of my coaching clients have felt exactly the same.
The good news? It’s not too late—and you’re not out of options.
You can take back control and build your own personal pension plan—one that pays you consistent income, works even when markets don’t, and gives you the flexibility to handle life’s curveballs.
Start With the End in Mind
One of the first steps in designing your own personal pension is figuring out how much income you’ll need to retire comfortably. Once you have that number, you can reverse engineer a plan:
How long do you have to invest?
What kind of dividend yield do you need?
Which income investments can realistically get you there?
This practical approach gives you a roadmap—replacing uncertainty with clarity and giving you control over your financial outcome.
Now, I’ll be the first to admit: for years, I was mostly a growth investor, just like most people. I chased promising stocks and funds, hoping for big gains. The strategy sounds simple—buy low, sell high, repeat. But in practice? It’s stressful, unpredictable, and more like a casino game than a retirement plan. You're always hoping a stock climbs, then praying you find the next one before the momentum fades. That "hope and pray" approach burns a lot of mental energy—and wastes time you could be using to build something solid.
Worse still, many people hand over control to a financial advisor expecting expert guidance. But let’s be real—most “advisors” are really salespeople for their bank or investment firm. They’re incentivized to recommend their company’s products, not necessarily what’s best for you. They often place clients in conservative, balanced funds that feel “safe” but barely move the needle—maybe 6–8% annually in a good year. After fees and inflation, you’re lucky to come out ahead.
Many advisors rarely suggest physical precious metals, even when they might be appropriate for diversification or as a hedge, simply because there’s less profit to be made for them from these investments.
Meanwhile, your advisor collects fees whether your portfolio grows or not, and more years go by while your savings stagnate. You start to wonder: Why isn’t this growing like I hoped?
That’s why more people are waking up and deciding to take ownership of their financial future.
Dividend investing flips the traditional model. You don’t rely on selling stocks at the right time or trusting someone else’s judgment. Instead, you build a steady stream of monthly income that arrives whether markets go up, down, or sideways. You reinvest it, compound it, and grow your portfolio predictably.
And here’s a key advantage: income investing doesn’t mean you have to give up growth. Because you receive dividends regularly, you can choose how to use them. You might reinvest those dividends to accelerate compounding growth. Or you could set some aside to buy great growth stock opportunities when you spot them. Plus, you have cash flow available to cover planned expenses—like a child’s wedding—or unexpected ones—like urgent car repairs. This flexibility is a huge benefit, giving you control to adjust your strategy as life happens.
It’s not about luck. It’s about math, discipline, and a strategy that puts you in the driver’s seat.
We Can’t Rely on Pensions Anymore
Gone are the days of guaranteed pensions and 40-year careers with one employer. Most workers today are far more transient, changing jobs, companies, or even industries every few years. That makes it hard—if not impossible—to build up a company pension. And many employers don’t offer one at all.
On top of that, with the rise of the digital economy, more people work as digital nomads, freelancers, or online entrepreneurs. These flexible careers rarely come with traditional pension benefits, so it’s even more important for individuals to take charge and build their own retirement income streams.
Worse, government pension plans like CPP and OAS aren’t guaranteed to keep up with the rising cost of living—or even to remain solvent in the long run. With ballooning debt, an aging population, and inflation pressures, it’s no wonder more people are skeptical about what will be there when they retire.
It’s not like the good ol’ days when your company handled everything and sent you off with a gold watch and a guaranteed monthly cheque for life.
Today, you have to be your own pension manager—but that also means you can tailor a plan that suits your life, your goals, and your timeline.
Real Stories: Building a Pension at Any Age
Let me show you what this looks like in real life.
🔹 Veronica: Starting in Her Early 50s
Veronica is 52, divorced, and works for herself as an esthetician. She wants to stop working by age 60 but is terrified she won’t be able to, as she only has $80,000 saved—in a GIC. She doesn’t want to work much longer but worries she won’t have enough income to live comfortably once she stops.
Starting with her $80,000 GIC and committing to contribute $500 monthly, she invests in income ETFs yielding around 15% annually. All dividends are reinvested to maximize compounding growth.
By age 65, her portfolio is projected to reach $377,000, generating about $4,700/month in dividends—tax-free inside her TFSA.
More importantly, Veronica now feels hopeful and empowered.
🔹 Sarah: Just Getting Started
Sarah is 23 and just starting out in her career with no company pension. Because she’s young and still managing student loans, rent, and a social life, she doesn’t have much extra money to invest. But she’s smart—she starts small with $200/month into income ETFs yielding 18%, then plans to increase to $500/month after 5 years as her income grows.She reinvests all dividends to compound growth.
Sarah’s goal is clear: she doesn’t want to work past age 50 and plans to support herself fully through dividend income by then.
By age 50, Sarah’s portfolio is projected to be worth over $1,067,500, paying out approximately $16,000 per month in dividends. She loves watching the compounding effect build momentum—and enjoys the financial freedom that passive income provides, supporting her goal of working independently later in life.
🔹 James: Focused on Flexibility and Family
James, 46, has a good job and a decent company pension plan, but he doesn’t want to settle for just that. He’s feeling pressure from college costs, family expenses, and retirement all on the horizon. He wants to build more income and security in his retirement years by creating his own personal pension plan in addition to his company pension.
He started with $50,000 and contributes $800/month into high-yield dividend ETFs. He reinvests all dividends to grow his portfolio. In under 10 years, his portfolio is expected to reach $214,000, paying him $2,680/month.He reinvests most of the income but likes knowing it’s there for vacations, weddings, or emergencies.
So How Could You Actually Do This?
Step one: Decide how much income you want or need per month in retirement.
Step two: Figure out how much time you have to build your plan.
Step three: Choose income-focused investments that match your yield target—and commit to a monthly contribution plan.
To get started, you don’t need to manage individual stocks. Many fund providers offer high-yield, income-oriented ETFs designed specifically for monthly cash flow. In Canada, look at funds from:
Hamilton ETFs
Harvest ETFs
Evolve ETFs
Purpose Investments
GlobalX Canada
In the U.S., income-seeking investors can consider:
YieldMax
NEOS
Roundhill
REX Shares
KURV Investments
GraniteShares
These funds can generate 12–20%+ annual yields, and when reinvested, those dividends can snowball over time into a powerful personal pension.
As a Canadian, I use Wealthsimple and Questrade as DIY online brokerages
✨ Get $25 free when you open a Wealthsimple account
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You're in Control Now
We’ve been taught to outsource our financial future—to mutual funds, company pension plans, and government systems we don’t control. But that model is breaking down.
The #1 fear in retirement isn’t dying—it’s running out of money.
With dividend investing, you create a personal pension you can see, manage, and grow. One that pays you every month. One that doesn’t care if the market goes up, down, or sideways. And one that keeps you in control of your future.
A quick note: This article is not financial advice. These are my personal insights, opinions, and experiences—strategies I use myself and have seen work well for many people I’ve coached. Everyone’s situation is unique, so please consider consulting your own financial professional before making decisions.
Let’s See If This Could Work for You
If you're ready to stop guessing and start building a reliable income stream with dividend investing, I offer a free 15-minute Discovery Call.
We’ll look at where you are now, where you want to go, and whether this strategy makes sense for your life and goals.
Thank you for reading!If you found this helpful, please leave a comment below and share this article with anyone who could benefit. Your support means a lot!
To your financial health 🥂,
David
The Precious Metals Coach
"Real Money For We The People"
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